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Keno rejected by legislators

Monday, Feb. 12, 2001 | 11:28 a.m.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

SANTA FE, N.M. -- A new lottery game that officials say could be offered in 300 restaurants, bars and other outlets got a thumbs-down from a Senate committee.

The Public Affairs Committee, on a 6-3 vote, rejected the proposal to expand the lottery to add the fast-paced game of keno. But the bill remains tabled in the committee and could be considered again.

Similar legislation is already moving through the House.

The New Mexico Lottery says adding keno would bring in up to $20 million more annually, with as much as $5 million of that earmarked for schools.

Half of the state lottery profits go to school construction and the other half to college scholarships. The popular scholarship program faces a shortfall unless the revenue is increased.

"I'm not talking about gambling," said Sen. Don Kidd, R-Carlsbad, the bill's sponsor. "I'm talking about the kids and scholarship money."

But opponents said the new game is an expansion of gambling that would create more addicts.

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