Search

by MojoPages

Share this article:
Print

Gregoire considers expanding Keno to make state money

Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.

by DREW MIKKELSEN / KING 5 News

Posted on November 27, 2009 at 2:34 PM

Updated Friday, Nov 27 at 5:55 PM

******

OLYMPIA, Wash. - Facing an estimated $2.6 billion shortfall, Gov. Christine Gregoire is considering expanding the state's Keno lottery game, her staff confirmed Friday.

Currently, the state has one keno drawing a day. The governor is looking at drawings every four minutes on video screens at bars and taverns.

The state of Oregon has a similar Keno game. The expansion could raise about $30 million a year for the state.

"Keno's my game," said Willie Rigney from Vancouver, Wash.

Rigney's a regular Keno player at the state's Indian casinos. He said expanding Keno would be a good way for the state to raise more money.

But some critics say increasing the number of keno games could unfairly target the poor and gambling addicts.

"I think it's a fast and easy fix, but it may create more negatives than it does positives," said Rebecca Smith-Murdock of Olympia.

Gregoire will release her budget proposal within the next two weeks. 

Share this article:
Print

To add a comment, please register or login.

Leave your comment
1000 characters remaining

Submit

Remember Please be respectful of others when posting comments. Play nice. IP addresses are logged and can be banned.

HTML is not allowed.

speedracer said on November 27, 2009 at 3:31 PM

I can" believe i'm going to say this,but I agree with the Quenn on this one.............god that hurt,i'm gonna have to shower..........

sumner31 said on November 27, 2009 at 4:29 PM

Didn't I just read that several casinos, including some owned by native Americans, are shutting down their keno games because of lack of play?

billiameveryman said on November 27, 2009 at 5:10 PM

The lottery is little more than an extra tax on people who are bad at math...

jeepfreak said on November 27, 2009 at 5:17 PM

Sounds like a good idea. Lets keep the money here instead of reno or Lasvegas.I bet on the human race and lost.

jeepfreak said on November 27, 2009 at 5:18 PM

I think I forgot how to spell . sorry.

jackwong said on November 27, 2009 at 6:07 PM

@billiameveryman: At least Gov. Gregoire doesn't stand in the side of casinos to expand as "Casino Dino" does.

pixelater said on November 27, 2009 at 7:47 PM

“Gregoire doesn't stand in the side of casinos to expand as Casino Dino does” What? Maybe you could decipher that statement for me. What I do know is that the casinos backed Gregoire and she gave them a pass on taxes. Another idiot idea, instead of facing the real issues. How about cutting the ever increasing cost of L&I and getting that department under control. How about some tax breaks for small business that aren’t controlled by big labor unions. When the liberals break this state, and they will, who will support all of their socialist welfare programs? When that time comes and you come to my house to steal what I managed to save, you will get all the free copper jacketed lead you can carry away.

unhappy said on November 27, 2009 at 8:03 PM

maybe we could just cut the welfare to illegals and provide them with the same things mexico would provide us if we illegally entered their country. plus if we send them back we can get americans working and paying taxes again.

riverman said on November 27, 2009 at 10:23 PM

hmm... whenever i need extra cash, i just stop spending for a while... then out of no where, the cash shows up. funny how that works...

factoid said on November 27, 2009 at 10:44 PM

"riverman" that makes way to much sense. Common sense is not a job requirement for the State bureaucrats. They truly have forgotten who pays the bills, "pixelater" is right, the day of reckoning is coming. Yesterday Boeing, today Amazon.com, tomorrow we'll see.

jackwong said on November 28, 2009 at 2:21 AM

@pixelator: Your comment about tax breaks for small businesses is BS. Too many times small businesses don't pay full taxes anyways. Just like waiters who claim on part of their tips. Small businesses should be discouraged in the United States. Whereas, corporations usually are diligent enough to deduct taxes from their employees to it's fullest to fund the state's much hurting budget. We have to put faith on your government who have been fairly elected to do good for us. Is giving someone a benefit of a doubt so hard?

justcommenting said on November 28, 2009 at 10:03 AM

the gov and all other goverment desk jockeys should take pay cuts.... say to min wage. park and rides should charge for parking too.

smith29 said on November 29, 2009 at 10:02 AM

Leave to government to promote gambling and liquor... What's next?

pixelater said on November 29, 2009 at 11:37 AM

@jackwong: You are obviously not a small business owner and don’t have a clue about the business climate in this state. Small businesses can be and are corporations. Further more small business hires and generates far more taxes than you can imagine. I had forty employees a year ago, I have thirty now, and that will decrease by the end of the year. I pay all of my taxes and cover all of my employees with medical benefits and 401K contributions. The state automatically withdraws my payroll taxes weekly by electronic transfer directly from my bank account. The state government continues to grow while the economy and tax base shrinks. Washington State L&I cost has increased approximately 40% since 2003 while the number of claims has decreased by approximately 55% due to increased safety programs implemented by employers. Washington is one of five states that does not allow private L&I insurance, in other words they have a monopoly on that business, just like liquor sales.

pixelater said on November 29, 2009 at 11:44 AM

jackwong? Is that you Tom Lee? It sure reads like your liberal tow the line drivel.

dacaptain said on November 29, 2009 at 1:25 PM

Small business makes this nation run. Help them and we help ourselves. It's time to give them a break. The state wants more money? Put more people to work.

dacaptain said on November 29, 2009 at 1:30 PM

In regards to the above statement, put more people to work, but not with the state government.

dacaptain said on November 29, 2009 at 1:32 PM

In regards to the above statement, "put more people to work", but not with the state government.