Massachusetts Has More Keno Locations Than Public Schools

Keno has 7,000 locations across Massachusetts, including 2,300 in bars and restaurants, but there are only 1,847 public schools in the Commonwealth. Wrap your brain around that for a moment.

Massachusetts Keno: The Numbers Explained

According to Boston.com, "Massachusetts leads the nation in Keno sales, with residents spending more than $1.28 billion on the game this year alone – roughly 21 percent of the state lottery's total revenue."

By contrast, Massachusetts spends around $16 billion annually on K-12 public schools, using a combination of federal, state, and local funds. Recent per-pupil spending exceeded $21,000, placing it high nationally, according to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

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Perhaps that's to make us feel better about all of the cash spent on Keno.

Keno Game Basics and Appeal

"Keno is a fast-paced, lottery-style game where players pick numbers between 1 and 80. Every three minutes, 20 numbers are drawn. The more numbers you match, the bigger the payout," according to Boston.com. "The most popular bet being a five-number 'spot' that pays out $450 for a $1 wager."

I'm not much of a gambler, and it's not because I am a moralist. I'm cheap. I work too hard for my money to hand it over to the Massachusetts Lottery.

I understand that Keno is popular at local bars where the folks hang out and everybody knows your name. However, when I see people playing Keno, it's usually older people sitting by themselves at the mall. They look lonely to me.

A friend once described the lottery system as a "tax on the stupid." That sounds a bit harsh, but who knows?