At Concord’s municipal election on Nov 4, voters will decide whether to allow Keno, a bingo-style lottery game, to operate within the city.
Currently, Keno is not permitted in Concord. Previously, towns and cities had the choice to allow Keno in their local bars and restaurants. Lawmakers recently flipped it to an “opt-out” system: If voters take no action, Keno will be allowed in the city.
Here’s what voters will see on the ballot:
“Shall we prohibit the operation of Keno games within the City of Concord?”
What does it mean to vote yes?
Because the wording of Concord’s ballot question asks voters whether they want to prohibit Keno, a “yes” vote means the voter is against allowing Keno in Concord. This would continue the status quo.
What does it mean to vote no?
A “no” vote means the voter is in support of Keno and wants to allow it in the city.
What Is Keno?
Keno is a state-run lottery game in which players choose numbers between 1 and 80. A random number generator or ball machine then selects 20 numbers. Players win prizes based on how many of their selections match the drawn numbers. Drawings occur every five minutes throughout the day.
Legalization of Keno
In 2017, New Hampshire legalized Keno, allowing licensed establishments, such as bars and restaurants, to offer the game, but only in municipalities that had voted to approve it. In both 2017 and 2019, Concord voters rejected Keno, keeping it out of the city.
A recent change in state law flips the process: municipalities are now automatically opted in to Keno unless they vote to opt out.
Lawmakers also expanded eligibility in 2022, allowing convenience stores and supermarkets to host the game.
If Concord voters reject the ballot question this November, Keno could soon be available at participating lottery retailers across the city.
As of August, Keno is available in nine cities and 84 towns across New Hampshire. Bow, Allenstown, Hopkinton and Boscawen are some of the towns that have allowed Keno in Merrimack County.
Where does the revenue from Keno go?
Like all gaming regulated by the New Hampshire Lottery Commission, a portion of the revenue from Keno goes to the state’s Education Trust Fund.
In the first quarter of fiscal year 2026, Keno sales totaled nearly $20 million—an increase of almost 14% compared to the same period last year, according to the lottery commission.