CONCORD, N.H. – In just six weeks, KENO 603 has exceeded the $1 million sales mark in New Hampshire. The New Hampshire Lottery is announcing the sales milestone as its newest game continues to outpace sales projections. KENO 603 launched statewide on Friday, December 15. The game is on sale at 45 locations statewide, and restaurant and tavern owners are indicating KENO 603 has had a positive impact on business.
“We are extremely pleased to see the initial success of KENO 603, as players have been drawn to establishments offering the new game,” said Charlie McIntyre, executive director of the New Hampshire Lottery. “We are hearing from licensed establishments that KENO 603 is a significant business driver that adds fun, excitement, entertainment and plenty of winning to the overall experience.”
The top-selling KENO 603 establishments include 2 Doors Down in Somersworth, Billy’s Sports Bar & Grill in Manchester and the Southside Tavern in Manchester. Earlier this month, a lucky KENO 603 player won a $13,500 prize at Fricker’s Neighborhood Grill in Manchester.
“We’re definitely seeing more traffic coming in because of KENO 603. Our regular customers are playing and we’re seeing new folks come in to play as well. This is our slowest time of the year. When the golf course opens, and with a 200-seat outdoor deck, I think we’ll be especially busy come spring,” said Mike Lanoie, owner of the Derryfield Restaurant. “If I didn’t have KENO 603, I would lose customers to other restaurants and bars that do have it.”
“KENO 603 has definitely had a positive impact. My overall sales are up by about 20-percent since KENO 603 launched in December. We’re seeing both new customers and regulars playing,” said Sean Lamontagne, owner of Fagin’s Pub in Berlin. “Guests are staying longer as they play—and we’ve been paying out quite a bit to winners. The people that play it love it.”
Sherri Spencer, owner of 2 Doors Down in Somersworth, said guests are staying longer as they play KENO 603, and guests are coming back more frequently.
“It’s been great. I’ve had new customers say they didn’t even know we were here before we offered KENO 603. And our regulars love it as well. We’re busier than ever, so much so that I’ve had to hire a new part-time cook and a part-time bartender, which is good news,” Spencer said. “Some guests will play for quite a while, while others will come in and play for a few minutes or come buy tickets and then come back the next day. Overall, traffic is really up,” Spencer added.
David Henrick, owner of the 405 Pub & Grill in Laconia, said KENO 603 has been nothing but a positive.
“It’s created a lot of excitement and our restaurant business has grown,” said Henrick, who noted he’s seen new and regular guests enjoying KENO 603. “It’s really given our customers something new and fun to do while they’re here. Someone will win and then everybody gets excited because they want to win too.”
“People definitely know that proceeds support education so it makes them feel good when they play. It’s just a win-win all the way around,” Henrick added.
The New Hampshire Lottery is continuing to work with municipalities and business establishments across the state to implement KENO 603. Governor Sununu signed Senate Bill 191 into law in July, establishing KENO 603 as a revenue source to fund full-day kindergarten. The New Hampshire Lottery has been adding licensed KENO 603 locations weekly.
Legislators developed Senate Bill 191 to give individual municipalities the option to allow KENO 603 by putting it on city election ballots or the warrant of annual town meetings. As towns are compiling warrant articles for 2018 town meetings, New Hampshire Lottery officials are meeting with municipalities to answer any questions from residents, business owners and elected officials regarding KENO 603 and the implementation process.
During each KENO 603 game, players choose from one to 12 numbers, and every five minutes (11:05 AM to 11:00 PM) a computer randomly generates and displays 20 winning numbers from 1 to 80 on a television monitor. A player may place a wager from $1 to $25 per game. The more numbers players match, the more they win.
The top-10 retailers, in terms of KENO 603 sales, are:
- 2 Doors Down – Somersworth
- Billy’s Sports Bar & Grill – Manchester
- Southside Tavern – Manchester
- Boston Billiards Club & Casino – Nashua
- American Legion Post #69 – Somersworth
- Moe Joe’s Family Restaurant – Manchester
- Golden Dragon – Nashua
- Lafayette Athletic Club – Nashua
- Yee Dynasty – Manchester
- Salona Bar & Grill - Manchester