CONCORD, N.H. – Voters in 76 towns will vote on KENO 603 during town meetings across the state starting in March. The New Hampshire Lottery launched KENO 603 in December 2017 after Governor Chris Sununu signed Senate Bill 191 into law in July 2017, establishing KENO 603 as a revenue source for full-day kindergarten. The legislation was crafted to give individual municipalities the option to allow KENO 603 by putting it on city election ballots or the warrant of annual town meetings.

“The New Hampshire Lottery has been working with municipalities and business establishments across the state to implement KENO 603 and we are extremely pleased to see 76 communities putting KENO 603 before voters,” said Charlie McIntyre, executive director of the New Hampshire Lottery. “Along with offering players a fun and exciting new game, KENO 603 also delivers critical funding for full-day kindergarten in New Hampshire.”

During city elections this past fall, seven communities approved KENO 603, which has continued to outpace projections — in just 10 weeks, KENO 603 has exceeded the $2 million sales mark. As of this week, the game is on sale at more than 50 establishments statewide.

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.

Beginning in 2019, the state will utilize revenue generated from KENO 603 to increase funding for full-day kindergarten from $1,800 per student to $2,900 per student. There is no connection between a municipality’s allowance of KENO 603 and its receipt of kindergarten funding. If the school district provides full-day kindergarten, it will receive funding, regardless of whether the municipality allows KENO 603. The New Hampshire Lottery anticipates KENO 603 could ultimately generate as much as $9 million in annual net profit.