New Jersey lawmakers say keno-style lottery game too similar to a casino game

Last year, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie’s administration legalized a new game titled Quick Draw, a keno-style lottery offering. Quick Draw can now be found in hundreds of establishments across the state, offering drawings every five minutes. Within a year’s time, the game is expected to bring in at least $20 million. Despite its expected success, two New Jersey lawmakers feel the game will interfere with the gaming business of Atlantic City casinos and want to see drawings dramatically reduced to just twice a day. According to NJ.com, Assemblymen Vincent Mazzeo and Ralph Caputo, have sponsored state Assembly bill A549, a measure that would restrict the drawings to two times a day. The lawmakers are afraid that the keno-style game will cut into the casino profits of Atlantic City. With the game of Quick Draw, players are able to choose as many as 10 numbers from a group of 80. The goal is to match the chosen numbers with those picked during the drawing of 20 numbers. Players can wager $1 to $5 per draw or $10. Results are then revealed via screens at the establishment where the game is played. Opponents of the new lottery game feel that the quick results and continual repetition of the game are more closely related to casino gambling rather than a drawing within the lottery. According to the two Assemblymen, they feel the game is fundamentally different than lottery games and is essentially getting around the gaming laws of the state. Within the NJ report, Greater Atlantic City Chamber of Commerce member, Bob Marshall, stated to the Assembly Tourism, Gaming and Arts Committee last week that the game is an expansion of casino-style gaming outside of Atlantic City and that the Chamber believes that ‘the state lottery grossly overstepped its authority by expanding casino gaming to bars and restaurants outside of Atlantic City’. The New Jersey State Lottery has yet to comment on the new legislation introduced within the Assembly that would cut down dramatically the funds estimated from the new Quick Draw game.