Government slams Keno lottery game

The Government has slammed plans by Tory peer Lord Mancroft to launch rapidly repeating on-line lottery games in pubs, shops and airport lounges.

The games, known as Keno, are set to be launched in the autumn by gaming company Inter Lotto, run by Lord Mancroft and a new entrant into the market, Lottery King. Inter Lotto has hired M&C Saatchi for a 5m marketing campaign to support the launch of the game.

But a Home Office spokesman says of Keno: “The Government’s view is that it is not appropriate outside premises licensed for gaming.” The statement comes after the regulator, the Gaming Board, wrote to the Home Office expressing reservations about the games, which it says are potentially addictive as they are repeated every 15 minutes.

But one observer suggests the Home Secretary will wait for the games to launch to see whether they encourage problem gambling.