Top Stories Seattle

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Facing an estimated $2.6 billion dollar shortfall, Gov. Christine Gregoire is considering expanding the state’s keno lottery game, her staff confirmed Friday.

Currently, the state has one keno drawing a day. The governor is looking at drawings every four minutes on video screens at bars and taverns.

The state of Oregon has a similar keno game. The expansion could raise about $30 million a year for the state.

“Keno’s my game,” said Willie Rigney from Vancouver, Wash.

Rigney’s a regular keno player at the state’s Indian casinos. He said expanding keno would be a good way for the state to raise more money.

But some critics say increasing the number of keno games could unfairly target the poor and gambling addicts.

“I think it’s a fast and easy fix, but it may create more negatives than it does positives,” said Rebecca Smith-Murdock of Olympia.

Gregoire will release her budget proposal within the next two weeks.