Nova Scotia’s failed attempt at Keno comes to an end this weekend.
The controversial gambling game never made money in the province and last month the government gave a month’s notice it was shutting down the whole operation.
That clock struck down Thursday, meaning Keno will be turned off sometime this weekend.
“The whole Keno game is run from the (Atlantic Lotto Corporation) office in Moncton. So at some point, I don’t know the precise point, they just flick a switch and the game’s over and then the screens go blank,” said Finance Minister Graham Steele.
The government announced it is donating all 180 flat-screen TVs used in the game – valued at $800 each – to schools around the province.
The game came under fire immediately from gambling awareness groups as being highly addictive. To assuage concerns, the governing Tories introduced caps on spending and playing time.
Whether it was the caps or just gambling tastes, the game never caught on.
