Council considers bringing keno, lottery to Milford

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Keno and other lottery-style games could find their way to Milford at the request of two local bar owners.

Todd Vegas and Robert Struwe, owners of Sheri’s Grill and Bar, which soon will become Uptown Tavern on First Street, are working with Big Red Keno to bring the games to the tavern.

Nicholas Thielen, deputy general counsel from EHPV Management Group of Omaha, working with Big Red Keno, spoke to the Milford City Council at its Jan. 3 meeting.

“He came out and went through some of the information as far as what Milford might see for revenue, what the money can be spent on and how it all works,” City Clerk Jeanne Hoggins said following the meeting.

Hoggins said the city would receive 8¾% of any funds generated by keno and lottery games, but said Thielen was unsure how much revenue Milford could potentially generate.

“He gave some examples. Sterling in 2021 received $2,300. Eagle received $17,000. The small town of Kramer received $53,000,” Hoggins said.

By law, the revenue the city receives must be spent on community betterment projects.

First, though, the city would have to undergo a lengthy process to authorize Uptown Tavern or any other establishment to offer keno and other lottery games.

The first step in that process is to hold an election.

“It has to go to a vote of the people,” Hoggins said. “Since there’s no election (coming up), we have to pay for a special election. That’s an expense we weren’t planning on.”

The city council did not take action to move the request forward, but Hoggins said it could do so at its February meeting.

If that happens, a special election could be held as early as May. If voters elect to allow the games, the city must then work through interlocal agreements and get approval from the state, then from Big Red Keno.

The games wouldn’t be available to play until September or October at the earliest.

“It’s quite a process to get this all in place,” Hoggins said.