By Alanna Durkin, The Associated Press
AUGUSTA, Maine - Lawmakers are trying to prevent Gov. Paul LePage's administration from introducing keno to Maine.
The state's lottery commission plans to offer keno at sites like restaurants and bars this spring. In keno, players choose numbers from a pool of 80 numbers and 20 winning numbers are drawn every four minutes.
But lawmakers on the Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee say they should be able to weigh in on whether Maine should add keno, which they say would significantly expand gambling in the state. A bill from Democratic Rep. Louie Luchini that the panel considered Monday would block the effort.
LePage's administration says it has the authority to introduce keno, which it says is similar to other lottery games the state already offers.