Ohio Lottery Probes Keno Promo After Fraud Concerns

Ohio Lottery Investigating “Potential Fraud” in Keno Promo

The Ohio Lottery has launched an investigation into what it’s calling “potential fraud” tied to a September Keno promotion that was cut short after just two weeks.

Players like Carrie Herman of Medina noticed the change right away. “I don’t usually run out after work on a Tuesday just to play, but that promo got me there,” she told investigators. Herman said she expected the deal to last all month but was caught off guard when the rules suddenly shifted.

What happened with the promo?

• The deal originally promised that every Tuesday in September, from 4–5 p.m., Keno tickets bought with a Booster would automatically get a Double Booster, boosting winnings.

• By the third week, the Lottery quietly changed it—only one in every 20 boosted tickets would qualify.

Many players never got the message. Herman said she checked her email tied to her account but found nothing. Another player, Keith Tarski from Cleveland’s west side, called the switch “disappointing” and said players were surprised the Lottery changed things “mid-stream.”

Why the sudden change?
The Lottery says it spotted “suspicious purchasing activity” during the first two weeks that raised red flags. Officials wouldn’t go into detail but stressed the integrity of the game was at stake. They ruled out hacking but labeled it a potential fraud case.

Communication gaps
Lottery officials said they tried to alert players through their app, website, and social media. Still, the in-store ads many saw kept promoting the original deal, leading to confusion.

For now, the probe continues, and frustrated Keno players are left waiting for answers.