"Lucky Keno" machine returned

A "Lucky Keno" machine, confiscated in error from a newsagents in James's Street, Dublin, by gardai last Saturday, has been returned.

It was thought the machine was being used as an outlet for British Lottery tickets. Reacting to the event, the Rehab Group has called on the Minister for Justice "to act with the same efficiency" in changing "the unfair, out of date 1956 Gaming and Lotteries Act".

Ms Angela Kerins, director of public affairs and care services at the Rehab group, pointed out in a statement that "under the existing, unfair law," Rehab's total prize fund is capped and they can only offer a top prize of £1,000 to £2,000, "as all the prizes together cannot amount to more than £10,000".

She drew attention to the National Lottery, which can "offer whatever top prize it wants to". She points out that it had a turnover of £303 million last year with 97 per cent of the market, and has reduced the total income of charities since it was established in 1987 "by £200 million".

The present law also means that Rehab incurs "unnecessary administration costs of up to £120,000 annually." She said that Rehab could run a service for more than 100 people with that money. Ms Kerins said that all Rehab wanted was "an equal playing pitch . . . fair play; no more, no less".