Screens playing electronic keno, such as this, will not be appearing in the near future in New Brunswick bars as part of the Atlantic Lottery Corp.'s new plans. (CBC)The New Brunswick government will not be gambling on a new electronic lottery game that's provoking controversy in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.

The Atlantic Lottery Corp. said it may introduce electronic keno to New Brunswick in the future but the province has stopped any plans to do so now.

'We've got a lot of work on our plate right now. So considering a new game such as that is not something we're looking at right now.'— Victor Boudreau, finance minister

Finance Minister Victor Boudreau said he's too busy implementing the government's new responsible gambling policy, which includes reducing the number of video lottery terminals and overseeing the setting up of the province's first casino, to deal with this new game.

"We've got a lot of work on our plate right now. So considering a new game such as that is not something we're looking at right now," Boudreau said.

The New Brunswick finance minister said he heard about keno for the first time on Thursday.

That's despite the fact that John Mallory, his deputy minister, represents the New Brunswick government on the Atlantic Lottery Corp. board of directors. As well, the implementation of the controversial game has sparked a major controversy in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.

Michelle Carinci, the president and chief executive officer of Atlantic Lottery Corp., is scheduled to appear at the standing committee on Crown corporations on Friday. Mallory, who is also the commissioner of the Lotteries Commission of New Brunswick, is also expected to appear separately in front of the all-party legislative committee.

Corporation plans 200 keno machines in N.S., P.E.I.

The Atlantic Lottery Corp. plans to roll out electronic keno in 200 bars and restaurants in Nova Scotia and P.E.I. in March.

Keno players purchase numbered tickets and draws are held every five minutes from noon until midnight. Players are limited to maximum bets of $10 per draw but there will be no other limit on the amount gamblers can spend in a day.

In Nova Scotia, that's led to protests from gambling opponents like Ken Hannah.

"This is going to have an outcry from all of the people that are going to be committing suicide because of bankruptcies, family problems. This is a devastating device that they're implementing," Hannah said.

ALC defends keno

Atlantic Lottery Corp. defends the game. A company spokeswoman said she understands why New Brunswick is not interested in the game at this time.

'This particular game has been restructured and really take the feedback from those experts and has reduced the amount that can be played and has reduced the availability of hours.'— Paula Dyke, ALC spokeswoman

Paula Dyke, a spokeswoman for the corporation, said it didn't fit with the New Brunswick government's gambling policy.

"The focus of the responsible gambling strategy has very much been the consolidation of the video lottery program," Dyke said.

Dyke wouldn't say whether the government vetoed the game, which it has the power to do.

The company's spokeswoman said keno has been thoroughly studied by responsible gaming experts.

"This particular game has been restructured and really take the feedback from those experts and has reduced the amount that can be played and has reduced the availability of hours," Dyke said.

Even with the brewing controversy over the new gambling initiative, P.E.I. Treasurer Wes Sheridan defended the game, arguing recently that keno is not as addictive as video lottery terminals.

"Individuals will go to a licenced establishment and will be there with their friends playing a game that will be electronically shown on one board. So you simply buy your ticket and watch your numbers scroll up over a five-minute period," he said.

"It's not the instant gratification that VLT players crave."