FIRST the National Lottery was a weekly draw.

Now there's one on Wednesdays as well.

But what of a game every 10 minutes?

That's what lottery organisers Camelot are considering - with plans to introduce a form of televised bingo called Keno that could be played in pubs, clubs and even supermarkets.

It may well be that, under pressure to raise more money for good causes in order to help its bid to renew its lucrative lottery licence in three years' time, Camelot thinks Keno is a way of achieving that goal.

But, of course, it is also looking for another seam in the profit gold mine it has been granted.

Yet has anyone considered the side-effects of a virtual non-stop lottery - the potential increase in gambling addiction and less well-off families being tempted into risking more than they can afford?

That point - coupled with investigations of the addiction impact in countries where Keno already exists - should be thoroughly examined before the lottery is allowed to go non-stop.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.