Keno
History
Keno is believed to have originated in ancient China in the
Han Dynasty between 205 and 187 B.C. The game was brought
to America in the 19th century by Chinese immigrants.The
word "Keno" has French or Latin roots (Fr. quine five
winning numbers, L. quini five each), but by all accounts
the game originated in China over 2000 years ago. Legend
has it that the invention of the game saved an ancient city
in time of war, and its widespread popularity helped raise
funds to build the Great Wall. According to one source,
results of Keno games in great cities were sent to outlying
villages and hamlets by carrier pigeon. Eventually, Chinese
immigrants introduced Keno to the West when they sailed
across the Pacific to help build the American
trans-continental railroad in the 19th century.
Modern
Keno
Numbers are picked at the "keno booth". "Keno runners" will
walk around shouting "keno!" and offering number selection
cards to anyone interested in playing.
After picking numbers and recording them at the keno booth,
the player will then watch either a "big board" in which
winning keno numbers will light up or on a video monitor
showing the selected numbers found throughout the casino.
As the winning numbers light up, the player usually marks
them on his or her card with a bright-colored marker. A
winning ticket needs to be taken to the keno booth
immediately if it is an individual game ticket, as drawings
usually take place every five minutes. If the player tries
to redeem a winning ticket when the next drawing starts, it
is void and no money is paid out.
To avoid having a void ticket, a keno player can purchase a
"multi-race" ticket with the same picked numbers on
anywhere from 2 to 20 tickets. When the maximum number of
games (matching the number of tickets) is finished, the
player can then redeem any winnings and avoid the peril of
a void ticket. Another option is the "stray and play"
ticket, which is usually a number of games greater than 30.
Unlike standard keno tickets, the "stray and play" doesn't
have to be redeemed immediately and is often good for up to
a year after purchase.
In the State of Nevada many Las Vegas casinos have
introduced their own keno games. The odds of winning are
about the same as in traditional keno games, except a keno
player may select from a very large number of so called
"special" games. These games are often changed and revised
to introduce an element of newness and excitement, yet
basic principles always remain the same - the house always
has a tremendous advantage over the player.
Lottery versions of Keno are now used in many National
Lotteries or state licensed Lotteries around the world. The
games have different formulas depending on the wanted price
structure and whether the game is slow (daily or weekly),
or if it is a fast game with just minutes between the
draws. The drawn numbers are typically published on TV for
the slow games and on monitors at the point of sale for the
fast games. A video keno machine typically has a far
greater payout and win-rate than a traditional keno game.
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