The History of Keno
Sunday, 19. October 2025
Keno was first played in two hundred BC by the Chinese military commander, Cheung Leung who used keno as a monetary resource for his declining forces. The metropolis of Cheung was waging a war, and after some time seemed to be facing country wide shortage of food with the excessive decrease in supplies. Cheung Leung had to develop a fast response for the economic calamity and to acquire revenue for his military. He therefore developed the game we now know as keno and it was a wonderful success.
Keno used to be known as the White Pigeon Game, because the winning numbers were sent out by pigeons from larger cities to the smaller towns. The lotto ‘Keno’ was imported to America in the 19th century by Chinese expatriates who migrated to the United States for work. In those times, Keno used one hundred and twenty numbers.
Today, Keno is regularly wagered on with just 80 numbers in almost all of American brick and mortar casinos as well as internet casinos. Keno is mainly played today as a consequence of the relaxed nature of wagering the game and the simple reality that there are no expertise needed to play Keno. Despite the fact that the chances of succeeding are appalling, there is always the possibility that you might hit quite large with little gaming investment.
Keno is played with 80 numbers with twenty numbers picked each game. Enthusiasts of Keno can choose from two to 10 numbers and bet on them, as much or as little as they are able to. The payout of Keno is dependent on the wagers made and the roll out of matching numbers.
Keno has grown in popularity in the United States since the end of the 1800’s when the Chinese letters were changed with , US numbers. Lotteries were not covered under the legalization of wagering in the state of Nevada in 1931. The casinos renamed the ‘Chinese lotto’ to ‘horse race keno’ utilizing the concept that the numbers are horses and you are wanting your horses to place. When the Nevada government passed a law that taxed off track wagering, the casinos swiftly changed the name to ‘Keno’.
Posted in Keno by Reed