Keno is one of the smaller games played at both land-based and online casinos. However, due to the ease with which this game can be played, keno is slowly growing in popularity. The game is rather like bingo in that it consists of players selecting various numbers on a card. It also has a crossover with lottery games, which is why it can often be found on lottery sites as well.
Throughout this article, we will take a look at all the things relating to keno including how to play and the different options there are of this game.
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📌 History of Keno
While it's not known for certain where this game originated, there is strong evidence to suggest the game originally came from China. Interestingly though, the name of the game actually has French origins. Nevertheless, the legend surrounding this game says that it was a popular game during times of war, and it helped to fund the building of the Great Wall of China.
Interestingly, lotteries in China have been around for a while, which is likely the way keno gained its popularity. For outlying villages, the results of these games were actually sent out via carrier pigeon! The original version of this game didn't contain numbers either, but rather used Chinese characters.
It wasn't until the 19th century that the game was finally introduced to the USA. The name of the game gradually become anglicized too until it became known as keno.
📌 How to play Keno
Keno is very easy to play. As we mentioned, this is essentially a lottery game of chance. Similar to bingo, the aim of the game is to select the numbers that are about to come up on the keno balls. Usually a keno card will have the numbers 1 to 80 on it and the player simply needs to select up to ten numbers. The bet for these numbers is then placed. Depending on how many numbers the player gets correct, the size of the payout will vary. Twenty numbers are then chosen at random by the game mechanics, but this does give players a good chance to get theirs right.
📌 Different Keno bets
There are some different bets that can be placed when playing keno. The first thing to consider is that players don't need to actually choose ten numbers. It is possible to just choose a single number in a round as this will cost less. However, the chances of getting that number are lower. On top of that, the payout will also be smaller.
The more numbers a player chooses, the higher the chances are of matching more numbers, and the bigger the payout will be. It's important to note that the payout for different numbers of balls will vary between keno games and online casinos. This means it is important for players to check out the individual keno paytable before they get gaming.
📌 Keno strategies
Though keno is a game of luck, there are some tips to getting ahead when playing. Essentially, any strategy employed in this game won't guarantee a win. Rather, it will give the player an equal chance of winning as the odds of the game can't really be affected very much.
One strategy is to place bets on the balls that have yet to be drawn. This is called betting on cold numbers. Other players choose to go the opposite way and select hot numbers, or those that have recently come up or have appeared a number of times during previous rounds.
Yet other players simply select lucky or favored numbers or specific standard number combinations that they like to rely on when playing lottery games such as this. At the end of the day, none of these strategies have any mathematical advantage, they are simply playing styles.
Really, the only way to stay ahead of a losing streak is to manage the bankroll and employ strategies that ensure players don't lose too much when gaming.
📌 FAQ
Keno is a simple game that requires you to choose up to 10 numbers from a card with 1 to 80. Twenty numbers are drawn at random with payouts being awarded when a specific amount of player-selected numbers actually match the numbers drawn.
Yes, you can. Many online casinos have virtual keno games too, and these can be played for real money. However, this game is purely luck-based, so winning is not guaranteed.
Yes, keno is a luck-based lottery-style game and is available to play in a number of states across the country. Players will need to check the legality for their individual state.