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The History of Keno

[ English ]

Keno was created in two hundred before Christ by the Chinese military commander, Cheung Leung who used keno as a way to finance his declining army. The metropolis of Cheung was waging a war, and after awhile of war time seemed to be looking at a country wide famine with the excessive drop in supplies. Cheung Leung needed to develop a quick response for the economic disaster and to produce income for his army. He thusly created the game we know today as keno and it was a wonderful success.

Keno once was referred to as the White Pigeon Game, due to the fact that the winning numbers were broadcast by pigeons from larger cities to the smaller villages. The lottery ‘Keno’ was imported to America in the 1800s by Chinese immigrants who migrated to the US to jobs. In those times, Keno was played with 120 numbers.

Today, Keno is typically enjoyed with just 80 numbers in just about all of American brick and mortar casinos as well as internet casinos. Keno is mainly loved today because of the laid back nature of playing the game and the simple reality that there are no skills required to play Keno. Regardless of the fact that the odds of coming away with a win are terrible, there is always the hope that you might win quite large with very little gambling investment.

Keno is played with eighty numbers with 20 numbers drawn each round. Enthusiasts of Keno can pick 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 grew in acceptance in the US near the close of the 19th century when the Chinese characters were changed with more familiar, US numbers. Lotteries were not covered under the legalization of gaming in Nevada State in 1931. The casinos adjusted the name of the ‘Chinese lottery’ to ‘horse race keno’ employing the concept that the numbers are horses and you are wanting your horses to place. When the Nevada government passed a law that levied a tax on off track gambling, casinos swiftly adjusted the name to ‘Keno’.

Posted in Keno.


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