Keno: This Underrated Casino Game Is A Hidden Gem

Similar to the popular game Bingo, Keno is a fun number game often played in casinos. The lottery-like game is often considered one of the most underrated casino games. Modern casinos are mostly known to offer the game, but one can also play it online as well. Those who are looking for entertaining new games on their trips to casinos must give Keno a try.

How is Keno played?

The game is played with cards or tickets that have numbers from 1 to 80. Out of which players need to pick 20 random numbers. After that, 20 balls imprinted with numbers will be spun and then drawn out of a transparent container. The goal is to match the maximum numbers marked on the player’s card to the ones that have been drawn. The more number a player hits, the larger his payouts will be. Some casinos also offer payouts for the least hits on a card.

History of Keno

The game draws its origins from China where it is played as a popular pass time for the population. Dating back at least 2,000 years, the game was also believed to have helped raise funds for the construction of the Great Wall of China. The original Chinese name for Keno is baige piao or pai-ko p’iao which translates to ‘white pigeon ticket.’ The name was the result of pigeons being used as tickets in the process of betting. Among communities in China that continue to play the game, the first 80 characters of the classic Chinese book, Quianziwen is used in the place of numbers.

Photo Credit: Santeri Viinamäki

The lottery-like game was subsequently introduced in the United States by Chinese immigrants during the 1840s. The 20th century was when the game started gaining popularity and the Chinese characters were then changed to numbers.

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While Keno is played in live casinos, even online casinos offer the game. These online platforms try to make the game more enjoyable by creating different graphic styles, payout structures, and betting methods. Since Keno is a casino game, there are no set strategies that will provide a set outcome but even then, players try out their own game style.

For more interesting information on other casino games, keep reading GutshotMagazine.com. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Telegram.

Donna Amo

Donna Amo was a writer at Gutshot Magazine. She is a graduate from Sophia College of Women, Mumbai with a degree in English Literature. When this October born foodie is not writing content or poetry, she spends her time laughing at memes or watching series. Based out of Mizoram, she is drawn to all things nature and has a soft spot for puppies.