Keno was first played in 200 BC by the Chinese military leader, Cheung Leung who utilized this game as a monetary resource for his declining army. The city of Cheung was waging a war, and after some time appeared to be facing national famine with the excessive decrease in supplies. Cheung Leung had to develop a rapid response for the financial calamity and to produce income for his forces. He, as it follows developed the game we know today as keno and it was a great success.
Keno once was known as the White Pigeon Game, because the winning numbers were broadcast by pigeons from larger cities to the tinier villages. The lotto ‘Keno’ was imported to America in the 19th century by Chinese expatriates who came to the United States to work. In those times, Keno was played with 120 numbers.
Today, Keno is generally played with 80 numbers in a majority of American based casinos as well as internet casinos. Keno is mainly liked today as a result of the laid back nature of playing the game and the simple fact that there are no skills needed to enjoy Keno. Despite the fact that the odds of succeeding are horrible, there is always the chance that you will win quite large with a tiny gaming investment.
Keno is played with eighty numbers with twenty numbers picked each game. Enthusiasts of Keno can select from 2 to ten numbers and wager on them, whatever amount they are able to. The pay out of Keno is dependent on the bets made and the roll out of matching numbers.
Keno has grown in popularity in the US since the close of the 1800’s when the Chinese letters were changed with more familiar, US numbers. Lottos were not covered under the legalization of gaming in Nevada State in 1931. The casinos renamed the ‘Chinese lottery’ to ‘horse race keno’ employing the idea that the numbers are horses and you are wanting your horses to come in. When a law passed that levied a tax on off track wagering, casinos quickly changed the name to ‘Keno’.