What is Keno?

Keno is now a much appreciated casino game that can be found on both land base and online casinos, but where is it coming from and how did it evolved over time?

The word “keno” comes from French or Latin, quine and quini being translated as five winning numbers or five each. Although the name is European, the game originates from Asia, China to be more exact.  A legend says that the invention of the Keno game saved an ancient city in time of war, contributing to the spread of its popularity.

Keno is a type of lottery game and in ancient times it was played using sheets printed with Chinese characters, usually the first 80 characters of the Thousand Character Classic. In time, Chinese immigrants brought the game in Europe and later, in the 19th century, to the United States. Nowadays the game is played using small numbered balls.

The game is very simple: a player chooses minimum 4 and up to 10 numbers on a card with all numbers on it, each number selected being called a “Spot”. Choosing 10 numbers means you play a 10 Spot game. After that 20 numbered balls will be drawn randomly. If the player has selected one or more numbers drawn, he wins. The payout depends on the bet made and the number of winning spots.

Major online casinos where you can enjoy Keno include: This is Vegas, Europa Casino and Platinum Play.