All you need to know about Keno
Posted on September 3, 2008
Filed Under Keno |
Keno is a lottery-like or bingo-like gambling game played at modern casinos. A traditional live casino keno game uses a circular glass enclosure called a “bubble” containing 80 ping pong-like balls which determine the balldraw result. Each ball is imprinted with a number 1 through 80. During the balldraw, a blower pushes air into the bubble and mixes the balls. A “caller” presses a lever opening a tube, where the balls lift one at a time into a “V” shaped tube called the “rabbit ears”. The caller and a “verifier” record each of 20 balls drawn, and the computerized keno system calculates all wagers based on the numbers drawn.
Players wager by marking an “X” over the “spot” choices on a blank keno ticket form with 80 numbered selection boxes (1 to 80). After all players successfully place their wagers, the casino draws 20 balls (numbers) at random. Some casinos automatically call the balldraw at preset timed intervals regardless of whether or not players are waiting to place a wager.
Each casino sets its own series of pay scale choices called “paytables”. The player is paid based on how many numbers drawn match the numbers selected on the ticket and according to the paytable selected with regard to the wager amount.
The house edge ranges from less than 4% to 66%. The typical house edge for non-slot casino games is between 0% and 5%.
Keno history
Keno originated in ancient China in the Han Dynasty between 205 and 187 B.C. Chinese immigrants brought the game to America in the 19th century.
The word “keno” has French or Latin roots (Fr. quine five winning numbers, L. quini five each), but by all accounts the game originated in China over 2000 years ago. Legend has it that the invention of the game saved an ancient city in time of war, and its widespread popularity helped raise funds to build the Great Wall. According to one source, results of keno games in great cities were sent to outlying villages and hamlets by carrier pigeon. Eventually, Chinese immigrants introduced keno to the West when they sailed across the Pacific to help build the American trans-continental railroad in the 19th century.
How to play online keno
To play online Keno, as well as in live land-based locales, each player receives a ticket (the Keno board) with a total of 80 numbers printed on it. Your aim in the game is to predict as many of the 20 numbers that are selected in each round as possible. This ‘balldraw’ generally occurs at the “Keno booth” but can be determined by one of four devices:
Traditional “Rabbit Ear” blower
“AKV”: Automated blower in which the balls are encoded, read by a computer, then sent to a computerized Keno system for processing
Random Number Generator: An electronic number selection device approved by gaming authorities
“Hand Cage”: A spinning metal ball cage which rolls the numbers into a slot where they are validated by a person.
Online, the computer, incidentally, selects these numbers randomly, and the online Keno player can choose to bet on anywhere between 1 and 10 numbers that he or she believes will come up.
Online keno rules
When a Keno player’s number matches a number chosen at random, it’s called a “Hit.” The payoff in a game of Keno depends on whether you choose “Bet $1,” “Bet $3,” or “Bet $5.” (The maximum bet in most online Keno games is $5). Other important determining factors include: how many numbers you select each game (between 1 and 10) and, of course, how many of these numbers become “Hits.”
You begin by designating those numbers you want on the Keno board. You are usually also given the option to have the computer select a random 10 numbers for you, if you prefer. This should be a button labelled “Automatic Deal 10 Numbers” or something along those lines. When you have picked a number, it turns green. If you wish to de-select a number, just click on it again. You’ll see your potential payoff in one corner of your online Keno screen as you choose your numbers.
After you’ve decided how many numbers you wish to play, it’s time to choose whether you want to bet $1, $3, or $5. Click on the appropriate button and you’ll see your potential payoff this time adjusting accordingly in the corner of your screen.
Next, you may choose how many games of Keno you would like to play by clicking on either “Play One,” “Play Five,” or “Play Ten.” After each game of Keno, you can view your results on the left side of your screen. You can click on each game to get detailed information on each game you play. To keep playing the same numbers in a new game, click on “Repeat Bet.”
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