While Keno funded the construction of China's Great Wall over two millennia ago, its modern journey from underground horse-race parlors to casino lounges and digital apps reveals a game of surprising historical depth and enduring appeal.
Key Takeaways
- Keno originated in ancient China around 200 BCE as a lottery game called 'baak fan sin' used to fund military expenses including the Great Wall construction.
- The modern form of Keno was introduced in the United States in the 1930s in Nevada to circumvent strict anti-gambling laws by presenting it as a bingo-like game.
- In 1936, Keno parlors in Nevada used racehorse names instead of numbers to masquerade as horse racing betting amid gambling bans.
- Standard Keno uses 80 numbers from which 20 are drawn randomly every 4-5 minutes.
- Players select 1 to 10 spots (numbers) on a Keno card, winning based on matches with drawn balls.
- Multi-race Keno allows betting on up to 20 consecutive draws for progressive jackpots.
- Odds of hitting 10 out of 10 spots in Keno are 1 in 8,911,711 with 20 drawn from 80.
- House edge on a 1-spot Keno bet is approximately 28.57% based on standard paytables.
- Probability of catching exactly 5 out of 7 spots is 1 in 324.63, with average payout 200:1.
- Keno worldwide player base exceeds 50 million annually across lotteries and casinos.
- In the US, 12 states offer state-run Keno games with over 10,000 terminals.
- Video Keno machines number over 100,000 in US taverns and casinos combined.
- Nevada Keno wagers totaled $1.1 billion in FY2023.
- Keno taxes fund 5% of Ohio public education budget annually.
- Global Keno market size reached $4.8 billion in 2023 revenue.
Keno originated in ancient China and evolved into a popular casino game with frequent lottery-style drawings.
Economic and Regulatory
- Nevada Keno wagers totaled $1.1 billion in FY2023.
- Keno taxes fund 5% of Ohio public education budget annually.
- Global Keno market size reached $4.8 billion in 2023 revenue.
- Nevada Gaming Commission mandates minimum 20% payout on Keno machines.
- Keno generated $150 million in Australian GST revenue in 2022.
- US state lotteries collect 35% tax on Keno prizes over $600.
- Keno writer commissions capped at 25% of handle in Nevada.
- Massachusetts Keno contributes $80 million yearly to local aid programs.
- Average Keno hold percentage is 30% for casinos, highest among table games.
- Keno prizes under $1,200 exempt from federal withholding in US.
- Rhode Island Keno sales hit $250 million in 2023, 15% of lottery revenue.
- Regulatory audits require Keno RNG seed changes every 24 hours.
- Keno funds 3% of Iowa's natural resources conservation efforts.
- Casino Keno lease fees average $500/month per machine in bars.
- UK Gambling Commission licenses Keno with 90% RTP minimum online.
- Keno tax revenue in New Hampshire tops $40 million annually.
- Progressive Keno meters taxed at 6% contribution rate in Nevada.
- Keno handle in Georgia lottery exceeded $100 million in first year (2022).
- GLI-33 standard certifies all US Keno equipment for fairness.
- Keno supports 2,500 jobs in Nevada casino operations.
- Ontario iGaming Keno generates CAD 50 million in operator fees yearly.
- Keno prize reserves must be 100% funded per state regulations.
- Average bet size on Keno is $3.50, yielding $1.05 house profit.
- Keno legalized in 20 US states since 2016 expansions.
- Macau Keno concessions pay 40% gross gaming revenue tax.
- Keno advertising capped at 5% of gross revenue in Australia.
Economic and Regulatory Interpretation
Keno is a masterclass in making the simple act of picking numbers look like a global charitable initiative, all while casinos quietly pocket that staggering 30% hold from billions in wagers.
History and Origins
- Keno originated in ancient China around 200 BCE as a lottery game called 'baak fan sin' used to fund military expenses including the Great Wall construction.
- The modern form of Keno was introduced in the United States in the 1930s in Nevada to circumvent strict anti-gambling laws by presenting it as a bingo-like game.
- In 1936, Keno parlors in Nevada used racehorse names instead of numbers to masquerade as horse racing betting amid gambling bans.
- Keno helped finance the legalization of gambling in Nevada in 1931 by generating revenue for public transportation improvements during the Great Depression.
- The first Keno game in the US was called 'Horse Race Keno' and drawn every few minutes in Bingham Canyon, Utah before moving to Nevada.
- Keno tickets in early Nevada featured illustrations of racehorses corresponding to the 80 numbers to evade gambling prohibitions.
- By 1960, Keno lounges proliferated in Las Vegas casinos, becoming a staple with live callers and big screens displaying results.
- Keno's popularity surged in the 1970s with video Keno machines, leading to widespread adoption in bars and taverns across the US.
- The term 'Keno' derives from the French 'quine' meaning five winning numbers, introduced by Chinese immigrants in 19th-century America.
- In 1849, Keno arrived in the US via Chinese laborers during the California Gold Rush, evolving into lotteries in mining camps.
- Keno was banned in China during the Qing Dynasty but resurfaced in the 19th century among overseas Chinese communities.
- Nevada legalized Keno in 1935 as part of efforts to boost tourism and state revenue post-Depression.
- The largest Keno jackpot ever won was $1.5 million in Australia in 2019 on a 10-spot ticket.
- Keno drawings in ancient China occurred 10 times daily, similar to modern video Keno frequency.
- In 1860s San Francisco, Keno was known as 'Lotus Lottery' run by Chinese operators.
- Keno parlors in 1940s Reno featured live piano music and free drinks to attract crowds.
- The Nevada Gaming Control Board first regulated Keno in 1955 with standardized payout structures.
- Keno's spread to Australia began in the 1980s, now generating over AUD 1 billion annually.
- In Hawaii, Keno was popular among plantation workers in the early 1900s before statehood ban.
- Keno machines debuted in 1975 at the Golden Gate Casino in Las Vegas.
- Ancient Chinese Keno used 90 characters instead of 80 numbers for poetic lottery draws.
- Keno funded over 10% of the Great Wall's construction costs through lottery proceeds in Han Dynasty.
- In 1932, Bing Crosby was a regular at early Keno games in Elko, Nevada.
- Keno transitioned from horse-race format to numbered balls in Nevada by 1959.
- The first computerized Keno system was installed in Atlantic City in 1980.
- Keno in Macau traces back to Portuguese casinos in the 1960s blending Asian and European styles.
- During WWII, Keno parlors in Nevada aided war bond sales through promotions.
- Keno's 80-number format was standardized in US casinos by 1940.
- Chinese emperor Cheung Leung invented Keno around 200 BC to boost army morale and funds.
- Keno lounges peaked at over 1,000 in Nevada in the 1980s before video decline.
History and Origins Interpretation
From ancient Chinese army funding to evading American gambling laws with horse-themed subterfuge, Keno's entire history has been one long, clever hustle to legally separate people from their money for a chance to win big.
Odds and Payouts
- Odds of hitting 10 out of 10 spots in Keno are 1 in 8,911,711 with 20 drawn from 80.
- House edge on a 1-spot Keno bet is approximately 28.57% based on standard paytables.
- Probability of catching exactly 5 out of 7 spots is 1 in 324.63, with average payout 200:1.
- RTP for 5-spot Keno is 45.25% under Nevada minimum paytable standards.
- 1 in 4.29 chance of catching at least 4 out of 6 spots, common for $20+ payouts on $1 bet.
- Expected value for 9-spot Keno is -35.7% per bet due to high variance.
- Odds of no matches on a 10-spot ticket are 1 in 2.85, paying 1:1 typically.
- Hitting 6/6 spots occurs 1 in 2,330 times with payout averaging 1,600:1.
- Variance for Keno 8-spots is 32.4, making it one of the highest volatility casino games.
- 1 in 326,876 chance for 7/7 perfect catch, payout up to 10,000:1 in video Keno.
- Average return for 2-spot Keno is 77.22% RTP, better than slots but worse than video poker.
- Probability distribution shows 4/10 catches happen 1 in 20.6 draws on average.
- House advantage on catch-all bets exceeds 40% for 10-spots due to jackpot caps.
- 1 in 9.54 odds for at least one match on single spot, paying even money.
- Payout for 8/8 in standard Keno is 2,000:1, occurring once every 230,115 games.
- Multiplier-enabled Keno reduces house edge to 20% on average for bonus plays.
- Break-even point for 3-spot Keno requires 84.68% RTP, rarely achieved.
- Odds of 0/10 catches in 10-spot are 23.28%, paying 1:1 consolation.
- Standard paytable for 6/10 catches offers 15:1, with combo probability 1 in 36.5.
- Video Keno 7-spot RTP peaks at 89% on optimal paytables like 'Not So Ugly Ducks'.
- 1 in 1,384 chance for 9/10 catches, payout 160:1 average.
- House edge variance across states: Oregon 22%, Nevada 30% for similar bets.
- Expected hits per 10-spot draw: 2.5 on average from hypergeometric distribution.
- Jackpot odds for progressive Keno top out at 1 in 14 million for max bets.
- 5/5 catch probability 1 in 52.35, standard payout 150:1 yielding -25% EV.
- Keno generated $250 million in Nevada casino revenue in 2022.
Odds and Payouts Interpretation
The house throws you a seemingly hopeful 1-in-9 chance to win your dollar back, while quietly ensuring that, statistically speaking, Keno is less a game of luck and more a masterclass in turning your money into their quarter-billion dollar revenue stream one astronomically bad bet at a time.
Popularity and Usage
- Keno worldwide player base exceeds 50 million annually across lotteries and casinos.
- In the US, 12 states offer state-run Keno games with over 10,000 terminals.
- Video Keno machines number over 100,000 in US taverns and casinos combined.
- 28% of Nevada casino visitors play Keno at least once per trip per 2023 surveys.
- Australian Keno sees 1.5 million tickets sold daily across Tabcorp networks.
- Online Keno traffic grew 45% YoY in 2023, reaching 5 million monthly users.
- 65% of Keno players are male, aged 35-54, per UK Gambling Commission data.
- Keno ranks #7 in casino game playtime, averaging 45 minutes per session.
- Michigan Club Keno has 4,500+ retailers with $200 million wagered yearly.
- 40% of Las Vegas locals play Keno weekly via off-strip lounges.
- Mobile Keno apps downloaded 20 million times in 2023 on Google Play.
- Keno participation in Canada reaches 2 million players monthly via BCLC.
- 15% of lottery players prefer Keno over scratchers or draw games.
- Peak Keno play occurs 8-10 PM, with 30% higher volume than daytime.
- Women comprise 35% of Keno players, up 10% since 2015 digital shift.
- Keno lounge attendance in Reno dropped 70% since 2000 due to video shift.
- 1 in 5 Oregon Lottery players choose Keno daily for its frequent draws.
- Global online Keno market valued at $1.2 billion in 2023, projected 8% CAGR.
- 55% of Keno players are repeat customers betting $10+ per session.
- Keno popular in Asia with 20 million WeChat mini-game users monthly.
- US Keno wager volume hit $3.5 billion in 2022 across states.
- Average Keno player age is 48, higher than slots (42) per AGA surveys.
- Keno ticket sales peak during weekends, 25% above weekdays.
- 70% of video Keno play occurs in non-casino venues like bars.
- Keno contributes 2% of total US casino floor revenue annually.
- Social Keno tournaments attract 500,000 participants yearly online.
- Keno player retention rate is 62% monthly for state lotteries.
Popularity and Usage Interpretation
Keno's persistent, low-stakes charm, quietly thriving from dimly lit casino lounges to buzzing mobile screens, reveals a devoted, older, and statistically predictable player base who find its simple, social rhythm a comforting constant in a rapidly digitizing gambling world.
Rules and Variations
- Standard Keno uses 80 numbers from which 20 are drawn randomly every 4-5 minutes.
- Players select 1 to 10 spots (numbers) on a Keno card, winning based on matches with drawn balls.
- Multi-race Keno allows betting on up to 20 consecutive draws for progressive jackpots.
- In video Keno, autoplay feature enables up to 100 consecutive games without manual input.
- Australian Keno draws every 3.5 minutes, 365 days a year, using physical ball machines.
- Way tickets in Keno allow multiple combinations of numbers on a single card for complex bets.
- King Keno variation pays bonuses for consecutive wins, common in Washington state lotteries.
- In Nevada Keno, house edge averages 25-40% depending on spots played and paytable.
- Progressive Keno links jackpots across machines, resetting at $10,000 and growing with bets.
- Caveman Keno adds multipliers up to 8x based on bonus coin flips after wins.
- Keno cards feature an 8x10 grid, with numbers 1-80 arranged in rows for easy marking.
- Extra draw Keno offers a bonus ball draw for additional prizes on non-winning tickets.
- In online Keno, RNG certification by GLI ensures fairness equivalent to physical draws.
- Spot progression betting increases wager after losses, allowed in most casino Keno.
- Keno-to-go mobile apps simulate live draws with geolocation for state lotteries.
- Four-card Keno lets players mark four separate tickets simultaneously on one screen.
- Power Keno boosts payouts by 20-50% for hitting specific catch counts like 5/6 spots.
- In club Keno (Michigan), tickets cost $1 minimum with multipliers up to 10x.
- Keno Xtra adds random multipliers from 1.25x to 10x on all wins per draw.
- Traditional live Keno requires minimum $1 bet per spot with seller commissions at 20%.
- Bonus Keno pays extra for catching all spots or none in certain video formats.
- Keno 4 adds poker-style hand rankings for bonus payouts beyond standard matches.
- In Quebec 49 Keno variant, draws use same numbers as Lotto 6/49 for hybrid play.
- Video Keno RTP averages 92-95% across paylines, lower than blackjack but higher than slots.
- Straight ticket Keno pays fixed amounts per catch regardless of spot count chosen.
- Keno drawings use certified random number generators audited quarterly by state regulators.
Rules and Variations Interpretation
Keno offers a dazzling array of ways to lose your money slightly less slowly, provided you can navigate a labyrinth of rules while the house calmly siphons a 25-40% edge from your desperate hope for a miracle.
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