Keno: History of the Game, Variations and Tactics

A casino game that dates back to ancient China, Keno has grown in popularity over the years, and today, it’s a widely played casino game around the world. From basic rules to the best online gaming strategies, this guide will give you everything you need to know about playing Keno online and in the comfort of your own home.

A Brief History of Keno

The game of keno originated in China more than 2,000 years ago. The game's original name was baige piao or pai-ko p’iao, which translates to “white pigeon ticket”. At first, instead of numbers, the keno tickets displayed characters from a classic piece of Chinese literature. This original version of keno is still very popular in a great part of China.

How to Play Keno

Keno is a classic game of chance where the player has to bet on numbers. Usually, the ticket or card with numbers from 1 to 40 –initially, the ticket had 80 numbers. The purpose of the game is to select which numbers you think are going to be drawn next. Keno has a maximum amount of numbers that can be selected and this variates depending on the total amount of numbers on the ticket. Normally, a player can select up to 10 numbers on a 40 numbers ticket. Once the player has chosen their numbers, ten numbers are drawn randomly. The higher the number of coincidences, the higher the payout for the player.

Keno Strategies for Online Gaming

The best way to improve your chances of winning at Keno is to familiarize yourself with the odds and the payout awarded for each the amount of numbers selected. Knowing the mathematical chances you have of hitting 4, 5, or 6 numbers can allow you to make an educated decision balancing the probabilities, the money you can afford to lose, and the possible winnings. You may be surprised at how much more insight into the game you gain by analyzing the odds in detail. Another way of improving your winnings is managing the pace of your bets. Keno can be a fast game, so taking your time between bests to remeasure your odds and choose a different set of numbers is essential.

With all this in mind, consider that the most important factor when playing online is trusting the game is fair so be sure to always choose provably fair certified sites!