Keno

With a history going back over 100 years, keno's early roots originate from China. The game was imported to the United States in the late 1800s by immigrant Chinese labourers.

The modern game of keno is played using a mechanical number selector normally powered by an air machine that forces small numbered balls through a selection tube. Each ball represents numbers from 1 to 80 corresponding to numbers on the players' keno cards.

The game play is quite familiar to anyone who has ever filled out a national lottery slip. Players take their keno card and mark off a series of numbers from one to 20 that they hope will be drawn in the next game. Payouts are calculated according to the chances of your numbers being drawn. For example, a player marking off five numbers for a 5 dollar bet may receive 5 dollars back if two of the numbers come up, 10 dollars if three numbers are called, 50 dollars for four numbers, and a mini jackpot of 200 dollars if all five numbers hit. Many other betting variations exist, each with their own payout schedule.

Another popular option is to participate in a keno progressive jackpot. To encourage players to lay heavier bets, casinos will offer accumulating jackpots, which sometimes even exceed a casino's 100% payback limit. Progressive jackpots can often offer huge prizes, although the chance of winning any of these bonanza prizes is exceedingly low.

Keno is fun, but it's not really considered to be a mainstream casino game. Most players will fill out a card while relaxing in between games in the casino, which normally satisfies most players' appetite for the game. Others may frequent the keno table as a pleasant way of passing the time of day placing minimum wager bets and taking advantage of their casino's hospitality.