Keno

Keno is a lottery-style game in which players select a set of numbers from a pool typically ranging from 1 to 80, then wait for a random draw to see how many of their picks match the results. The more numbers a player matches, the higher the payout — though the specific prize structure varies depending on the platform or venue.

The gameplay is straightforward: a player chooses anywhere from one to twenty numbers, places a wager, and watches as 20 numbers are drawn either by a ball machine or a random number generator. Winnings are calculated based on the number of matches relative to the size of the original selection.

Keno is one of the oldest games still played in modern casinos, with roots tracing back to ancient China during the Han Dynasty around 200 BCE. The original version used 120 characters from a classical Chinese poem rather than numbers, and results in distant villages were reportedly delivered by carrier pigeons — which gave the game its early Chinese name, loosely translated as "white pigeon ticket." Chinese immigrants brought the game to the United States in the 19th century, where it gradually evolved into its current numerical format.

The name "keno" itself is derived from the French word quine, meaning a group of five — a reference to one of the winning combinations in early versions of the game.

Today, keno is available in land-based casinos, state lottery systems, and online platforms worldwide, making it one of the most geographically widespread games of chance in existence.