Discover and Play Keno Game Online
Thanks to online casino gaming, the centuries-old game of Keno is still, if not more, entertaining today. UK players love this lottery-style game, which has its roots in ancient Chinese culture, involves selecting numbers and attempting to match them with those selected by Prime Casinos fair random number generator (RNG). Online Keno is best loved because it’s so simple; all you have to do is deposit a wager, select the numbers you wish to play, and cross your fingers.
Continue reading to learn all you need to about Keno.
What is Keno?
Keno is a quick-play game that is quite similar to lotto. In Keno, players can select numbers between 1 and 80, and can pick as many or as few numbers as they want within the specific game's permitted parameters (typically up to 15).
When a player’s picks are locked in, a predetermined amount of numbers is selected (usually 20). In Online Keno, the selection is made by RNG computer software, to ensure fair and wholly random outcomes.
Players win prizes depending on how many drawn numbers they predicted with more matches awarding high-value prizes.
Keno's 2000-Year History
Keno has been a staple of Chinese culture for at least 2,000 years (yes, that's two thousand!). Historically, the Chinese called the game 'baige piao' or 'pai-ko p’iao', depending on their region which translates to 'white pigeon ticket', as Keno was most commonly used to bet on homing pigeons. The first 80 letters of Qianziwen, or the "Book of a Thousand Characters," were utilised on the original baige piao ticket, which is still widely used in Chinese communities today.
Keno is not the only staple casino game which originates from the 'White Pigeon Ticket' game, as Lotto and bingo also owe their origins to the game. Alongside Chinese immigration, Keno arrived in the western United States in the 1840s. The game as we know it today dates back to the early 1900s.
How Keno Is Played
One of the reasons why Keno has passed the test of time is because its gameplay is so simple; historically even the most simple peasant or revered lord could take part in the fun, and with such straightforward game rules, Keno could transcend language barriers. The how-to-play steps for this game are as follows:
Players load their preferred Keno game on their preferred device and make their wager.
Players can pick up to 15 numbers between 1 and 80 and when the player has selected their numbers, 20 numbers will be selected by the RNG software.
Each of the selected numbers that match those picked by the player will be marked off. Players will then be awarded prizes which reflect how many numbers they were able to match.
When payouts have been made, the next round can begin. Keno games are usually played in 5-10 game batches.
The Positives and Negatives of Keno
Of course, there is no perfect casino game, as all games have been created to suit different player types and cultures over tens. Hundreds, and in the case of Keno, thousands of years. To help you effectively assess whether Keno gameplay will suit your unique playstyle we have created a pros and cons table, found below:
Pros
- Keno is very simple to play, with few rules
- Keno is widely available in most online casinos
- Online casinos can boast a selection of more unique Keno variants
- Rounds are played quickly, which is ideal for casual gameplay
- Games are optimised for mobile play, and its simple rules suit on-the-go gaming
Cons
- When compared to other casino games like slots or bingo, Keno doesn’t offer high-value payouts.
- Its simple gameplay can make playing Keno become repetitive very quickly
- The simplicity of the game limits the incorporation of additional elements such as bonus rounds.
- While all casino games are games of random chance, the simple nature of Keno emphasises this.
Why Players Love Playing Online Keno at Prime Casino
Our players love the selection of Keno games found on our site. Here are just a few more reasons why Prime Casino offers the best Keno experiences for players:
