History of Keno
Interestingly, the history of modern keno owes itself to horse racing. Although Chinese immigrants originally brought the game to the United States in the 19th century, we borrow some of the Keno terminology we use today from horse racing.
Early Origins of Keno
Keno was said to have been invented during the Han dynasty in China as a lottery to support the army. It survived for hundreds of years and made it to the United States in the 19th century, along with the influx of Chinese who came over to build the railroads. The game grew in popularity, particularly in the West, finding its way to Montana and then Nevada.
Race Horse Keno
Although gambling was legal in Nevada, lotteries were not. However, bingo, called Keno at the time, was. To disguise the true nature of the Chinese game, proponents called it "race horse keno, put names of horses next to each number and called the games "races."
Keno Today
The "race horse" name and use of horses on the ticket have long since dropped away, but they still call keno games races. You can find Keno in almost any casino, and play it from a keno lounge or selected locations throughout the casino. You can usually find the Keno lounge next to or in combination with the horse racing betting parlor. You can also enjoy it in video Keno format on the casino floor, or on your home computer with online Keno.
