Keno

Keno is a popular game of chance available in modern casinos and some lotteries. It works by selecting numbers ranging from 1 to 80, and then drawing 20 numbers randomly using either a ball machine or random number generator. The player is rewarded based on their chosen numbers, the number of matches, and the wager using a set of paying tables determined by each casino. Compared to other games provided in the casino, most keno paytables have higher house edges, varying from less than 4% to over 35%. The origin of the word "keno" is connected to both French and Latin roots, but the game was believed to have started in China. It is said that the game saved an entire city during the time of war, and the funds raised from it helped construct the Great Wall of China. Keno became widely popular in China using printed sheets with Chinese characters, and the winning characters were chosen from the first 80 characters of the Thousand Character Classic. The Chinese introduced the game to the West during the 19th century when immigrants arrived to construct the First Transcontinental Railroad. The game became well-known in Houston, Texas, by 1866 and was called "Keno." Payouts for keno are based on the number of chosen numbers and the amount of matches. The more numbers selected and the more matches that occur, the larger the payout. A few paytables compensate for hitting a lower number of spots. It is typical for players to receive payouts ranging from $500 to $1,000 for a "catch" of 0 out of 20 spots with a $5.00 wager. The probability of hitting all 20 numbers on a 20 spot ticket is around 1 in 3.5 quintillion. Nonetheless, the same player would likely receive compensation for hitting 0, 1, 2, 3, and 7 through 19 catches out of 20. Some of the other paying "catches" on a 20 spot ticket or any other ticket with high "solid catch" odds are possible to hit.