The History And Evolution Of Keno

Ancient Origins: Keno in Imperial China

Keno’s origins trace back more than 2,000 years to the Han Dynasty (around 200 BCE), a period of immense cultural and economic development in China. According to historical accounts, the game was originally known as the ‘White Pigeon Ticket’ because results were communicated to distant villages via carrier pigeons. The game used 120 Chinese characters from the ‘Thousand Character Classic,’ a traditional poem familiar to educated citizens. Players would choose a selection of these symbols, and if enough of their picks matched the drawn symbols, they won.

Legend has it that Keno helped fund the construction of major public works projects, even parts of the Great Wall of China. While historians debate this claim, the story highlights Chinese society's early fusion of gambling, public funding, and entertainment. Unlike games of pure luck, Keno held cultural symbolism, with characters representing wisdom, luck, and prosperity.

Keno Comes to the West

Fast forward to the 19th century, when Chinese immigrants brought the game to the United States during the California Gold Rush and the construction of the transcontinental railway. In bustling mining towns and railroad camps, Keno became known as the ‘Chinese Lottery,’ offering simple rules and instant gratification for exhausted workers. Western audiences, unfamiliar with Chinese characters, adapted the game by replacing the symbols with numbers, a transformation that shaped modern Keno.

Despite widespread anti-gambling sentiment and restrictive laws in the 1800s, Keno endured. It evolved through underground halls and private clubs, eventually earning a foot hold in the American gaming landscape. By the early 20th century, Keno had become one of the most recognisable and enduring lottery-style games in the West.

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The Legalisation Era: American Keno in the 20th Century

When Nevada legalised gambling in 1931, Keno quickly found its place among the casino classics. To avoid legal conflicts with state lottery laws, operators temporarily rebranded the game as ‘Racehorse Keno,’ with numbers representing imaginary horses. Patrons would ‘bet’ on the horses, and the winning numbers were drawn like race results. The game returned to its original name when lottery restrictions eased, but kept the new numerical format.

During this period, Keno developed many structural features that are still used today, such as printed tickets, fixed payout tables, and the familiar 1–80 number grid. Casinos standardised odds and prizes, while house edges were calculated scientifically to ensure sustainable profitability. By the 1960s, Keno had become a staple of casino gaming across Las Vegas and Reno, appealing to casual players drawn to its simplicity and potential for large payouts.