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» About
The word "Keno"
has French or Latin roots (Fr. quine five winning numbers,
L. quini five each), but by all accounts the game originated
in China over 2000 years ago. Legend has it that the invention
of the game saved an ancient city in time of war, and its
widespread popularity helped raise funds to build the Great
Wall. According to one source, results of Keno games in great
cities were sent to outlying villages and hamlets by carrier
pigeon. Eventually, Chinese immigrants introduced Keno to
the West when they sailed across the Pacific to help build
the American trans-continental railroad in the 19th century.
Keno is similar to lotto games, in that players have a card
or ticket with numbers that are selected in hopes of matching
the numbered balls that are drawn during play. Early Keno
games looked for a match of five numbers to win. Some Keno
dealers used a large jar with a long, thin neck to tumble
the balls. The neck was just wide enough to permit only one
ball at time to flow, thus eliminating any argument about
which number was drawn. For obvious reasons, this jar was
called the "Keno goose".
» The game
First, players must purchase a Castle Keno ticket. To buy
a ticket, place a $1 chip in the circle marked “Place
Bets” on the Betting Board. None of the betting options
can become active until a ticket is purchased.
Next, players try to predict which numbers will be drawn
by marking from 1 to 15 of the numbered blocks (“Spots”)
on the wall. To mark a block simply mouse over the block and
click it. The block will change color to indicate it has been
marked. As you mark each block, the Spots counter at the bottom
of the screen will increment. (Note that it is possible to
mark more than 15 Spots, but the numbers can’t be drawn
until the number of Spots is reduced to 15 or less). To remove
a mark, just click on the block and it will change back to
the original color (and decrement the Spots counter).
There are five betting options in Castle Keno. Each option
requires a certain number of Spots to be marked before it
becomes active. As you mark Spots, the buttons for the options
will light up when you have satisfied their minimum and maximum
Spots.
When you are satisfied with the arrangement of your Spots,
click the desired betting option on the Betting Board to start
the game. Twenty rocks will be hurled toward the Castle, striking
different numbered blocks at random. As each rock smashes
a block in the wall, a flag will unfurl to display the corresponding
number. When a number you marked on the wall is struck by
one of the rocks, that’s called a “hit”.
After the final rock has found its target, the player will
be paid according to how many of the rocks hit marked blocks
based on the payout table for the chosen betting option.
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