Vladislav Slyusarenko: “KENO, history and the current situation in online gambling”

Among the many lottery games, KENO is the standard of gambling entertainment, which has been popular since ancient times. Its roots go back to ancient Chinese times, and this game remains a relevant form of entertainment nowadays.

In this article, I, Vladislav Slyusarenko (CMO BETCORE), would like to share the secrets of why Keno is so popular and attractive to players. And I know about this game first-hand, because for many years now, one of our flagship products has been the KENO game, which has had fans all over the world all these years and is constantly evolving.

History of keno: From Ancient China to modern casinos

Keno is a game of luck that boasts a storied history dating back to ancient eras. Its origin is associated with the Chinese Zhong Dynasty, which ruled from the 4th century BC until 1849. The precise date of its appearance is unknown, but scientists claim that Keno was the predecessor of the modern lottery and played in Ancient China as a means to raise funds for the construction of the Chinese Wall.

The term "Keno" finds its origins in the French word "quine," representing a combination of five winning numbers, itself rooted in Latin. This name became widely used in France in the 18th century, when Keno was introduced into the country by missionaries from China.

At the end of the 19th century, Keno made its debut in the United States, where it was received with great interest. The game became popular among Chinese immigrants and quickly spread throughout the country. At the time, Keno was played in Chinatowns and was often associated with criminal elements, leading to its ban in many states.

In the 20th century, Keno received official status and became part of many state lotteries. With the development of online gambling and the emergence of online casinos, Keno has also become available in a virtual format, attracting new fans.

Rules of the modern game

Today, Keno continues to be one of the most popular lottery games in the world. There are different variations of rules and game formats, but the basic idea remains the same.

The rules of Keno are simple: players are asked to select a set of numbers from a specific range (usually 1 to 80) and then wait for the randomly selected numbers to be released. The more numbers that match those chosen by the player, the larger the prize he receives.

However, what makes this game truly unique is the ability to play it online. Presently, Keno enjoys immense popularity in online casinos, offering players the thrill of the game at their convenience, accessible from any device's screen, anytime.

The online format of playing Keno opens many opportunities for players. Modern technologies allow you to enjoy a user-friendly interface, fast results and various betting options, which makes the game even more exciting.

Thus, playing Keno has not only become part of the history of gambling but also remains quite relevant in the modern online world. Its simple rules, unique excitement and online availability make it an attractive choice for many players who want to experience the fun of gambling right from the comfort of their home.

KENO reach: observations from the TVBET/BETCORE team

The game Keno is one of the most widespread and popular forms of the game almost throughout the globe. If we talk about statistics, after analysing the markets of different countries, we can conclude that everywhere Keno, Bingo or similar lotteries occupy a significant share as the most favourite gambling entertainment among players.

Thus, according to the report Leading online gambling activities in the United Kingdom as of January 2024, Keno and Bingo occupy 9%, while other lotteries account for as much as 37%.

According to The Second National Study of Interactive Gambling in Australia (2019-2020) in 2019, lotteries remained one of the most popular types of gambling activities (41.5%), of which KENO occupied 7.7%. According to a Fortune Business Insights report, Bingo and other lotteries are gaining more and more popularity among gambling activities around the world!

The number of bets on Bingo/Keno among players is also growing. Thus, according to the YouGov Global Gambling Profiles, in October 2021, only a third of online Bingo/Keno players said they bet more than £15 per month on these games (33%). As of October 2023, this share has risen to 41%.

According to BETCORE, a B2B live game provider with one of the most popular live Keno on the market, KENO is ranked number one in popularity among our games in regions such as Africa, Asia, CIS, Europe and Latin America. The chart below shows the percentage of bets that players make on KENO among all our games by region.

Image credit: Casino Guru News