The Keno Game

I had a lot of fun yesterday playing the Keno game. What is the Keno game you ask? Well let me explain.

Like many states - Massachusetts has Keno. Go into almost any bar or restaurant and you'll see Keno TV's. The Keno game is played by each player picking a number and putting up a dollar. If your number comes up and its the only number from the people playing the Keno game to come up - then you win the pool. If more than one number or no numbers come up - then everyone puts up another dollar and the pot builds.

Yesterday I played in the mother of all Keno games. The pot was huge! There were 18 of us playing and once the pot got to $1,008 it was capped so that the players didn't have to keep putting in the dollar ante. With a game of Keno flashing on the TV every 5 minutes we are also talking about a pretty good investment in time here. Once the game got over 5 hours in length it was decided that if just one number came in - fine. But if just two numbers came in then those two players would split the pot. If more than two numbers came in then the game would continue.

I came very close to winning the pot. The kitty was at $810 and the only numbers to come up were mine (69) and my buddy Steve's (55) who was sitting right next to me. We canceled each other out. In the end two bar regulars won the pot and they were kind enough to each buy a round of drinks for all the players. Just what I needed. After 5 hours sitting around the bar I capped the afternoon off with two shots of Dr. McGillicuddy's.

My friends and I also play the Keno game with an extra wrinkle - the double carryover. If no numbers come up or if everyone's number comes up then $2 is added to the pot by each player instead of just $1 and the kitty grows more quickly.

Perhaps the best part of the Keno game is that the state doesn't see one dime.