The Indiana State sentinel., 1874-02-10


ninety inclusive. The balls are shaken VI
in globe, and are taken out one at time
and the number called out. The game is t,
get 1--WE mum beTs in a row, and when these
come "KendI" is called by the lucky
holder of the consecutive figures, who Is en-
titled to the pool, less ten per cent, which
the proprietor takes out for his profits. The
house is supplied with two hundred strips
of thick pasteboardr about seven inches lonf
and two inches wids. Upon these cards are
painted the numbers in three rows, Eve il
a row.
HOW n GOES.
Each card contains - different conbina
tion of figures. We wisl suppose that the
reader has bought the carl shown by the di
agram, paying twenty-five cents, fifty cents
or dollar. or more for a., as the case may
be. There are ten others, each having
bought card. The globe containing the
marbles is whirled rapidly around. and
a ball is taken out, and the num-
Der called. If you find that nnmbeI
upon your card, place a button over
it and so on, AS often as one ofyozr cardsnum-
bers is called. If you are lucky you will
get i've buttons in a row after fifteen or
twenty balls have been called out. For in
stance, you find that 9, 81 Al, and So have
been called; 7S is needed to complete the
row; when 7S comes you call "Keno!r
and the pool, less the percentage is paid 10
you. In the meantime ether players haye
been putting on buttons and the game grows
exciting as they set within but one number of
a row. You happen to get it first and all the
rest are disappointed. Then it is thst char
acteristic exclamations denote annoyance
and disgust on the part of the unlurky ones.
Each piece of pasteboard has its great num-
Der, ranging from to 200. and record is
kept of the cards taken and the keno Is veri-
fed by reference to the balls which have
been drawn from the globe. 1t freqUently
happens that two players keno on the
same combination, as the same figures may
occur on different cards, though in different
order. In that case the pool is divided If
there are ten players, at fifty cents per card
the pool Is 81 so, as the dealer takes out ten
per cent. Keno can only be called upon
cards which are registered as having been
paid for. The choice of cards Is made at
hap-hazzard, as there are no means OF knew
ing what figures will be drawn from the
globe. 1t is interesting to note that If yea
had chosen the card next to the one you
took you would have secured the coveted
row of numbers. This also leads to regret
full and angry CALCULATIONS, followed by O
general laugh at the expense of the unluchy
ones. lp r
THE PROFITS.
1t is astonishing that keno should be played
at all. since it lacks the essential element
of fairness. The proprietor gets all the mon
ey in the long run in the shape of his pev-
centage, no matter who wins in the mean
time. Three men may start with ten do&-
lars each, buying cards at one dollar each;
they may win an equal number of pools,
and at the end of few hours not ons
of them will have a cent. The deal
or will have it all if they play
lied game amount to upward OF sl0O per day
over and above expenses, which are COM
paratively light, and the players play this
for the privilege ofhsving a chance to squan-
der their money. Few of them play fos
amusement; nearly all expect te win money
when the pool is large and the player is sat-
isfed with winning one; but this is not
human nature, and the money alwayf drEis
its way to the pocket of the dealer. In re-
turn for his investment, the player is fur
nisbsd with an unhealthy excitement, and a
nothing more. As a general rule Keno
games are conducted honestly, though there
are plenty of chances for cheating.
The dealer may register card
which is not held be any player, aad
make that card win by calling false numbers
as the balls are drawn, for everybody IS too
busy TO see that he calls the numbers COR
rectly; or he may be in eollusion with a
player, and. by calling his number, give him
the keno; or. he may pay ON less cards than
have been sold. These fraudulent practices
may be resorted to at times. bnt as ruls
the proprietor is satisfied with the legitimate
percentage. The desired. result can be &C.
complished without the aid OF fraud, though
it is understood to be a standing rule in
keno houses to register fewer cards then ART
sold, when they are so numerous as To rem
der detection difficult. A keno" occupies
about seven minutes, and if one card is
counted out, the gain is considerable in the
course OF the day and night.