Origins of Keno Keno is the oldest gambling game. While there is no written history of the exact origin of the game there are written records that date the game back to the Han Dynasty between 205 and 187 B.C. The records say that the game was introduced by Cheung leung as a means of raising money for the armies. It was called "The Game of the White Dove" because doves were used to spread the news of the winning symbols for the game.

Keno was brought to the United States by Chinese immigrants who came to the United States to work on the Railroads or in the gold and silver mines in the mid- to late-1800's. The game was referred to as the Chinese Lottery.