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How is Super Keno played?
The game consists of 305 balls of the size of a ping
pong ball with non-sequential numbers between 11 and 149
on them contained on a transparent plastic-like box like
the one you would see on the loto. The balls are barely
popping inside the box.
For example, there is 15 balls with the number 141. If
you draw one of this ball it causes the jack pot and
your next bet to double. This means that if the jackpot
was $200.00 its now $400.00 and if your bet was $5.00 it
is from now on $10.00 if your want to continue playing.
The idea is that with each bet you “buy” a ball. Each
ball has a black stripe in which there is a small white
number. Located somewhere on the table is a chart in
which every number that is painted on the ball is listed
with it meaning in the game.
The goal of the game is to accumulate and reach 100
points and then you win the jackpot. Your reach 100
points by drawing balls with points until you reach 100
or if you draw the balls 36, 117, 125 or 126 (there is
only one of each among the 305 balls.
Along the game you may also win small prizes between
$5.00 and $25.00 and if you get four of the kind of the
blue, silver or gold you may also win a cash prize.
When you first arrive at the table you are asked to
place a bet which usually is between a $5.00 or a
$10.00. Initially the dealer will place the house bet or
jack pot equivalent to 40 times your bet. If you bet
$5.00 the casino will place $200.00 as the initial
jackpot.
Once you have placed your bet you are allow to withdraw
one of the ball from its container using a stick with a
small basket at the end, big enough to fit one ball. The
dealer will quickly take the ball and announce the
number, its meaning, execute its meaning, all this while
he places the ball back in the container. Things happen
so fast that you are not able to see what has just
happened just to see the result of it on the table and
only because the dealer tells you.
Once the ball is drawn it is quickly returned to the
container without giving you the opportunity to verify
the number.
As the game progresses the jackpot will continue to grow
as well as the minimum bet. The game proceeds rather
quickly and you will find yourself within striking
distance of the jackpot. Most people we have spoken with
tell us that they reach the 90 point range very quickly.
Once you have run out of cash you will be “invited” to
use your credit card (Visa or Master Card only). After
all, the dealer, in a most assuring tone, will assure
you that you are only minutes away to win the jackpot.
Once you have given your credit card the game goes into
“automatic mode”, as it were, as from now on is the
dealer who controls your bet.
What is the reality of the game?
Once you have lost all your money or have had the good
sense of leaving before it gets worst, most people
initially feel that they were the subjects of bad luck
and go away to lick their wounds.
But the truth is that you really never had a chance. The
game seems to be rigged from the very beginning, from
the odds to the way the game is handled by the dealer.
In most cases the victim arrive at the table because
they were approached by an attractive young lady that,
after asking where you are from, invites you to “test a
new game”. To motivate you in this “harmless test” you
are offered free chips to try it out. If you accept you
will be escorted to the Super Keno table where you will
be received by an engllish speaking dealer.
Once the game start the only thing you do is place the
bet (while you have cash only), pull the ball and watch
the dealer do the rest. He takes the ball, he reads the
ball, he tells you what the balls means and he places it
back before you had a chance to see what is really in
the ball. All this in a matter of 30 seconds or less.
The truth is that you really don’t know if all the balls
are in the container, or how many of each number. You
never are shown or able to see the number on the ball
every time you pull one. You must blindly trust the
dealer and the casino that they are "honest". This is a
"blind trust" of the worst kind as casinos at the
Dominican Republic are not supervised by anyone.
But the main question is, why every person is able to
reach the 90’s at lightning speeds and never reach the
remaining points to win the jackpot?
While investigating the game I went to one of the
casinos that offer it and was able to experience what
hundreds of people have experienced. I too reached 76
points within the first 12 balls So it stand to reason,
or so it seems, that if I am able to reach 76 points so
fast then, why wouldn’t I be able to get the remaining
24 points the same?
It seems that everyone I have spoken with that have
fallen victim of the game have "great luck" at the
beginning and as soon as they reach 99 points their luck
completely runs out.
Why is that so many get to 99 points but never get the
last point? Why is so easy to get the fist 99 points but
not the last one? Could it be due to the way the ball is
handled by the dealer? Or that the balls aren’t all
there?
Remember, Casinos are not supervised by anyone in the
Dominican Republic. Yet, everyone we have spoken with
there acknowledge that it is known that the Super Keno
is a scam. Hotel managers acknowledge that they receive
many complaints yet they refuse to do anything about it.
What happens when you have reached the limit on your
credit card?
Once your credit card is max out your will be asked to
settle your debt to the casino. Usually one or two
security agents will stand behind you when this happens.
Couples will be split while one goes to the managers
office the other one will remain at the table.
What just happened is that your liberty, in a foreign
country, will be restricted until you pay off.
You will be asked to make phone calls to your credit
card and sign credit card checks. Only then you will be
“free” to go.
After all this, you will be given the “opportunity” to
come the next day and continue your game exactly where
you left it.
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