Voices

KENO: An object lesson in probability, statistics

BRATTLEBORO — Thank you, Tad Montgomery, for an insightful article on KENO [Voices, Feb. 15].

I recalled a quote from the gambler Jimmy “The Greek” which introduced a chapter of my old college statistics text: “If you believe in miracles, head for the keno lounge.”

A quick Internet search reveals that at least one mathematics instructor still uses keno as a teaching tool, as evidenced by the article, “Keno ... a Money-Making Game for the Casino (and an Opportunity to Illustrate Probability Concepts),” by Sanderson Smith, which can be found at http://www.herkimershideaway.org/writings/keno8.htm.

Now here's an idea: maybe the KENO folks could improve their PR by funding mathematics classes whose students are studying the probability of winning at keno!

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