Loto
There are many varieties of Loto, with pictures, flowers, letters, etc.,
instead of numbers, which are known as Picture Loto, Botanical Loto,
Spelling Loto, Geographical Loto, Historical Loto, and so on.
These are mostly games for children, and are played in exactly the same
way as numbered Loto.
This game in England is usually regarded as an amusement for young
children; but it is one capable of affording amusement to grown-up people,
as may be seen by the interest shown in "Keno" by the Americans.
"Keno," or American Loto, is played in various places of public resort,
by adults, for considerable stakes, and is esteemed capital practice in
reading numbers rapidly and correctly.
The requisite paraphernalia for this game--which may be played by any
number of persons, not exceeding twenty-four--are boxes containing
100 counters; 14 fishes, each of which is reckoned as 10 counters;
12 contracts, valued at 10 fish or 100 counters apiece; a pack of
24 very large cards with fifteen different numbers marked on each,
and a bag containing 90 knobs or discs, numbered from 1 to 90.
#==========================#
#5 11 33 50 76 #
#--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--#
# 1722 43 65 89#
#--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--#
#2 2855 56 74 #
#==========================#
Fig. 1.
In addition, a board with ten cavities cut therein for the purpose
of placing the knobs as drawn, is required.
A Loto card, on which are inscribed, in the manner shown in the diagram,
numbers ranging from 1 to 90--five numbers on each line, is represented in
fig 1. The units are arranged in the first column, the tens in the second,
the twenties in the third, and so on.
The number of these cards supplied in a Loto box varies, but the general
number is twenty-four, although sometimes there are only eighteen.
With twenty-four cards, each number appears in four different cards.
There are several different methods of playing this game, of which we will
give the two principal ones. The first method makes it a game of chance
and skill, or rather quickness in reading figures; and the second, purely
a game of luck.
First Method.--Before commencing the game, a dealer has to be chosen,
and his duties consist of shuffling the cards and dealing to each player
one or more cards. The dealer is unable to join in the game, and is
obliged to stand out.
Each player should stake a certain sum, which should be reserved for the
winner; and a certain number of counters of no value, but merely to be
used for covering the numbers as called, should be placed in the pool.
Sometimes each player contributes a certain number of counters to the pool,
then each saves out of his stake the number of counters he has on his card
or cards; and the winner obtains the money for his fifteen counters on his
card, and receives in addition all the pool which remains.
In order to render the game still more interesting, the contributions to
the pool should be so arranged that it is capable of being divided into
four parts. Then a fourth part of the pool is won by the player who first
succeeds in covering one horizontal row; another fourth part of the
pool is won by the player who first succeeds in covering two horizontal
rows, and the remaining half is reserved for the winner who first covers
the whole of his card.
The dealer then, having deposited the 90 knobs in a bag, draws them forth
rapidly, one by one, and calls out the number which appears or the knob in
a clear tone.
The player, having the corresponding number on his cards or cards, who
first answers to the number called, covers the number on the card or cards
with one of the counters in the pool, which should be so placed on the
table as to be available for the use of all the players.
The player who first succeeds in covering all the numbers on his card or
cards wins the game.
The Second Method.--Every player should draw two cards, and deposit
a stake previously agreed upon; and if the party is not too numerous,
then any may take four or six cards, laying down a double or treble stake
accordingly; and when the players are more than twelve, then some are only
to have one card, paying half a stake, and likewise should the players
not take all the cards among them, the remainder of the pack is to be
laid aside until some other persons join the set. From the cards not
taken, players may exchange one or more of those drawn, or they may change
with one another; similar exchanges, if the company consent, may also be
made previous to each drawing, and likewise prior to replenishing the pool.
Cards may be thrown up, or additional ones drawn from those put by;
stakes being paid proportionably.
The stakes are to be put together in a pool, placed in the middle of
the table, and also on the table there should be a quantity of counters
sufficient for the number of cards taken; upon the counters a value is to
be fixed adequate to the stakes first deposited, from the whole of which a
sum must be reserved, enough to pay, at the conclusion of the game,
all the counters laid upon the table.
Then, after counting the 90 knobs, so as to be certain they are right, the
eldest hand shall first shake them well together in the bag, and afterwards
draw out ten successively, not only declaring the number of each as drawn,
but also placing the same conspicuously on the board.
As soon as a number is declared, each player having that number on one
or more of his cards, is to take up counters, sufficient to lay one upon
that number every time it occurs, and so on until the ten knobs are drawn.
When only part of the pack is taken, and a number drawn happens not to be
upon any player's card, then the players may put away that knob till some
person takes a card on which it is printed.
When ten knobs are drawn out, every player examining the cards separately,
and having only one counter upon any horizontal line, wins for that no more
than the said counter, which is styled gaining by abstract; where two
counters are on the same horizontal line of a separate card, the player
gains an ambo, and becomes entitled to five counters besides the two;
when three are upon the same line, the player obtains a terne, and is
to receive 25 additional counters; if four are on the same line, that is
called a quaterne winning 100 counters additional; when five occur on
the same line, that makes a quinterne, gaining 250 additional counters,
and the player is entitled to payment out of the pool for all the
above-mentioned acquisitions previous to another drawing. Instead of
giving counters, payment for the same may at once be made from the stock
in the pool.
The knobs are then to be returned, and the bag given to the next player in
rotation, who is to shake the same, and draw, etc., as before stated.
Whenever the pool is exhausted, the players must contribute again,
according to the number of cards taken; and when it is resolved to finish
the game, they agree among themselves to have only a fixed number of
drawings more.
At the last drawing each player proceeds as heretofore directed, but the
drawing concludes when no more counters are left on the table. The players
then, beginning with the eldest hand, are to be paid out of the pool,
as far as the money will go; and when that is expended, the others remain
unpaid, which is styled a Bankruptcy; lastly, the players should re-unite
the counters obtained from the pool with those that were on their cards,
and receive payment for them out of the fund reserved at the commencement
of the game.
The counters requisite for the payment of the players are:--
For 24 cards 144 times ten.
" 18 " 108 "
" 12 " 72 "
" 6 " 36 "
Consequently, 60 counters should be contributed for every card taken by
a player
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