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Keno is one of the easiest and most exciting lottery-style games to play, and offers higher chances of winning with just a few simple steps. Because of its simple gameplay, it is favored by many and is provided in land-based and online casinos.
To use the simple structure of the game to your advantage, understanding the game’s rules is essential and in this guide, you will learn all about how to play keno, and the rules and odds. Let’s dive in to improve your chances of winning.
- Keno is a game of chance where you only pick your numbers from a ticket with 80 numbers.
- The more of your chosen numbers are drawn, the higher your expected payout will be.
- The specific numbers you play don’t have any influence on the payout or the Keno odds.
- The Keno odds depend on how many numbers you play and the payout relates to how many you guess correctly.
- Keno originated in China and is one of the simplest casino games to play.
- Keno can be considered a middle point between lottery and bingo.
What Is Keno: Rules & Tickets
Keno is a numbers-based game where you pick between 2 and 10 numbers from a card, usually with 80 numbers. 20 numbers are drawn at random; the numbers are drawn from a drum (in land-based casinos) or by an RNG (in online casinos). The payout depends on how many numbers you get right. It should go without saying that the more numbers you get correct, the bigger the payout you can expect.
Here is an example of how a keno ticket looks. Please note that various online casinos allow you to pick between 2 and 10 numbers, but you can also choose based on specific winning keno patterns. As you can note, most online keno software allows you the option to pick the numbers by yourself or choose the autopick option, where the software selects 10 numbers at random.
How to Play Keno?
Playing keno is very straightforward; as you can see from the keno ticket above, the only thing you need to do when playing keno online is to choose your numbers (or use the autopick option) and click play. After you select the numbers from the grid and set the stake, you will see the expected payouts on the paytable, as shown in our example images, where the paytable is displayed on the right side of the screen.
Once you click Play, the drawn numbers will appear and be marked on the keno ticket. You can expect your payout depending on the number of correctly guessed numbers, and in our example case, we were lucky with six correct numbers.
Keno Odds & Payouts
The keno payouts, as we explained above, depend on the number of spots you’ve chosen and the number of matched numbers. It also depends on the size of your stake. Let’s imagine a simple keno game: you pick your 10 numbers at random. Your chosen numbers don’t influence the outcome, but what matters is the size of your stake. So, the more numbers you get correctly, the higher the payout will be.
Here is an example: you wager a stake of unit of 5. The table below shares the potential payout based on the number of correctly matched numbers, like:
| Matched Numbers | Potential Payout (with a stake of 5) |
|---|---|
| 1 | – |
| 2 | – |
| 3 | 5 |
| 4 | 10 |
| 5 | 15 |
| 6 | 40 |
| 7 | 200 |
| 8 | 1250 |
| 9 | 10,000 |
| 10 | 50,000 |
Please note that the exact numbers you will play don’t have any influence on the payout or the Keno odds. Instead, the probability of every number being drawn is 1 in 80, and there are no specific most-drawn keno numbers. Still, even if there were, these would not have any influence on the keno odds and payout.
The odds in keno vary, and these also depend on how many numbers you choose to play in the round. For example, the odds of matching one number in 20 drawn numbers are 1 in 4; the odds of matching two numbers in 20 are 1 in 17, and so on. The following table shares the keno odds based on choosing 10 numbers and having a 20-number draw:
| No. of selected numbers | 20-number draw | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 20 | 1 in 4 |
| 2 | 20 | 1 in 17 |
| 3 | 20 | 1 in 73 |
| 4 | 20 | 1 in 327 |
| 5 | 20 | 1 in 1,551 |
| 6 | 20 | 1 in 7,753 |
| 7 | 20 | 1 in 40,980 |
| 8 | 20 | 1 in 230,115 |
| 9 | 20 | 1 in 1,380,688 |
| 10 | 20 | 1 in 8,911,712 |
The house edge in keno varies depending on the software provider and the game version. However, the average house edge for keno has been calculated to be near 30%. It makes keno one of the easiest, the best casino games for beginners. Still, it is one of the most volatile casino games with a very unfavorable house edge.
Keno vs. Lottery
As we noted, Keno and the lottery have similarities but also key differences. We prepared the following table where we share a side-by-side comparison between Keno and the lottery:
| Keno | Lottery | |
|---|---|---|
| Gameplay | You choose a set of numbers and hope they match the drawn numbers | You select a set of numbers and hope they match the numbers drawn. |
| Numbers | You typically choose 10 numbers from a ticket with 80 numbers | You choose six or seven numbers from a ticket with 36 to 40 numbers |
| Cost | Usually affordable, some variants allow very low-stakes | The ticket prices are fixed |
| Speed of Play | Very fast gameplay, few draws per hour | Slow gameplay, usually one or two draws per week |
| Odds of Winning | The Keno odds depend on the number of chosen numbers and range from 1 in 4 for one number and 1 in 8.9 million for all 10 numbers | The lotto odds vary per the chosen lotto provider and sold tickets, and can range up to 1 in 1 billion |
| Prize Structure | The Keno prizes depend on the game variant you choose and your stake | The lotto jackpots are often very high, and some accumulate and roll over until they are won |
| Availability | Keno is available in most land-based and online casinos, as it is fast-paced and simple to play | Available in many countries, either as a state lottery or via online lotto agents |
Important Keno Terms
Before we let you explore keno for real money or play free keno, we should also explain a few essential keno terms that you’ll encounter when you play this game online.
- Bet – The amount of money you stake on a keno game, also referred to as wager or stake
- Call – The act of calling the drawn keno numbers in a live keno game
- Catch – when one of your numbers is drawn
- Computer Ticket – a keno ticket generated by a computer
- Draw – the 20 winning numbers that are drawn at random
- Hit – when a drawn number matches one of your numbers
- House – the casino running the keno game
- House Edge – the percent of all wagers the house wins over time
- Keno Balls – balls numbered from 1 to 80, used to make the keno draw; these look like bingo balls
- Limit – the maximum amount a casino will pay out to all the winners in total during any one game
- Live Keno – keno with live draws played by multiple players
- Net Win – the winnings after deducting the cost of the ticket
- Odds – the mathematical probability of a given outcome
- Payout Table – the chart showing the expected payouts based on the type of wins
- Quick Pick/Autopick – the option for a computer to pick the numbers at random
- Random Number Generator/RNG – the computer program that is used to randomly select numbers for a keno game
- Rate – the price paid for each separate stake on a ticket.
- Split Ticket – Two or more groups of numbers played as separate wagers on the same ticket.
- Spots – the numbers chosen by a player
- Ticket – The keno ticket with a grid of 80 numbers where you mark your selections
- Video Keno – keno played on a computer or computerized machine.
- Way – One of the bets on a keno ticket that shows more than one bet
- Way Ticket – A keno ticket with more than one bet on the same game
- Winning Numbers – The 20 numbers drawn in the Keno game
FAQs
Is Keno a Game of Skill or a Game of Chance?
Keno is a game of chance, as you choose 10 numbers on a ticket with 80 possible numbers and then wait for the draw of the numbers. If you are lucky, then most of your chosen numbers will be drawn, and you can expect a payout.
How Many Numbers Can I Choose When Playing Keno?
Depending on the keno variant and the software provider, you can select anywhere between 2 and 15 numbers, although the most commonly found option is to play with 10 numbers.
How Can I Win at Keno?
You can win at keno if you are lucky enough to correctly guess which 10 numbers will be drawn from the total of 80 numbers. For more, we suggest you check out our guides with keno tips and keno strategies to win online, where we discuss more particulars on playing and winning at keno.
Are There Different Keno Variants?
The game of keno is relatively simple, but there are some variants where you can expect differences in chosen numbers and payouts. For example, you can find regular Keno, Power keno, Mini Keno, Progressive Jackpot Keno, Bonus Spot Keno, Live Dealer Keno, Keno Kickoff, and more.
What Is the House Edge in Keno?
There is no set house edge in keno, as it depends on the software provider and the chosen variant. However, the average keno house edge is about 30%, which makes keno one of the casino games with the highest house edge.
Where Can I Play Keno Online?
You can find and play keno online at the most reputable online casinos, as this fun, simple casino game is excellent for beginners and casual players who want to try dipping their toes into the exciting world of online gambling but want a low-risk casino game to start with.
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