Keno is a similar game to bingo and is based on the drawing of numbers and covering of corresponding numbers on cards. Keno is a game of chance as there is no way to correctly predict the numbers in each and every round. By reading this guide, you will learn how to play keno and find out all the extra ins and outs about the keno game, we also reveal the best online casinos to play at.
What Is Keno ?
Keno is a lottery-style game that is offered at many of the best online casinos. The keno rules and gameplay are very similar to the Lotto. Players must choose and mark anywhere from 1 to 20 numbers on the 80 numbered card. The numbers are arranged in 8 rows, each of which has 10 numbers. The player can then visit the keno writer with their card and place a bet, essentially betting that their selected number will be drawn. When the game starts, a total of 20 numbers get drawn, and the winning tickets receive payments according to the payment table that predicts how much you get for a certain number of numbers that you guessed correctly.
Basic Keno Rules
The game of keno itself is very simple and easy for players to catch on and start playing right away. The numbered list below is a quick and easy guideline of a few keno rules to follow in order to understand the game.
- In each keno game, there are 20 numbers that are drawn from a pool of 80.
- The main object of the game is for the players to guess what some of those numbers will be.
- Players must indicate their choices before the draw begins by completing a ‘keno ticket’. (A keno ticket is where players choose their numbers on.)
- You then place your bets by submitting and paying for the ticket and choosing your numbers.
- After the draw you will receive your winnings according to how many numbers you guessed correctly.
Understanding Keno Bets
There are different types of bets that are available in a few keno casino games which are important to know. There are 3 different types of tickets used when placing keno bets.
Straight Ticket:
Betting the numbers marked as a single wager is called betting a straight ticket. It is the simplest way to play, but many players like to bet more combinations. One popular method is the “way ticket.” For example, a player might mark six numbers, circle two groups of three, and mark on the side of the ticket, “2/3, 1/6.” The player then would bet $3 to have $1 wagers on each of two three-spot combinations and on the six-spot.
King Ticket:
A number that is circled by itself is the king, which is used in all combinations marked. For example, let’s say a seventh number in the previous example was circled as a king. The player then could mark “2/4, 1/7” to bet two four-number combinations — the king joining each of the three-number groupings — and the overall seven numbers.
Combination Ticket:
A combination ticket is when the player marks several number groupings and plays combinations of them. For example, a ticket with two-, three-, and four-number groupings can be played as 1/2, 1/3, 1/4, 1/5 (the two- and three-number groups together), 1/6 (two- and four-number groups), 1/7 (three- and four-numbers), 1/9 (all three groups). At $1 per game, the ticket would cost $7.
Handy Tip:
These different tickets used in keno games are a convenient method for playing several bets simultaneously. By combining a set of chosen numbers in all possible ways, players can create multiple bets on a single ticket. This method increases the complexity of the game, adding an extra layer of excitement for experienced keno players.
How To Win At Keno
Winning at keno is a matter of luck as well as some skill. All keno games are based on a random number generator (RNG) and there are no clever patterns you can spot or no best keno strategies that you can leverage, however, there is a general pace and style of play that will allow you to make the most out of your online keno sessions and play the game in a way that minimizes losses and boosts your chances of success. If you want to learn how to win keno games more often, the 15 keno tips listed below are proven to be very valuable and could help boost your winning chances at keno.
- Pick the keno games with the best payouts – You want to play for the best possible payouts with the money you are risking.
- Know the winning odds – You must keep these odds in mind and leverage them in your favor when making your selections so that you don’t decrease your chances by selecting too many or too few numbers.
- Understand all of the key keno terms – Familiarizing yourself with the keno terms will make your experience more immersive and boost your chances by helping you bet smarter.
- Keep your selections between 4 and 8 numbers – The four to eight range is the ideal balance of odds and payouts.
- Don’t focus on obtaining any edge – Avoid doing something that is only going to waste your time.
- Slow down when betting – Make sure to take your time and don’t rush your bets.
- Focus on hot or cold numbers – Pick either hot or cold numbers and stick only to betting on them.
- Get a bonus to play with – Make sure you get the most for your money and join a casino that offers some bonuses and promotions.
- Do not change up numbers often – Stick with the numbers you pick and do not change your selections very often.
- Use a betting strategy – This will help you set a goal to help you find the best values for the bets that you’re placing.
- Have a loss limit – Set a stop-loss limit before you start playing. That way, if your keno bankroll drops to a certain level during the session, you can stop playing and save your money for the next session.
- Practice and play online for free – Practising playing online for free will certainly put you on the path of being a better keno player.
- Do not always stick to your lucky numbers – Continuously choosing your lucky numbers doesn’t mean that it is the optimal way to bet on keno when playing for maximum profit.
- Take advantage of multi-race cards – This will help you track your winnings and losses more easily and will save you some time and make your experience more streamlined.
- Pick a trusted keno casino – The online keno casino you pick must be trustworthy, that is why we highly recommend players to play at Wild Casino.
Handy Tip:
The winning tips mentioned above are not promising that you will have a 100% winning rate while playing keno, as you are playing a luck-based game with a house edge. They are just a general guideline of a few tips that could possibly increase your chances of winning.
Keno Payouts
When playing online, keno payouts are all automatic. If you have correctly predicted enough of the winning numbers to earn a payout, the casino will credit your account immediately. Each online casino is different and have their own system of payouts, which you will find set out in the keno brochures or payout schedules around the casino or, if you’re playing video keno, you will find a payout table on each machine.
The tables will show you what you can win for a 1-coin stake. You need to multiply these amounts by the amount you are wagering. For example, if you make a $2 bet, pick 4 spots and catch 3 of them you will win $12. That is $2 x 6. This schedule does not pay out if you don’t match any numbers. But in some cases, if you mark a lot of numbers the casino pays off if you catch 0. Players must remember that when playing keno, they do not get their stake back if they win.
Handy Tip:
Keno payouts vary from game to game. The number of balls drawn and how many numbers you pick drastically affect the outcome of a given round. On top of those variables, your chances of winning also depend on the casino and games pay table as well as how many spots you need to hit to win or collect a prize.
Keno Odds
Most keno games use 80 numbered balls to determine results, and every “spot” you choose on your card that gets matched is a “catch.” In a typical round, only 20 balls get drawn. Therefore, each spot has 1 in 4 odds, or a 25% chance, of showing up in a drawing.
The math odds of a keno game starts getting complicated when you choose more than a single number. When you buy multiple spots, your odds of hitting a single one go up. Catching them all becomes increasingly difficult the more you choose since you still only have 20 numbers in the draw.
To truly calculate your expected return, you also need to factor in the payouts for all possible winning levels for the number of spots you want to choose. For example, you could get paid if you catch 3, 4, or 5 balls when you decide to play five numbers.
Handy Tip:
The RNG assigns each number between 1 and 80 the exact same winning odds, then produces genuinely unexpected results. No keno spots have better odds than other spots.
The Best Odds For Keno
If you have been wondering how to determine your keno probability for winning, the table below will explain all the controllable factors. However, like mentioned before, with most casino gambling games, luck plays a massive part in all the outcomes. Keno odds are pretty easy to calculate, and that’s especially true for small-number selections. The table below shows you a few best odds for keno.
| Number (s): | Explanation: |
| 1 Number | Your odds of picking a single number and it being among the winning 20 are 1 in 4. |
| 2 Numbers | With 2 chosen numbers, your keno number odds are 1 in 17 that you’ll match both numbers. |
| 3 Numbers | The probability of hitting the 3 numbers and your chances of winning keno look like this: 1 in 73 for hitting all three numbers and 1 in 8 for at least two numbers. |
| 4 Numbers | There are 1 in 327 chances that you will hit all 4 numbers, 1 in 24 for matching 3 out of 4 numbers, and 1 in 5 for matching two of them |
| 5 Numbers | For 5 numbers, your probability is 1 in 1,551, for 4 – 1 in 83, and for three – 1 in 12. |
The Best Numbers In Keno
Players must know that every number in keno games have the same chance of being drawn, but we have had many experts doing research on the best numbers in keno games and after analyzing all the statistics from thousands of keno games, articles and reports, it comes to show that the following numbers: 1, 4, 23, 34, and 72 are the best rated numbers in keno games at the moment.
Most Common Keno Numbers
If you are searching for answers to what are known as the most drawn numbers in keno games, you are in for some luck. Our experts have dived into many statistics of keno games to find out which numbers appear more than any other. These keno numbers are known as the hot numbers as players generally feel more lucky when seeing these numbers appear. After analyzing data from thousands of games of keno, the following numbers were the 10 most drawn keno numbers out there.
| Number | Percentage % |
| 27 | 25.59 % |
| 35 | 25.53 % |
| 65 | 25.52 % |
| 50 | 25.50 % |
| 12 | 25.48 % |
| 32 | 25.46 % |
| 40 | 25.45 % |
| 49 | 25.45 % |
| 3 | 25.44 % |
| 31 | 25.39 % |
Tips For Keno
As mentioned, a few times already, keno is predominantly a game of chance and there is no cheat sheet available out there. Even though we do not have many strategies to share with you, we can give you some helpful keno tips to keep in mind while you play that will make your experiences and play time more enjoyable.
- Brush up on the rules – Make sure you are aware of how to play and know exactly what is going on before jumping right in.
- Find a safe online casino – Find the safest online casino that offers keno games.
- Play wisely – Obey the rules and regulations of the game and be sure to practice responsible gambling at all times.