Some experts like to say that there is no keno strategy, this is not true. There is always a way to get an edge in any game no matter how small. It may not generally be considered the sexiest game in the world of gambling, but keno has millions of devoted enthusiasts. And why not? It’s a consistently thrilling lottery-style game that’s easy to learn, readily available in a number of different formats, and one that can yield mega-dollars for those who master its many subtle intricacies. But let’s deal with the basics here.
When describing keno to beginners, some gambling experts compare it to bingo. This is at least partially apt, in that both are essentially numerical. Yet to take that comparison too far would be to underestimate the many unique traits that make keno so compelling. Unlike bingo, keno players have the freedom to choose the numbers for each card.
How to Play keno
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- You decide how much you wish to bet on a particular round, and how many numbers you wish to choose. You can choose between 1 and 20 numbers, the payouts vary depending on how many numbers you pick and how many of them get drawn.
- You now get to pick your numbers as you would if you were playing a Lottery. As with most Lotteries, many sites will give you an option to get the numbers picked for you at random. The numbers in Keno go from 1 to 80.
- The game now starts and 20 of the 80 numbers are chosen at random.
- If one of your numbers is picked, this is known as a ‘Catch’. You get paid depending on the number of Catches you get during the game.
Example
In the example free play game above, you start with $1,000 free credits. You can change the value of each game, this can be from $0.01 to $10.00. Click on Quick Pick and 10 numbers will be randomly chosen. You can change these if you wish, remove some or add more. Note that each time you add or remove a number, the paytable changes, both in terms of the minimum number of ‘catches’ you need to receive a payout and the level of each payout.
Once you are happy, click either Play 1 to play 1 game with those numbers, Play 5 to play 5 consecutive games with those numbers, or Play 10 to play 10 games with them. Remember that each game will cost you the same amount, so if you choose $1 per game and then Play 5, you will pay $5 – 5 games X $1 per game.
You will then see 20 numbers of the 80 get drawn at random, these will be marked off on the main game area with a red cross, and that you have will be marked off with a yellow square and will show on the right-hand side.
After each game, all winnings will get paid automatically into your balance and once all games have been played, you can start again.
Keno Payouts
The payouts for Keno differ from casino to casino, so ensure you look around to get the best payout if Keno is your game of choice.
A standard payout structure is shown below (all amounts are payouts to 1):
| Catch | Pick 1 | Pick 2 | Pick 3 | Pick 4 | Pick 5 | Pick 6 | Pick 7 | Pick 8 | Pick 9 | Pick 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | N/A | 15 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | N/A | N/A | 48 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 100 | 13 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 5 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 838 | 75 | 22 | 13 | 6 | 5 |
| 6 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 1,660 | 422 | 100 | 44 | 24 |
| 7 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 7,000 | 1,670 | 362 | 146 |
| 8 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 10,000 | 4,700 | 1,000 |
| 9 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 10,000 | 4,500 |
| 10 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 10,000 |
Keno Odds
When playing a 20 spot game, so you choose 20 of the 80 numbers available, the odds are as follows:
The odds of picking 0 correct numbers is around 1 in 843
The odds of picking 1 correct number out of 20 is around 1 in 86
The odds of picking 2 correct numbers out of 20 is around 1 in 20
The odds of picking 3 correct numbers out of 20 is around 1 in 8
The odds of picking 4 correct numbers out of 20 is around 1 in 4.8
The odds of picking 5 correct numbers out of 20 is around 1 in 4.2
The odds of picking 6 correct numbers out of 20 is around 1 in 5.2
The odds of picking 7 correct numbers out of 20 is around 1 in 8.8
The odds of picking 8 correct numbers out of 20 is around 1 in 20
The odds of picking 9 correct numbers out of 20 is around 1 in 61
The odds of picking 10 correct numbers out of 20 is around 1 in 253
The odds of picking 11 correct numbers out of 20 is around 1 in 1,423
The odds of picking 12 correct numbers out of 20 is around 1 in 10,968
The odds of picking 13 correct numbers out of 20 is around 1 in 118,084
The odds of picking 14 correct numbers out of 20 is around 1 in 1,821,881
The odds of picking 15 correct numbers out of 20 is around 1 in 41,751,453
The odds of picking 16 correct numbers out of 20 is around 1 in 1,496,372,110
The odds of picking 17 correct numbers out of 20 is around 1 in 90,624,035,964
The odds of picking 18 correct numbers out of 20 is around 1 in 10,512,388,171,906
The odds of picking 19 correct numbers out of 20 is around 1 in 2,946,096,785,176,811
The odds of picking 20 correct numbers out of 20 is around 1 in 3,535,316,142,212,173,800
The odds of getting all 20 numbers are a virtually impossible one in over 3.5 quintillions! As you can win by selecting significantly fewer numbers though, there are good returns to be had if your luck is in. As a result, when playing Keno, it is important to research the paytable to ensure you are getting the best possible returns for guessing between 2 and 8 numbers correctly as these are the payouts that you are most likely to win.
Keno Strategy
There is no magical Keno strategy that will guarantee you a win but there are many tips you will learn here to give you the best possible odds.
Although you can win higher amounts if you pick more numbers, the odds of winning reduce as you need more Catches in order to win.
As the numbers are chosen using a Random Number Generator, each of the 80 numbers has just as much chance as the others of being drawn, there will always be some Players who have numbers that they consider to be lucky though.
Generally speaking, the odds in Keno are about the same as those in Slots. There are better games with a higher chance of winning than Keno.
Keno cards have a total of 80 numbers, but the player is granted an additional level of personal responsibility by being able to choose as many (or as few) numbers as he or she desires. And it doesn’t take a nuclear physicist to figure out how to fill out a card: all you do is a circle or otherwise mark each of your chosen numbers with a good old #2 pencil as you used back in school (assuming you were born before the computer age). If this is the case, fear not. Keno does not discriminate against anyone’s age.
Once you’ve selected your numbers, carry the card back to the clerk at the keno booth. The clerk will record those numbers and then hand you a receipt. Don’t lose this (potentially) valuable piece of paper! Even if the clerk remembers your face and would like to help out, without a winning receipt in hand you will collect precisely $.00 for your efforts.
OK, so there you have tip #1: always be sure to keep your keno receipt. Let’s move on to something a bit more complex, shall we?
Once you’ve picked your numbers, settle into a comfy keno booth and watch the action unfold on big a video monitor. That’s where the winning numbers show up in lights. If you’ve got winners, mark your card accordingly. Be sure not to dally, or sit there congratulating yourself for an obnoxious length of time. You need to get back to the keno booth to redeem your winnings, as a new drawing will probably start within five minutes.
Tip #2: always get back to the booth on time!
Best Way To Win Keno
Assuming you don’t trust yourself to beat that five-minute margin every time, you always retain the option of purchasing a “multi-race” ticket. These include the same set of your chosen numbers anywhere from 2 to 20 tickets. When the maximum number of games (matching the number of tickets) is finished, you can then get off your butt and go redeem your winnings.
Yet an additional option is known as a “stray and play” ticket, which usually lets you make number choices for 30 games or more. Heck, you can take an ocean cruise and not have to worry about getting back to port in time to redeem your numbers. Most “stray and play” tickets are good for up to a whole year after purchase!
So now you know a few essential strategies for winning keno. If you are an experienced player, they may seem stupidly obvious. But it never hurts to brush up on the fundamentals, and if you are a new player, every bit of information will help make your keno experience more enjoyable.
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