How to Play Keno
Learn how to play keno from a beginner’s perspective. Our ultimate guide teaches you the essential elements of keno, such as the card, numbers, and drawing process.
We explain the game’s objective, layout, rule variations, and keno odds and payouts. We also offer tips to help you win more and a glossary of useful terms to help you understand the game.
Basics of Keno
These are the basic elements of keno, and they should serve as a starting point in fully understanding what keno is.
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Keno cardThe keno card lists all the number spots available for betting. When you make a real money bet and the draw begins, the card is then marked with all winning numbers.
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Numbers
The numbers are the focal point of keno. If you pick winning numbers, you get real money winnings. The more numbers you match, the higher the payout. The numbers typically range from 1 to 80.
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Draw
The draw is what happens after you click the play button. Random 20 numbers are chosen as winning numbers. The more numbers you match from those 20 numbers, the higher your winnings.
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Payout
The payout happens at the end of each game round. The payout is calculated by considering your chosen numbers, and the winning numbers, determined by the random draw. The more numbers you match, the higher your win.
As you can see, keno is a simple game, and learning how keno works is a fast process. The main differences come in the game rules, which vary by game variant. The flipside of keno’s limited variety at US online casinos is that you won’t have to learn much before you play.
How to Play Keno Online?
Learning how to play keno is simple. The game is intuitive, and it will take you little time to fully understand what’s happening in a keno game. At some keno online casinos, you can set up auto-play, increase the game speed and enjoy special features like bonus rounds with free spins.
We prepared a step-by-step guide to get you started. Remember that you can practice in demo mode to learn the game before playing for real money.
Make sure to adjust your betting level and chip denominations before playing. In some games, you can bet as low as $0.01, and as high as $100.
Tap up to 10 or 15 numbers on the keno board. Most online keno games require a minimum of 2 chosen numbers.
Click the bet button and the game round begins. In online keno, you don’t have to wait for all players to place bets.
After you place your bet, the RNG software randomly draws 20 winning numbers. The more numbers that match your choices, the higher you win.
You can re-bet using your previously selected numbers or choose new ones.
Complete Guide to Keno
We’ve compiled all the necessary info you need to learn how to play keno. Explore the game’s objective, layout, rule variations, odds, and payouts.
Objective
The objective in keno is simple and straightforward.
You choose up to 10 to 15 numbers on the keno board, which usually consists of 80 numbers.
The machine then draws 20 winning numbers out of the 80 presented on the board.
Your chosen numbers are compared to the winning numbers. The more matches or hits you have, the higher your win. If you manage to hit 10 numbers, which is the usual maximum, you will hit the highest prize, which usually ranges in the tens of thousands in USD.
Online Keno Card Layout
This is the typical layout of an online keno card. In online play, you don’t have to manually label physical keno tickets and hand them to the casino. The entire betting process is quicker and more efficient.
You select up to 15 numbers on the board, and the RNG software marks the 20 winning numbers. The winning numbers are matched with your chosen numbers automatically.
The board reveals special symbols in some online keno games that lead to bonus rounds with free games. Usually, you can check the paytable next to the board on every game.
You can adjust the game speed and your bet levels and even set up auto-play.
Keno Rules
The keno rules depend on the game variant. The basic rules that the game shares between all variants are the facts that you must select your bet size, a minimum of 1, 2, or 3 numbered spots, and tap the bet button.
Some games let you choose fewer or more numbers and have different RTP rates, and some game variants have special features such as bonus rounds.
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Classic KenoIn classic keno, players can choose between 1 to 15 numbers. Standard rules apply where 20 numbers are drawn. The RTP here is 94.90%. This format is uncommon at US online casinos.
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Lucky 8 Keno
Lucky 8 Keno has 80 numbers, and 20 winning numbers are drawn each round. You can choose between 2 to 10 numbers. The Lucky 8 number is the 20th number drawn every time. If you match it, your win is multiplied by 8. This game format has an RTP of 92.15%.
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Prairie Thunder Keno
Prairie Thunder Keno draws 20 numbers out of the standard pool of 80. You must select a minimum of 3 numbers, and a maximum of 10. This is a unique keno format that has two special features: Prairie Thunder Bonus (5 free games) and Wolf Multiplier Bonus (unpicked symbols that reward wins on a match). This format’s RTP is 93,45%.
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Ancient Thunder Keno
Ancient Thunder Keno follows the standard keno format of 80 numbers, and 20 numbers are drawn each game round. You must select between 2 to 10 numbers. Besides the 20 drawn numbers each round, there are 14 special spots here: Zeus (5 spots = wheel bonus), Poseidon (4 spots = free games), Helios (3 spots = extra draws), and Athena (2 spots = 1 extra draw). This game’s RTP is 93.44%.
Keno Odds, House Edge, and Payouts
Keno has a very high payout potential. The keno payouts can reach as high as 200,000x your stake size, but these payouts can be as rare as jackpot slot wins.
Have a look at this keno payout chart based on the classic format of the game. Keep in mind keno payouts and odds will vary per game version and online casino.
| Numbers picked | Matched numbers | Odds | Win |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 1 in 4 | $1 |
| 2 | 2 | 1 in 17 | $1 |
| 3 | 3 | 1 in 73 | $10 |
| 3 | 2 | 1 in 8 | $25 |
| 4 | 4 | 1 in 327 | $2 |
| 4 | 3 | 1 in 24 | $50 |
| 4 | 2 | 1 in 5 | $5 |
| 5 | 5 | 1 in 1,1551 | $1 |
| 5 | 4 | 1 in 83 | $500 |
| 5 | 3 | 1 in 12 | $15 |
| 6 | 6 | 1 in 7,753 | $2 |
| 6 | 5 | 1 in 324 | $1,500 |
| 6 | 4 | 1 in 36 | $50 |
| 6 | 3 | 1 in 8 | $5 |
| 7 | 7 | 1 in 40,980 | $1 |
| 7 | 6 | 1 in 1,366 | $5,000 |
| 7 | 5 | 1 in 116 | $150 |
| 7 | 4 | 1 in 20 | $15 |
| 7 | 3 | 1 in 6 | $2 |
| 8 | 8 | 1 in 230,115 | $1 |
| 8 | 7 | 1 in 6,233 | $15,000 |
| 8 | 6 | 1 in 423 | $400 |
| 8 | 5 | 1 in 55 | $50 |
| 8 | 4 | 1 in 13 | $10 |
| 9 | 9 | 1 in 1,380,688 | $2 |
| 9 | 8 | 1 in 30,628 | $25,000 |
| 9 | 7 | 1 in 1,691 | $2,500 |
| 9 | 6 | 1 in 175 | $200 |
| 9 | 5 | 1 in 31 | $25 |
| 9 | 4 | 1 in 9 | $4 |
| 10 | 10 | 1 in 8,911,712 | $1 |
| 10 | 9 | 1 in 163,382 | $200,000 |
| 10 | 8 | 1 in 7,385 | $10,000 |
| 10 | 7 | 1 in 621 | $500 |
| 10 | 6 | 1 in 88 | $50 |
| 10 | 5 | 1 in 20 | $10 |
| 10 | 4 | 1 in 22 | $3 |
How to Play Keno and Win?
Follow these tips, our expert team hand-picked to ensure you maximize your winning chances. Unfortunately, we can’t point you to a keno strategy to win more because it’s a game of luck driven by the RNG (Random Number Generator) software.
Glossary of Terms
This glossary of terms will help you better understand keno and the various terms used surrounding the game, especially when it comes to offline play in land casinos.
- Caller
The person in charge of calling out the winning numbers in a keno game round.
- Draw
The Draw is the special panel showcases which 20 winning numbers have been drawn in a game round.
- Field
The field is a collection of marked numbers that you haven’t matched i.e., won
- Matched numbers
Matched numbers are winning numbers you’ve correctly guessed after the number draw.
- Open
This means the casino is open to accepting keno bets for the following game round.
- Closed
This means the casino has closed all bets for the following game round.
- Paytable
The paytable shows the payout per numbers matched. The payout also increases according to the bet size.
- Way Ticket
A keno ticket (which applies to offline play) has two or more special bets.
- Aggregate Limit
Since keno’s payouts have a super high potential, some casinos employ a total overall winning limit that all players must agree on, called the “aggregate limit”.
Ready to Play Keno?
Keno is a simple game of luck that is straightforward to learn.
You mustselect up to 15 numbers you think will win. The software randomly draws 20 winning numbers, and the game round ends. In online keno, you can play dozens of game rounds in a minute.
There are special keno variants that offer bonus features and special symbols, spicing up the gameplay. Check each game’s rules, odds, and payouts before playing.
As a pure game of luck, keno has no strategy, and you should ignore hot and cold numbers. We advise you to pick whichever numbers you want and enjoy the game’s random nature.
FAQs
What is the object of Keno?
The object of keno is to get as many matched numbers or “hits” as possible. The keno board has 80 numbers, and you can usually select up to 15. Then, the machine randomly draws 20 winning numbers. The more matches between your chosen numbers and the winning numbers, the higher your win.
What are the rules for playing Keno?
The rules of playing keno depend on the keno game variant you’re playing. The essential rules are that you must select your bet level, up to 10 or 15 numbers, and wait for the outcome of the draw.
How many Keno numbers should I play?
There is no optimal number of Keno spots you should pick. The numbers you choose dynamically adjust the payouts and getting 4 matches out of 8 chosen numbers doesn’t have the same payout as getting 4 matches out of 4 chosen numbers. It depends on your desired level of risk and if you’re in pursuit of the highest payouts. If you’re wagering a bonus, we recommend to play it safe by choosing between 4 to 8 numbers.
What numbers hit most in Keno?
There is no number that hits the most in keno. Each number on the keno board has an individually equal chance of drawing. Over the course of a few game rounds, some numbers will be drawn more than others, which is only because of the nature of the RNG (Random Number Generator) software. In the long run, over millions of bets, the hit numbers even out.
How do you play Keno and win?
There is no winning strategy to keno but you can find winning tips that will help you win in different ways, without affecting the house edge or payouts. Since keno is a game of luck, there is not much you can do from your side to affect the game’s outcome.
Is there a pattern to Keno?
There is no pattern to keno. The game’s draws are entirely driven by the RNG (Random Number Generator) software. Every game draw is independent of the previous or future draws.
What are the hot numbers in Keno?
The hot numbers in keno are defined as numbers that get drawn more in comparison to other numbers over the course of your game session. This is misleading since he very nature of RNG is that some numbers will end up being more drawn in the short run. This doesn’t mean that these “hot numbers” are more likely to be drawn again. Every number has an equal chance of drawing in every game round.