How to Play Keno: The Ultimate Guide

In this guide, you will learn how to play Keno and win this game, but also how to sharpen your skills and show off some useful tips and tricks. 

If you have decided to take this ancient lottery game of chance from China seriously, knowing things about playing lotto can be quite useful. 

Keno also involves the fine art of number picking, only here they need to match some of the numbers drawn at random.

Here are the topics that we'll expand on below:

• What is Keno?
• The Keno Card Explained
• How to Play Keno Online: Step-by-step
• Picking Keno Numbers – Which Way is Correct?
• Understanding Keno Bets and Betting Variations
• Online vs Land-based Keno – Which is better?
• What are the Odds of Winning if you Play Online Keno?
• 7 Keno Tips and Tricks for Increased Odds of Winning
• Are there any differences between bingo and keno?
• Keno Glossary
• Short History of Keno

Keep reading to discover more.

Fast Facts

Before we cover the basics, as well as some other advanced topics that will help you make better decisions when playing Keno, let’s go over a few essential points of the guide. 

Here’s what you’ll learn:

• How to Play: Being a lottery-style game, Keno has very similar rules to lotto and bingo. It requires some basic knowledge about number picking and betting, but also a ton of luck.
• Picking Numbers: The amount of numbers players can pick in Keno varies. It usually ranges between 1 and 15, but this ratio differs depending on the version of the game.
• Types of Bets: There are five major types of bets in Keno. By learning them all, you can make the most of your game and even jazz it up a bit.
• Odds of Winning: The golden rule in Keno states that if you're not looking for a once-in-a-lifetime jackpot, your odds become marginally better. Knowing the odds is a huge advantage when playing, and it is said that numbers from 4 to 8 have the greatest chance of success.
• Tips & Tricks: Selecting a casino with better payouts and choosing consecutive numbers or The Cold Ones is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to understanding the game of Keno. We have a lot more up our sleeve to share, so keep reading our tutorial to acquire even more knowledge!
• Keno Glossary: As a new player, the keno terms may seem confusing. We come to your assistance with a complete glossary containing the most important terms for keno and their definitions.

What is Keno?

The mechanics are similar to the ones used for lottery and bingo, and they are based on a random number generator too. After the draw, a player is paid based on how many numbers on his ticket were chosen.

The Keno payouts depend on the casino, usually ranging from less than 4 percent to over 35 percent in online play. If you’re more into playing this game of chance at land-based casinos, the odds are between 20-40%.

The Keno Card Explained

If you want to master the game, it is essential to learn the anatomy of a keno card. There are 3 major brass tacks to take into account.

Before the game starts, you must pick your numbers.

However, their amount can vary from game to game. Most versions will let you pick between 1 and 15 numbers, but you will surely see other variants as you play.

While Keno has 80 numbers, the virtual machine (hopper) will randomly draw only 20. If you’re playing in a real casino, the machine draws numbered balls instead.

Finally, the game calculates your winnings based on the numbers bet, as well as how many of them match the draw.

Keno Spot

Another key term you should consider memorizing is called Keno Spot. It represents each Keno number, which was traditionally marked with ink. 

If you play this lottery-like game online, you simply select spots by clicking your mouse or tapping the screen on a smartphone.

How to Play Keno Online: Step-by-step

So, how do you play Keno? The game loop is quite straightforward, meaning that anyone can master it in a few simple steps. 

Practice makes perfect though, so let’s go over the basics by using Jungle Keno as an example:

Step 1: Choose Your Lucky Numbers

A Keno card has 80 numbers, so the first thing you need to do is choose your lucky values before the draw. Each number is called a Keno Spot and taking a look at the paytable can help you understand how much they stand to win per hand.

Step 2 - Cross Your Fingers & Wait For the Draw 

Once you have your numbers, wait for the draw to finish to see if you have a match. Any numbers that you have successfully matched will be highlighted and the game will then calculate your winnings based on the bet.

For example, in the image below, the winning numbers are 63 and 69. You’ll notice that they are highlighted in orange.

Step 3 - See How Many Numbers You've Matched

The more numbers you match, the higher the payout. Some versions will even pay out if no numbers were matched, but you usually have to wager a certain amount of bets to get there. 

Step 4 - Keep an Eye on Hot/Cold Numbers

In some versions of online Keno, you will notice a clear difference between Hot and Cold numbers. It means that certain numbers appear more often than others sometimes, so using this advantage is highly recommended.

The best part about online keno is that some of the games available display the hot/cold number history. This way, you can keep track of the previously drawn numbers and notice certain winning keno patterns, which may help you improve your odds.

Picking Keno Numbers – Which Way is Correct?

The most important aspect of playing Keno is one’s ability to pick the right numbers. Still, however you choose to select your spots, keep in mind that Keno is purely a game of chance. There are two ways to make the selection in an online version of the game:
 
You can automatically set the numbers by selecting the Fast Pick option. The numbers will be randomly selected. This is a great option if you want to go with the flow.

The other way around would be to manually select each number and hopefully increase the chances of winning. 

Remember Hot and Cold numbers?

This is where your skills can truly shine, as getting “in the zone” with frequent wins and correct numbers can mean quite a difference.

If you consider the payouts and odds for each range with manual number picking (including the bet amount), you’re already one step closer to winning. You can explore the best winning numbers in keno in my dedicated guide.

Understanding Keno Bets and Betting Variations

There are several bet variations in Keno. Understanding them all is important if you really want to master the game, so here is the complete list:

• Straight bet: This is the simplest and most common type of bet in Keno. It means that you place a bet on up to 15 numbers per game.

• Way bet: After selecting a group of numbers, you can break these into equal subgroups or ways. Repeated numbers are not allowed, so pick a value in one way only.

• Combination bet: Also known as ‘combo ticket’, this bet allows you to select groups of numbers that are played together on one ticket. You can combine groups of straight and way bets or something else you prefer.  

• Split bet: Some casinos allow you to make multiple sets of bets during the same round. This is called a split bet and it is a great option if you want to bet on more than one set of numbers in a single game to maximize your chances by making more than one straight ticket bet per round.

• King ticket: The only difference between split bets and king bets is in numbers. Here you choose only one value, the so-called King, and it must appear in all groups.

• Jackpot ticket: Keno jackpots can grow until they are won, so if you play a progressive game and hit the grand prize, you could cash in a staggering sum after a single draw!

Online vs Land-based Keno – Which is Better?

Although the online version of Keno is far more popular nowadays, both variants (video and land-based) offer a fulfilling lottery-like experience. There are certain benefits as well as downsides to keep in mind before making the decision though, so here’s our short list:

What are the Odds of Winning if you Play Online Keno?

So, how does Keno work and what are the odds of winning? It may surprise you, but the odds of winning mainly depend on the casino you choose. 

Expert’s Recommendation

Always go for games with a lower house edge. Different Keno online casinos offer different payout possibilities. Classic gambling venues, also known as brick-and-mortar casinos, normally come with a ratio of 20-30%. 

Keno RTP (Return to Player) on iGaming sites generally varies between 93% and 97% but don’t forget the golden rule: the more you play, the more chances to win!

On some iGaming sites, a win can even occur when none of the numbers (spots) are drawn! However, the best way to increase your win is, of course, by increasing your wager amount. 

Last but not least, Keno winnings depend on the following factors:

• numbers drawn
• numbers played
• type of game chosen
• value of the bet.

7 Keno Tips and Tricks for Increased Odds of Winning

A few small tips can be really helpful when playing keno online. Learning some of the best keno tricks and tips could save you a lot of money and also build your confidence. Here is what you should always keep in mind when playing:

1. Never deposit more than you're willing to lose and go easy on your budget
2. Check out the Keno casino bonuses, choose your favorite, and boost your balance
3. Stay consistent and don't chase your losses by making bigger bets or frequent changes of numbers
4. Each outcome is totally random in Keno and the chances of winning all 20 numbers are 1 in 3,535,316,142,212,173,800,000 so keep that in mind at all costs
5. Always play responsibly and stop if it’s not your day to avoid any huge losses
6. If you get a good match deposit bonus on Keno, use it, as it may prove quite useful in the long run.
7. Use a proven strategy, like the ones available in our complete keno strategies guide.

Are There Any Differences Between Bingo and Keno?

Although quite similar on the outside, Keno is based on different mechanics than bingo. Players often assume that it’s very similar to this game of chance, but in fact, Keno has a lot more in common with the lottery.

The main difference is that in bingo, players are given a ticket with numbers on it. During the draw, they match numbers that appear in the pool to create a winning card. 

In Keno, partakers must pick numbers for themselves. However, the responsibility of keeping track remains in both games.

Keno Glossary

Just like in any other game of chance, there are certain terms and phrases that help players become more comfortable with its structure. 

The more of these words you know, the bigger your keno knowledge will be, allowing you to easily switch from land-based to online versions at any time.

Here are some of the most used terms in Keno:

• All or Nothing - A keno ticket that only pays out if all the selected numbers were drawn
• Spot - Keno balls, same size as bingo balls, numbered from 1 to 80
• Hopper or RNG - A machine that dispenses or displays the balls
• Combination Ticket - A single ticket with a number of different keno wagers
• King Ticket - A way ticket but it has one or more kings
• Paytable - An in-game chart indicating what each pattern pays
• Straight Ticket - A standard keno ticket
• Top-Bottom Ticket - A ticket split in two
• Winning Numbers - the 20 numbers drawn in the keno game

Short History of Keno Games

By now, we’ve explained a lot about playing, but what is Keno exactly? To put it simply, it is predominantly a game of chance, so there is no true pattern for winning. 

Regardless, that does not mean you can’t make successful streaks of wins. As a matter of fact, many experienced gamblers try their luck at different machines or online Keno games and experiment to get the best pattern possible. 

Latin roots

The word “keno” we use today has French or Latin roots (Fr. quine “five winning numbers” or in Latin quini, meaning “five each"). 

China origins

Nevertheless, the game originated in China. Legend has it that it was invented in time of war when carrier pigeons were used to deliver important messages on the battlefield.

Pigeon tickets

These “pigeon tickets” eventually became sheets with printed 80 characters which is how the game still looks. 

Western adoption

Still, it’s Chinese immigrants who introduced keno to the West when they sailed across the Pacific Ocean to work on construction of the First Transcontinental Railroad in the 19th century. The name was ultimately Westernized into boc hop bu and puck-apu.

Birth of modern keno

In 1866, Keno had become a widely popular gambling game in Houston, Texas, under its current name.

Conclusion

We hope that our guide has helped you learn how to play keno.

You now have all the tools to go a long way when playing keno online or at real casino. Before we let you show off some new skills to win in this game of chance, here are some tricks to stay in focus:

Choose reliable sites when playing Keno to experience the best of this game. You should only go for safe, licensed, and verified sites. Check our featured sites for more details once you’re done reading.

See if payouts are bigger at some casinos and look for games that dish out prizes for just a few numbers.The easiest way to do this is to do your own research and compare different keno games by applying the things you’ve learned in this guide,

Practice for free to stay in shape and try out free keno games online so you wouldn’t lose a lot of money before engaging in real stuff.

Take full advantage of bonuses for keno to boost your funds and extend play time.

Keep it real and set a balance that suits your limits. You can bet small and still win big, the odds are countless!

Check out the Keno Academy for more guides, strategies and insights, written by actual experts.

To conclude, Keno payouts expand from just 1x the bet but can go up to 200,000x your stake. You can win different jackpots too; it all depends on the game and its provider. 

We normally recommend those games that have payouts for landing just a few numbers. The reason is obvious – they offer you a chance to win more often.