Keno Tutorial

The beauty of Keno is that new players can begin a game within a few minutes of observing. There are no complicated rules and players can concentrate on their game without worrying about much else. Most people have a basic understanding of the elements of bingo, on which Keno is based.

The game of Keno is based on numbers ranging from 1 through to 80.

A typical Keno ticket is marked with all these numbers.

The casino will specify an upper limit (ie. the maximum amount of numbers that players can pick). This is usually up to 20.

Players then choose as many numbers as they wish up to the maximum amount. For example, they can choose anything between one out of the eighty numbers or 20 out of the eighty.

The player chooses the amount of money he wishes to wager.

The random number generator picks twenty numbers and displays them.

The player is then paid out according to the number of correct picks on his Keno card and how much money was wagered.

Casinos offer various kinds of Keno tickets to keep the game exciting and to allow different options for different bankroll sizes. The chart below explains some of the more popular types of Keno tickets.

Keno Ticket	Special Rules
Straight Ticket	The players choose the numbers that they wish to play (within the upper limit amount) and mark them on the ticket. The players also indicate the amount they wish to wager.
Split Ticket	Players can play a few games on one single ticket. Players indicate a split with a line down the middle of the Keno ticket and mark numbers on each side. The potential payoff on this type of ticket is less than a straight ticket.
Way Ticket	Cheaper than a straight ticket that allows multiple sets of numbers to be chosen. This is a convenient way to play more ways than one on a single ticket.
Combination Ticket	Similar to a way ticket; also allows players to pick any way of playing including a combination of straight and way bets.
High End Ticket	A high-risk option that seeks matching numbers on the card. It also has high payoffs.
Top-Bottom Ticket	Players split the ticket in half and choose numbers from the top or bottom. Players usually need to match at least 13 numbers to make a win.
Left-Right Ticket	Similar to Top-Bottom Ticket, only the split is done down the middle.
Edges Ticket	Similar to Top-Bottom Ticket, only the numbers chosen are around the edge of the Keno ticket.
20 Spot Tickets	A ticket with 20 spots that allows players to win in 18 different ways.

Rules for Online Keno

The Keno ticket is shown on the screen.

Players pick the wager amounts listed on the top of the screen (eg. $1, $5).

Players click on the required numbers within the upper limit amount.

It is optional to use the Quick Pick 10 button that selects 10 numbers randomly for the player.

A click on a particular number will deselect the number.

The ‘Play’ button is pressed to begin the random selection of 20 winning numbers.

The numbers are highlighted on the Keno card and shown at the bottom of the screen as well.

Players can compare these numbers to the payout table on the left hand side of the screen.

The result table will explain the payoffs for winning combinations.

To play the same numbers, players simply press “Play” to repeat the process.

The player can also press “Clear” to start a new game with new numbers.

Keno is a game with high odds and is generally played for the fun of it, or by high rollers who don’t mind losing money. It is also a game of pure chance, which means that no direct strategy can influence the outcome of the game and the numbers chosen. However, there are several things that players can keep in mind to minimize their losses.

Avoid playing Keno over a long stretch of time. Stick to short sessions where you just might have a lucky break and hit the big one.

It is more likely that you will hit four numbers than ten, for example. The payoff will be considerably less but you have a higher chance of winning this way.

Keep the size of your bankroll in mind and play accordingly. A $50 bankroll won’t go very far if you play $4 stakes.

Don’t chase losses, especially in a Keno game. You run the risk of blowing your bankroll in a very short time.

Some Keno players believe that successive numbers (for example 22 and 23) come up more often than others. No proof of this exists but it’s worth a try!

A common strategy is to stick to the same group of numbers consecutively.

An obvious one: Don’t forget to pick up your winnings! Some casinos limit the amount of time that players have to claim their cash and if they are too late, the money is forfeited. Don’t get carried away in the casino and be on your toes!

If you can afford to, play the maximum amount of coins. This will increase your payouts if you win.

Keno tournaments are an exciting part of online casino play, and they are also found in some traditional casinos. Online casino tournaments are usually played over a particular time period, usually a week. Within that week, players register to take part in the tournament. They are then allocated a certain amount of play money and a few minutes (usually 30) to play. Players then choose when to log within the period of the tournament. They are usually limited to logging in once a day at most. They can play their entire half hour in one day or spread that time over the entire tournament. A screen indicator will show the player’s current time and money balance. If the player loses the allocated amount, he is out of the tournament. The final balance is what is shown when the thirty minutes are up. If a player feels that his winnings are satisfactory, he need not use up all his time. The player with the highest amount of money left at the end of the tournament is the winner and is awarded a prize – usually cash. Some casinos will offer monthly prizes in addition to the weekly prizes as an extra incentive. Tournaments such as these usually require players to pay an entrance fee. Other types of Keno tournaments include buy-in tournaments where players need to use their own money and progressive tournaments where players play in qualifying rounds until the grand final.