Free Casino Games / Keno / How to win at keno
How to win at keno
You win at keno when enough of your numbers are drawn to reach the pay table: for example 3 of 5, 4 of 7 or 5 of 8. No tip makes that more likely, because every draw is random. What you can do is pick a ticket that wins in the way you want and bet so your bankroll lasts.
What counts as a win
Each spot count has its own row on the pay table. Some pays only return your bet. Here is where real wins start:
| Spots | Bet back | First real win | Chance of a real win |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catch 1: 3 for 1 | 1 in 4.00 | |
| 2 | Catch 2: 12 for 1 | 1 in 16.6 | |
| 3 | Catch 2 | Catch 3: 43 for 1 | 1 in 72.1 |
| 4 | Catch 2 | Catch 3: 3 for 1 | 1 in 21.6 |
| 5 | Catch 3 | Catch 4: 10 for 1 | 1 in 78.5 |
| 6 | Catch 3 | Catch 4: 4 for 1 | 1 in 31.5 |
| 7 | Catch 4 | Catch 5: 25 for 1 | 1 in 106.4 |
| 8 | Catch 5: 9 for 1 | 1 in 48.0 | |
| 9 | Catch 5: 4 for 1 | 1 in 25.7 | |
| 10 | Catch 5 | Catch 6: 22 for 1 | 1 in 75.6 |
Seven tips that hold up
- Know your ticket's row. Before you play, look at what your spot count pays. On 8 spots, catching 4 pays nothing.
- Choose spots for the ride you want. 1 to 4 spots win often and small. 8 to 10 win rarely and big. The house edge is about the same either way. Keno strategy.
- Bet small against your bankroll. Most draws lose. A bet that is a small share of your bankroll lets you reach the draws that hit.
- Use Quick Pick if you like. 1227456378 from Quick Pick has exactly the same odds as numbers you chose.
- Read hot and cold numbers as history. They show what happened. They don't predict. Why.
- Know the cost. On our table about 25 to 28 cents of every dollar bet stays with the house over time.
- Treat the top prize as rare. 10 of 10 is 1 in 8,911,711. It is there, and it almost never comes.
Things that don't work
- "Winning numbers" and "luckiest numbers today". No number is more likely than another in any draw. Best keno numbers.
- Waiting for a number that is "due". A number that missed 20 draws has the same 1-in-4 chance in the next one.
- Patterns. A row like 12345 has the same odds as any other five numbers.
- Doubling up after losses. It raises your risk and doesn't change the odds of any draw.
- Playing at a "lucky" time. Draws at 3 a.m. and 3 p.m. have the same odds.
What winning looks like
Here is the exact chance of finishing ahead after 50 draws at one flat bet on our table: 3 spots 28.7%, 9 spots 23.2%, 2 spots 18.0%, 6 spots 14.9%, 4 spots 14.2%, 8 spots 11.9%, 10 spots 10.3%, 7 spots 10.0%, 1 spot 9.8%, 5 spots 3.2%. Most sessions end behind.
Can you win at keno over time?
No. Every draw has a house edge, and over many draws it wins out. On our table every $100 bet returns about $72 to $75 over time. A short session can end well ahead; a long run won't. Keno odds.
Is keno rigged?
A fair draw doesn't need to be rigged: the house edge is in the pay table. In our game every draw is random, every number has the same chance, and the last draw has no effect on the next.
Play for the fun of it
Our game is play money. Try a few spot counts, watch how often each pays, and see where your bankroll is after 50 draws in High Score. The Top 25 shows how the luckiest sessions ended.
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Questions
How do you win at keno?
Enough of your picked numbers must be drawn to reach the pay table: for example 3 of 5, 4 of 7 or 5 of 8. Each spot count has its own row.
Is there a trick to winning keno?
No. Every draw is random and every number has the same chance. You can choose how often you win and how big, by your spot count, but no trick changes the odds.
What is the easiest way to win at keno?
Play few spots. A 1-spot ticket wins 1 time in 4, and a 4-spot ticket pays something about 1 time in 4, though most of those pays only return the bet.
Can you win at keno in the long run?
No. The house edge is built into the pay table: on ours, every $100 bet returns about $72 to $75 over time. Short sessions can end ahead.
Is keno rigged?
A fair keno draw gives every number the same chance; the house edge comes from the pay table. In our game every draw is random and independent of the last.
More: How to play keno · What is keno? · Keno rules · Keno payouts · Keno odds · Keno strategy · Are there best keno numbers? · Hot and cold keno numbers · Live keno · Video keno