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Keno odds
The odds in keno depend on how many numbers you pick: catching 1 of 1 is 1 in 4, catching 5 of 5 is 1 in 1,551, and catching all 10 of 10 is 1 in 8,911,711. On a standard live keno pay table the house edge is about 25% to 28%, one of the highest in a casino.
Odds at a glance
| Spots | Any pay | Win more than your bet | Catch all | Return | House edge |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 in 4.00 | 1 in 4.00 | 1 in 4.00 | 75.00% | 25.00% |
| 2 | 1 in 16.6 | 1 in 16.6 | 1 in 16.6 | 72.15% | 27.85% |
| 3 | 1 in 6.55 | 1 in 72.1 | 1 in 72.1 | 73.54% | 26.46% |
| 4 | 1 in 3.86 | 1 in 21.6 | 1 in 326.4 | 74.06% | 25.94% |
| 5 | 1 in 10.3 | 1 in 78.5 | 1 in 1,551 | 72.08% | 27.92% |
| 6 | 1 in 6.19 | 1 in 31.5 | 1 in 7,753 | 73.15% | 26.85% |
| 7 | 1 in 16.2 | 1 in 106.4 | 1 in 40,979 | 71.96% | 28.04% |
| 8 | 1 in 48.0 | 1 in 48.0 | 1 in 230,115 | 72.71% | 27.29% |
| 9 | 1 in 25.7 | 1 in 25.7 | 1 in 1,380,688 | 74.86% | 25.14% |
| 10 | 1 in 15.5 | 1 in 75.6 | 1 in 8,911,711 | 72.29% | 27.71% |
"Any pay" includes catches that only give your bet back. "Return" is how much of every dollar bet comes back over many draws on our pay table. The house edge is the rest.
How keno odds are worked out
Every keno chance comes from one formula. With k spots, the chance of catching exactly c of them is:
C(k, c) × C(80 − k, 20 − c) ÷ C(80, 20)
C(n, r) is the number of ways to choose r things from n. C(80, 20) is the number of possible draws: 3,535,316,142,212,174,320. For 4 spots and 4 caught: C(4,4) × C(76,16) ÷ C(80,20) = 1 in 326.4. Every number on this page comes from that formula, exactly.
Full odds chart
4 spots
| Catch | Chance | Odds | Pays |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 0.31% | 1 in 326.4 | 130 for 1 |
| 3 | 4.32% | 1 in 23.1 | 3 for 1 |
| 2 | 21.26% | 1 in 4.70 | 1 for 1 |
| 1 | 43.27% | 1 in 2.31 | 0 |
| 0 | 30.83% | 1 in 3.24 | 0 |
5 spots
| Catch | Chance | Odds | Pays |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 0.0645% | 1 in 1,551 | 800 for 1 |
| 4 | 1.21% | 1 in 82.7 | 10 for 1 |
| 3 | 8.39% | 1 in 11.9 | 1 for 1 |
| 2 | 27.05% | 1 in 3.70 | 0 |
| 1 | 40.57% | 1 in 2.46 | 0 |
| 0 | 22.72% | 1 in 4.40 | 0 |
6 spots
| Catch | Chance | Odds | Pays |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 0.0129% | 1 in 7,753 | 1,500 for 1 |
| 5 | 0.31% | 1 in 323.0 | 95 for 1 |
| 4 | 2.85% | 1 in 35.0 | 4 for 1 |
| 3 | 12.98% | 1 in 7.70 | 1 for 1 |
| 2 | 30.83% | 1 in 3.24 | 0 |
| 1 | 36.35% | 1 in 2.75 | 0 |
| 0 | 16.66% | 1 in 6.00 | 0 |
7 spots
| Catch | Chance | Odds | Pays |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 0.0024% | 1 in 40,979 | 8,000 for 1 |
| 6 | 0.0732% | 1 in 1,366 | 350 for 1 |
| 5 | 0.86% | 1 in 115.8 | 25 for 1 |
| 4 | 5.22% | 1 in 19.2 | 1 for 1 |
| 3 | 17.50% | 1 in 5.71 | 0 |
| 2 | 32.67% | 1 in 3.06 | 0 |
| 1 | 31.52% | 1 in 3.17 | 0 |
| 0 | 12.16% | 1 in 8.23 | 0 |
8 spots
| Catch | Chance | Odds | Pays |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 0.000435% | 1 in 230,115 | 25,000 for 1 |
| 7 | 0.0160% | 1 in 6,232 | 1,500 for 1 |
| 6 | 0.24% | 1 in 422.5 | 90 for 1 |
| 5 | 1.83% | 1 in 54.6 | 9 for 1 |
| 4 | 8.15% | 1 in 12.3 | 0 |
| 3 | 21.48% | 1 in 4.66 | 0 |
| 2 | 32.81% | 1 in 3.05 | 0 |
| 1 | 26.65% | 1 in 3.75 | 0 |
| 0 | 8.83% | 1 in 11.3 | 0 |
9 spots
| Catch | Chance | Odds | Pays |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 0.000072% | 1 in 1,380,688 | 50,000 for 1 |
| 8 | 0.0033% | 1 in 30,682 | 4,000 for 1 |
| 7 | 0.0592% | 1 in 1,690 | 280 for 1 |
| 6 | 0.57% | 1 in 174.8 | 50 for 1 |
| 5 | 3.26% | 1 in 30.7 | 4 for 1 |
| 4 | 11.41% | 1 in 8.76 | 0 |
| 3 | 24.61% | 1 in 4.06 | 0 |
| 2 | 31.64% | 1 in 3.16 | 0 |
| 1 | 22.07% | 1 in 4.53 | 0 |
| 0 | 6.37% | 1 in 15.7 | 0 |
10 spots
| Catch | Chance | Odds | Pays |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 0.000011% | 1 in 8,911,711 | 100,000 for 1 |
| 9 | 0.000612% | 1 in 163,381 | 5,000 for 1 |
| 8 | 0.0135% | 1 in 7,384 | 1,000 for 1 |
| 7 | 0.16% | 1 in 620.7 | 150 for 1 |
| 6 | 1.15% | 1 in 87.1 | 22 for 1 |
| 5 | 5.14% | 1 in 19.4 | 1 for 1 |
| 4 | 14.73% | 1 in 6.79 | 0 |
| 3 | 26.74% | 1 in 3.74 | 0 |
| 2 | 29.53% | 1 in 3.39 | 0 |
| 1 | 17.96% | 1 in 5.57 | 0 |
| 0 | 4.58% | 1 in 21.8 | 0 |
Which spot count has the best odds?
On our table, 1 spot returns the most (75.00%) and 9 spots is close behind (74.86%). 7 spots returns the least (71.96%). The gap is about 3 cents on the dollar. Other casinos and lotteries use other tables, so the best spot count changes from place to place.
How keno compares
A survey of every Las Vegas live keno game by the Wizard of Odds in 2001 found returns from 65% to 80%, and called live keno among the worst bets in Las Vegas. A 2008 survey of video keno in San Diego found returns of 84% to 95%. Our table sits inside the live keno range. Video keno.
How many will you catch?
On average, a quarter of your spots are caught, because 20 of the 80 numbers are drawn. Pick 8 and you catch 2 on an average draw. That is why the pay tables start paying only above the average.
Is keno rigged?
A fair keno draw gives every number the same chance, and every set of numbers the same odds. The house doesn't need to cheat: its edge is built into the pay table. In our game the draw is random, every number has the same 1-in-4 chance, and past draws have no effect on the next one.
What about 20 of 20?
Catching 20 of 20 means matching the one exact draw out of 3,535,316,142,212,174,320. Our tickets go up to 10 spots.
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Questions
What are the odds of winning keno?
It depends on your spots. On our table a 4-spot ticket pays something 1 time in 3.86, a 6-spot 1 in 6.19, and an 8-spot 1 in 48. Over time every spot count returns 72% to 75% of what is bet.
What are the odds of hitting 10 out of 10 in keno?
1 in 8,911,711. Catching 9 of 10 is 1 in 163,381 and 8 of 10 is 1 in 7,384.
What is the house edge in keno?
On our standard live keno pay table, 25.14% to 28.04% depending on how many spots you play. Las Vegas live keno games surveyed in 2001 returned 65% to 80%.
What keno spot has the best odds?
On our table, 1 spot returns 75.00% and 9 spots 74.86%. The worst is 7 spots at 71.96%. Other pay tables give other answers.
How do you calculate keno odds?
With k spots, the chance of catching c is C(k,c) × C(80−k, 20−c) ÷ C(80,20). For 4 of 4 that gives 1 in 326.4.
Has anyone ever hit all 20 keno numbers?
Catching 20 of 20 is 1 in 3,535,316,142,212,174,320, one exact draw out of every possible draw.
More: How to play keno · What is keno? · Keno rules · Keno payouts · Keno strategy · How to win at keno · Are there best keno numbers? · Hot and cold keno numbers · Live keno · Video keno