Free Casino Games / Keno / What is keno?
What is keno?
Keno is a number game where 20 numbers are drawn from 1 to 80, and you win by how many of the numbers you picked are drawn. You choose how many numbers to play and how much to bet, and a fixed pay table decides what you win. Nobody plays against anybody else.
Keno in one minute
- The numbers. 1 to 80, shown as a board of 8 rows of 10.
- Your ticket. You pick some of the numbers. Each one is a spot. In our game you pick 1 to 10.
- The draw. 20 numbers are drawn at random.
- The pay. Each of your spots that is drawn is a catch. The pay table for your spot count shows what your catches pay.
A 5-spot ticket of 821375066 that catches 3 of them gets its bet back. Catching all 5 pays 800 for 1. How to play keno, step by step.
Where keno is played
| Kind | How it works |
|---|---|
| Live keno | A casino keno lounge calls a game every few minutes. You mark a paper ticket and watch the numbers on boards around the casino. |
| Lottery keno | Many US state lotteries run keno in bars and restaurants, with a new draw every few minutes. |
| Video keno | A machine draws the 20 numbers the moment you press the button. You play alone. |
Our free game has both kinds you can play online: a shared live draw every 2 minutes, and Quick Keno with instant draws. Live keno · Video keno.
What the name means
Dictionaries trace "keno" to the French word "quine", a set of five winning numbers, from the Latin for "five each". The word has been used in English since the early 1800s.
Is keno like bingo?
A little. Both use numbered balls, and in both you wait to see if your numbers come up. But they work differently.
| Keno | Bingo | |
|---|---|---|
| Your numbers | You choose them, 1 to 10 in our game | Printed on the card you are given |
| Numbers drawn | Always 20 of 80 | Called one by one until someone wins |
| How you win | Paid by a table for how many you catch | Be first to complete a pattern |
| Other players | Don't affect you; everyone can win | You race them; usually one winner per game |
The biggest difference: in bingo you play against the room. In keno you play against the pay table, so the player next to you winning takes nothing from you.
Is keno like the lottery?
Closer. Keno is a lottery-style draw: numbers come out of 80 and you match them. The differences are speed and size. Keno draws every few minutes, you choose how many numbers to play, and prizes are fixed by the pay table instead of shared from a pot.
Is keno a game of skill?
No. Every draw is random, and every number has the same 1-in-4 chance in each draw. The only choices you make are how many spots, how much to bet and how many games to play. Those change how often you win and how big the wins are, but not the odds of any number. Keno strategy.
How much does the house keep?
Keno has one of the highest house edges in a casino. On our pay table, every spot count returns between 71.96% and 75.00% of what is bet over time. A survey of every Las Vegas live keno game by the Wizard of Odds in 2001 found returns of 65% to 80%. Keno odds.
Is keno gambling?
Keno for money is gambling, and it is run by casinos and state lotteries. Our game is play money only: no deposits, no prizes, nothing to cash out. You get a $10,000 play-money bankroll and can reset it any time.
Why people like it
Keno is slow and social. You mark a ticket, watch the balls, and see the result with everyone else. On our live board you can see how many players are in the next draw and the big hits of the day.
Play free kenoNo signup. No download.
Questions
What is keno and how does it work?
Keno is a number game. You pick numbers from 1 to 80, 20 numbers are drawn, and you are paid by a table for how many of your picks were drawn.
Is keno like bingo?
Not really. In bingo you race other players to complete a pattern on a card. In keno you choose your own numbers, 20 are drawn, and everyone is paid by the same table, so other players don't affect you.
What does the word keno mean?
It comes from the French "quine", a set of five winning numbers, from the Latin for "five each".
Is keno a game of luck or skill?
Luck. Every number has the same chance in every draw. You choose the spots and the bet, which changes how often you win and how much, but not the odds of any number.
Is keno the same as the lottery?
It is a lottery-style draw, but faster: a new draw every few minutes, you choose how many numbers to play, and prizes are fixed by a pay table.
More: How to play keno · Keno rules · Keno payouts · Keno odds · Keno strategy · How to win at keno · Are there best keno numbers? · Hot and cold keno numbers · Live keno · Video keno