Keno is one of the best games in the casino. It’s super relaxing, but also exciting. All you have to do is pick your numbers & kick back and hope for the best.
We’re going to show you how to play keno online. Could you hit the jackpot on a lucky draw? After reading this, you’ll be one step closer to trying.
How to Play Keno – The Basics
The first thing to know about real money keno is that it’s a lotto game. You win keno by matching numbers, which makes it a total game of chance. There’s no skill involved, although there are some lucky keno strategies which you can use.
Keno is also easy to master. Here’s how you play it:
- You begin by picking between 1 and 10 numbers out of 80.
- The keno draw then takes place.
- You get cash prizes based on how many numbers you match.
That’s the entire game of keno right there. It’s easy, stress-free, and if you’re lucky, it’ll pay you a life-changing win.
When you play keno online, there’s no need to mark off the numbers you match or take your ticket to the casino staff. Payouts will be calculated automatically, and your balance will be topped up within seconds if you have a win.
Keno Rules
If you’re playing keno in a casino, you’ll see whoever is running the game starting up the keno machine. All of the keno balls are inside it, and it mixes them up, just like a lotto machine does.
Keno balls are drawn one by one and called out by the game master. If you’re playing online keno, you’ll see the digital balls and winning numbers on the screen.
That’s all simple enough, but there are a few other keno rules you need to be aware of.
The caller will pick up to 20 numbers maximum even though there are 80 numbers to choose from.
You need to pick only one number to play, but you’re free to pick as many as the game permits. This is usually a maximum of 10.
When the draw has taken place, you’ll be paid according to the keno paytable. Two things matter: how many numbers you picked, and how many you matched.
Some keno games have specific rules such as “if you match the first ball, all wins are multiplied by four.” These special rules don’t always apply, and they depend on which keno variant you are playing.
The Rules of Different Keno Variants
Those special keno games with extra rules sound inviting, don’t they? While classic keno is fun, it can add an extra element of excitement to have multipliers, free games, and bonus balls added to the game. Here’s a quick look at how the different keno games work.
Classic Keno – There are no special rules. You just match numbers and win.
Bonus Spot Keno – You will benefit from a multiplier if you match the first number. Anything between 3x and 10x multipliers are common.
Mini Keno – While most keno games are played with 80 balls, mini keno is played with 40. You have more chance of matching numbers as a result.
Power Keno – If you match the last ball, your win will be boosted by 400%.
Top Bottom Keno – The 80 ball keno card is split into two halves. You get paid based on how many numbers you catch in your chosen half.
Live Keno – It’s not so common yet, but it’s slowly catching on. If you want to play keno with a live dealer, this is the game variant for you.
Jackpot Keno – This is keno with an extra jackpot. It could be a progressive jackpot or a fixed jackpot. You might win it for landing a special bonus ball, or for matching 10 numbers, or for whatever reason the game coders decide.
Hopefully, this gives you something to chew on. If you’re new to keno, we would start with the classic version. Once you’ve mastered it, you should move onto these different keno variants for a shot at bigger money and a few twists to keep things interesting.
Tip: You’ll notice that there are lots of different online keno games such as Monkey Keno and Keno Lab. These don’t always have their own unique rules. They are themed games, but they’ll usually fall into one of the keno categories above.
The Best Way to Play Keno
What’s the best way to play keno? That depends on your appetite for risk and your bankroll. However, you can’t go wrong with the following keno method.
Don’t try to match 10 numbers and win the jackpot. The chances are slim to none. Go with a mid-range number like five picks.
If you have $100 as a keno bankroll, manage it by splitting up up evenly. For example, buy five $1 tickets to 20 different draws.
If you have a big win, take your own money out of your account and try your luck with a maximum of 20% of what you have won. When you hit this limit, walk away.
Splitting your bankroll up this way is the best keno strategy we’re aware of. Don’t worry yourself with keno systems and the like. Most of them don’t work. Bankroll management and giving yourself as many chances to win as possible is all you need to do.
So, now you know how to play keno and what the different games offer. The question is – which casino are you going to play it at?
