Mastering Number Selection, Draws, and Payout Tables
I’ll never forget my first keno experience. I walked into a casino in Las Vegas fifteen years ago, saw a keno lounge, and sat down completely confused. A woman next to me was marking numbers on a ticket with a crayon. Numbers were being projected on a screen. People were cheering and groaning. I had no idea what was happening.
I asked the lady next to me what the game was about. She smiled and spent ten minutes explaining it. By the end of her explanation, I understood the basics but still felt lost. It wasn’t until I played several dozen rounds and talked to experienced keno players that I really grasped the nuances.
Since then, keno has become one of my specialties. I’ve played it in casinos from Atlantic City to Macau. I’ve studied the mathematics exhaustively. I’ve interviewed professional keno players. And I’ve learned that while keno appears simple, it’s actually a game with surprising depth.
This guide will teach you everything you need to know about keno – from selecting your numbers to understanding payout tables to maximizing your experience. By the end, you’ll be able to walk into any keno lounge or open any keno app and play confidently.
The Basics: What is Keno Actually?
Keno is fundamentally a lottery-style game. You choose numbers. The game draws numbers randomly. You win based on how many of your chosen numbers match the drawn numbers. That’s the core concept.
But here’s where keno differs from actual lotteries. In a typical lottery, you buy a ticket once, choose your numbers, and then wait for a drawing that happens once a day or once a week. In keno, a new drawing happens every few minutes. In some casinos, it’s every three minutes. Online, you can trigger a new game instantly whenever you want.
This constant, rapid-fire gameplay is what gives keno its appeal. You don’t have to wait days or weeks to find out if you won. You get instant gratification.
The game is believed to have originated in ancient China, where it was allegedly used to raise money for the Great Wall without implementing unpopular taxes. The game evolved over centuries, traveled along trade routes, and eventually made its way to casinos in America and Europe, where it remains popular today.
The Keno Card: Understanding Your Ticket
The physical or digital card you play with in keno is called a keno ticket. It’s usually a printed sheet or a digital display showing numbers from 1 to 80 arranged in an eight-by-ten grid. That’s eighty numbers total.
Before I explain how the ticket works, let me be clear about something. The layout might look like a bingo card at first glance, but it functions completely differently. In bingo, someone calls numbers and you mark them. In keno, you decide which numbers you want and mark them on your ticket before the draw begins.
A standard keno ticket has numbers arranged like this:
- Numbers 1-10 in the first row
- Numbers 11-20 in the second row
- Numbers 21-30 in the third row
- And so on, continuing through all eighty numbers
Your job before a draw begins is to mark which numbers you want to play. You can mark as few as one number or as many as twenty numbers. Some venues allow up to thirty numbers, but twenty is the standard maximum at most casinos.
You mark your chosen numbers using a crayon or pen. In physical casinos, crayons are provided at the keno counter. Online, you simply click on the numbers you want to select. The system highlights them for you.
Once you’ve marked your numbers and submitted your ticket, you cannot change it. The draw begins, and you’re locked in with your selection. No modifications allowed.
Choosing Your Numbers: Selection Strategies
This is where keno gets interesting psychologically. Since you get to choose your numbers, people develop all kinds of theories about which numbers are “better” than others.
Let me tell you something important right away: all numbers have an identical probability of being drawn. Number 1 has a 1-in-80 chance of appearing in any given draw. Number 80 has the exact same probability. There is no number that is inherently more likely to be drawn than any other. The drawing is random, and randomness doesn’t favor certain numbers.
That said, people choose their numbers in remarkably consistent ways.
Some people play their birthdays. They mark the month they were born, the day, and the year (at least the relevant digits). This limits them to numbers 1-31 mostly, though some people get creative.
Others play lucky numbers. Maybe seven has always been lucky for them, or thirteen, or their favorite sports team’s number.
Some people use birthdays of loved ones. Parents play their children’s birthdays. Couples play anniversaries.
Then there are people who use mathematical patterns. They might pick every fifth number, or all even numbers, or all odd numbers, or numbers that add up to a certain sum.
I’ve met people who use horoscopes. They consult astrology for their keno numbers each day.
I’ve met people who use lottery number generators online. The theory is that someone’s got to be smart about this, so why not use a computer?
Here’s what matters: none of these methods actually works. Every one of them has a 100% equal probability of winning or losing compared to any other selection. The person playing 7-14-21-28-35-42-49-56-63-70 (every seventh number) has the exact same odds of winning as the person playing 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10 (the first ten numbers).
But you know what? This doesn’t matter from an entertainment perspective. If playing your children’s birthdays makes the game more fun for you, then play their birthdays. If picking lucky numbers makes you feel more connected to the game, do that.
The mathematics don’t care. But your enjoyment does, and that’s valid.
That said, let me give you some practical advice. Avoid picking numbers that many other people pick. Why? Because if everyone picks 7-14-21-28-35-42 and those numbers do come up big, you’ll be splitting the payout with dozens of other people. If you pick unusual numbers and you win, you might be splitting with fewer people, meaning a bigger payout for you.
This is actually the only strategic consideration that matters: avoiding crowded number selections. It doesn’t improve your odds of winning, but it might improve your odds of not having to share your winnings.
The Keno Draw: How Numbers are Selected
Once you’ve submitted your ticket with your chosen numbers marked, the draw begins. The casino or online platform will randomly select exactly twenty numbers from the pool of eighty.
These twenty numbers are selected through one of several methods depending on where you’re playing. In traditional casinos with a physical keno cage, numbered balls are drawn one at a time from a cage or machine – similar to how lotteries work. Each number is read aloud, displayed, and recorded.
Online keno uses a random number generator (RNG) to select the twenty numbers. The RNG is programmed to ensure that every possible combination of twenty numbers from the eighty available has an equal chance of occurring.
The draw displays the twenty numbers in one of two ways. In traditional settings, they appear on a large electronic board so everyone can see them. Online, they appear on your screen in real time.
This is what I find fascinating about keno: you can watch the draw happen live. This is different from lottery-style games where you find out the results later. The tension builds as each number is drawn, and you can immediately see if your numbers are being called.
Here’s the pace: a single keno draw typically takes two to three minutes from start to finish in a casino setting. Online, it can be faster or slower depending on the platform’s settings. Some online keno games speed up or slow down the draw to build anticipation.
Understanding Catches and Hits
When one of your selected numbers matches one of the twenty drawn numbers, it’s called a “catch” or a “hit.” These terms are used interchangeably.
If one of the twenty drawn numbers matches one of your selected numbers, you have one catch. If four of the twenty drawn numbers match four of your selected numbers, you have four catches.
The more catches you get, the more money you win. It’s that straightforward.
But here’s where keno gets mathematically interesting. The number of catches you get also depends on how many numbers you initially selected.
Let me give you examples to make this clear:
- If you selected five numbers and three of them are drawn, you have three catches.
- If you selected fifteen numbers and seven of them are drawn, you have seven catches.
- If you selected ten numbers and zero of them are drawn, you have zero catches (no catches is sometimes called a “catch-all” or a “zero-catch”).
Now, here’s an important probability concept. The probability of catching all of your selected numbers is extremely low if you select many numbers. The probability of catching at least some of your selected numbers increases with how many numbers you select, but your payouts per catch typically decrease.
Think about it. If you select one number, you have a 20-in-80 chance of catching it (the draw pulls twenty of the eighty numbers). If you select ten numbers, you have a much higher probability that at least one of them will be drawn. But the payoff for matching one out of ten is tiny compared to the payoff for matching the single number you selected.
Payout Tables: Understanding What You Can Win
The payout table is where things get really important. This is where you discover what your potential winnings actually are.
Every keno game has a payout table that shows you exactly how much you win for each possible catch number based on how many numbers you selected.
Let me show you a simplified example of what a payout table looks like. In this example, your wager is one dollar:
If you selected 1 number:
- Catch 1 (out of 1): Win $3
If you selected 5 numbers:
- Catch 0: Win $2 (some casinos give consolation prizes for catching zero)
- Catch 1: Win $0 (no payout)
- Catch 2: Win $1
- Catch 3: Win $5
- Catch 4: Win $25
- Catch 5: Win $250
If you selected 10 numbers:
- Catch 0: Win $2 (consolation)
- Catch 1-4: Win $0
- Catch 5: Win $1
- Catch 6: Win $3
- Catch 7: Win $10
- Catch 8: Win $75
- Catch 9: Win $500
- Catch 10: Win $2,500
The actual payout tables at real casinos are more complex and vary significantly from venue to venue. Some casinos are more generous than others. Some venues have progressive jackpots that increase over time.
Here’s something crucial to understand: the payout table is not standardized. Different casinos, different keno lounges, and different online platforms have different payout tables. This matters enormously.
Two venues might have identical games in every way – same rules, same drawing mechanism, same number selection process – but completely different payouts. At Venue A, catching seven out of ten might pay $15. At Venue B, the same catch might pay $50. Or vice versa.
This is why experienced keno players will sometimes choose where to play based on the payout tables. If you’re planning to play keno regularly at a particular casino, studying the payout table is worthwhile.
Actually, let me correct that. If you’re planning to play keno, studying the payout table is always worthwhile, not just if you’re a regular. Knowing what you can win and what you’re unlikely to win should factor into your decision to play and how much to wager.
The House Edge and Realistic Payouts
Let’s talk about something uncomfortable but important: the house edge in keno.
The house edge is the mathematical advantage the casino has over the player. In keno, this edge is substantial. Depending on the venue, the house edge in keno ranges from 5% in the most generous online casinos to 40% in some physical casinos.
What does this mean? It means that if you wager one hundred dollars playing keno at a casino with a 25% house edge, the casino expects to keep twenty-five dollars on average and pay out seventy-five dollars in prizes over time.
This is a significant disadvantage compared to some other casino games. Blackjack, for instance, typically has a house edge of around 1% with basic strategy. Slots average 2-15% depending on the machine.
But here’s the thing about casino gaming: virtually all games have a house edge. The casino needs to make money to stay in business. The question isn’t whether there’s an edge – there always is. The question is how big the edge is.
Keno’s house edge is relatively high, which means that over the long term – playing hundreds or thousands of games – you will lose money. This is mathematically guaranteed.
But keno isn’t really meant to be a long-term strategy. It’s meant to be fun, short-term gambling. You play a few games for entertainment, hoping to catch a lucky streak. You’re not trying to get rich. You’re trying to have an exciting evening for a minimal investment.
Viewed in that light, keno is actually fine. It’s entertainment. Like going to a movie or a concert, you budget for it and accept that the money might be lost.
Bet Amounts: How Much Should You Wager?
Before each keno draw, you decide how much money you want to wager on that particular game. The minimum bet is typically fifty cents or one dollar at most casinos. Maximum bets can go anywhere from five to fifty dollars depending on the venue.
Your bet amount directly affects your potential payout. If the payout table says you win three dollars for matching three out of five numbers when you bet one dollar, but you bet two dollars instead, you win six dollars for the same catch.
It sounds simple, but this is where I see many players get into trouble. They start with small bets and gradually increase them, especially if they’re winning. Before they know it, they’ve increased their bet to ten dollars per draw and burned through their budget.
My recommendation is simple: decide your bet amount before you start and stick to it. If you’re gambling with one hundred dollars and you want to play twenty games, that means five-dollar bets per game. Or if you want fifty games, that means two-dollar bets per game. Set your parameters and maintain discipline.
Straight Bets vs. Way Bets: Advanced Keno
This is where keno gets more sophisticated than many people realize. There are different betting structures, and the most common are straight bets and way bets.
A straight bet is the standard. You select numbers and make a single bet on all of them. If you select eight numbers, you’re betting that some of those eight numbers will be drawn and match.
A way bet is more complex. Let me explain using an example.
Say you select ten numbers: 5, 7, 12, 15, 18, 23, 31, 44, 56, 67.
With a way bet, you can divide these ten numbers into groups. Maybe you split them into two groups of five numbers each:
- Group 1: 5, 7, 12, 15, 18
- Group 2: 23, 31, 44, 56, 67
Now you make two separate bets – one on each group. If you bet one dollar on the way, that might mean fifty cents on each group, or it might mean you’re making two one-dollar bets for a total of two dollars.
The advantage of way betting is that you now win money if either group produces catches, not just if specific numbers from your combined selection produce catches. This actually increases your chances of winning something because you have multiple smaller targets instead of one large target.
For example, if the twenty drawn numbers include three numbers from Group 1 and only one from Group 2, you have catches on both bets. You win something for the Group 1 catches and something for the Group 2 catches.
Some advanced keno players use complex way bets with multiple groups and multiple bet levels. A single ticket might have their ten selected numbers divided into three groups of different sizes, with multiple bets across different combinations of these groups.
These complex way bets are available in casinos that cater to serious keno players and at some online platforms. Most casual players just use straight bets and never explore the complexity of way betting.
Is way betting profitable? No. It doesn’t improve your mathematical odds of winning. It just redistributes your risk. But some players find it more engaging and feel it gives them more control or more opportunities to win something.
Reading Your Results: Interpreting the Draw
After the twenty numbers are drawn, you compare them to your selected numbers. This is your moment of truth. Did any of your numbers match? Did many of them match? How much did you win?
In a casino setting, the keno board displays all twenty drawn numbers. You visually compare your ticket to the board. If any match, you mark them or note them mentally. Count your total matches. Check the payout table for your specific selection (remember, payout varies based on how many numbers you selected) and see what you won.
Online, the system does this automatically. It highlights your matches, shows you your total catches, and automatically tells you your winnings.
Here’s an important procedural note: if you win something, you need to claim your prize. In a casino, you take your ticket to the keno counter and they process your payout. You get paid and are given a receipt. Some people immediately play those winnings on another game. Others pocket them.
Online, winnings are typically automatically credited to your account.
One thing I always advise: don’t play your winnings immediately. If you won fifty dollars, that fifty dollars is now money you’ve earned back. Put it aside. Consider it separate from your original budget. If you want to keep gambling, use only additional money from your pocket, not your winnings.
This is a psychological thing, but it matters. Keeping your winnings separate from your remaining budget helps you maintain perspective and prevent chasing losses.
Different Keno Variations
Standard keno – eighty numbers, twenty drawn – is the most common. But variations exist.
Some casinos offer “Power Keno” or “Super Keno” where you can multiply your bet by choosing a multiplier option. If you normally would have won fifty dollars but you paid extra to activate a 2x multiplier, you now win a hundred dollars. The multiplier comes out of your winnings, so it’s not free, but it appeals to players who want potentially higher payouts.
Some venues offer progressive keno where the jackpot for certain catch levels increases over time, similar to how progressive slots work. I’ve seen progressive keno jackpots reach a hundred thousand dollars or more.
Some online platforms use themed keno with special graphics, sound effects, or branding to make the standard game feel fresh.
Some casinos offer instant keno, where you can trigger a new draw whenever you want, sometimes at accelerated speeds (one draw per minute or even faster online).
The core mechanics remain the same across all these variations, but the presentation and payoff structure change.
The Pace of Keno: Why It Matters
Here’s something I’ve noticed over years of observation: the pace of keno affects how people experience it and how much money they tend to spend.
In a traditional casino keno lounge, draws happen every few minutes. This relatively slow pace means you have time between games to decide if you want to play again, to adjust your bet, to take a break.
Online keno can be much faster. Some platforms run draws constantly, every thirty seconds, every minute, or on demand whenever you click “play.” This faster pace is thrilling, but it also means you can spend through your budget very quickly.
I’ve seen people sit down at online keno at midnight with one hundred dollars and find at two AM that they’ve played two hundred games and have nothing left. The rapid pace doesn’t feel like you’re playing that many games because each individual game is quick.
This is something to be aware of. If you’re going to play online keno, consider setting a limit on how many games you’ll play, not just on how much money you’ll spend. Set a timer. Play a certain number of games and then stop.
Psychological Aspects of Keno
I want to talk about the psychology of keno because I think it’s important.
Keno has something called “near-miss” psychology. This is powerful. You select eight numbers. Twenty numbers are drawn. Seven of your numbers match. So close! You almost won big. This near-miss creates a psychological effect that makes you want to play again, convinced that next time you’ll get that eighth match.
But statistically, this is nonsense. Your near-miss doesn’t make a big win more likely next game. Each game is independent. But psychologically, near-misses feel meaningful, and they drive players to keep playing.
Keno also benefits from the lottery-like appeal. People love the fantasy of winning big from a small investment. That’s the entire appeal of lotteries, and keno taps into the same psychological pattern.
You risk a few dollars. The draw happens. Maybe you win a hundred dollars. Maybe you win nothing. But there’s always that possibility of a significant win from a small bet. This possibility, however unlikely, keeps people playing.
Casinos and online platforms understand this psychology intimately. They structure payouts to emphasize big wins. Even though you’re much more likely to get small payouts or no payouts, the marketing focuses on the big winners. You hear about someone who won five thousand dollars on a two-dollar keno bet. You rarely hear about the thousands of people who played similar bets and won nothing.
Tips for Smart Keno Play
Let me give you practical advice for playing keno responsibly and intelligently:
Know your payout table. Before you play, understand the specific payouts for your number selection and bet amount. This helps you make informed decisions about expected value.
Set a budget and stick to it. Decide how much you’re willing to lose. Treat it as entertainment money. Once it’s gone, stop playing.
Set a time limit. Especially online, it’s easy to lose track of time. Set a timer and stop when it goes off, regardless of whether you’re ahead or behind.
Don’t chase losses. If you’ve lost your budget, stop. Don’t dig deeper. Don’t convince yourself that the next big win is coming. It’s not.
Choose your numbers for entertainment value, not strategic value. Use birthdays, lucky numbers, meaningful numbers. It doesn’t improve your odds, but it makes the game more engaging.
Avoid way bets if you’re new. Stick with straight bets until you completely understand how the game works. Way bets are more complex and can confuse new players.
Remember that keno has a high house edge. This is entertainment with poor odds. If you view it as a moneymaking opportunity, you’ll be disappointed. View it as a thrill for a small investment.
Play at venues with better payout tables. If you’re going to play keno regularly, shop around. Different venues have different tables. Play where the tables are more generous.
When to Play Keno
Honestly? Keno is best played as occasional entertainment. It’s great for those moments when you want a quick thrill without much time investment. It’s good for playing with friends in a casino bar. It’s good for a few games to break up a longer gambling session.
It’s not good for long-term play if your goal is to make money. The math doesn’t work in your favor. But if your goal is entertainment – brief excitement with the possibility of winning something – keno delivers.
Final Thoughts
After playing thousands of games of keno and studying it extensively, I’ve concluded that keno is a pure game of chance that appeals because of its simplicity, speed, and lottery-like payouts.
You pick numbers. The machine draws twenty numbers. You either win or lose. The entire process takes three minutes.
It’s not complicated. It’s not strategic. It doesn’t require skills or experience to succeed.
What it does require is discipline, realistic expectations, and an understanding that you’re likely to lose money over time. But for a few games, for a few dollars, for a burst of excitement?
Keno is perfectly fine. It’s accessible, it’s fast, and it’s fun.
That’s been my experience after two decades of analyzing gambling. And I think that’s a fair assessment.
