Play Keno Online for Real Money: an Expert Guide

A cross between the lottery and bingo, online keno is a hugely popular casino game in the US, largely due to the fact that it has simple rules and a nice easy pace of play.

In our guide to playing keno online, we’ll cover:

• Trusted sites where you can play keno online
• How to play keno
• Keno strategy & tips
• Different types of keno
• Keno FAQ

Where to Play Keno Online

If you want to play online keno, you’ll need to find a casino that offers a good variety of online casino games, good bonuses, and can be trusted to pay your winnings promptly. Here are our favorites:

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How to Play Keno

Like we mentioned above, one of the reasons keno is so popular is because of its simple rules – keno is approximately halfway between the lottery and bingo.

Simply put, your goal is to choose the winning numbers from a field of 80 total options.

Here’s what a game of keno looks like, in three easy steps:

Each player chooses their numbers (from the field, typically 1-80), the number of games they want to play, and their wager size.
The online casino’s random number generator (RNG) will select numbers, one at a time, until it has selected a total of 20 numbers.
For each correct number you selected (known in keno as a “catch”), you will be paid out.

Simple as that!

Online Keno Odds

It’s important to remember that keno is purely a game of chance, and the odds reflect that. As we mentioned, casinos use a random number generator for online keno, so your odds will be the same regardless of which numbers you pick. Some sites will list “most commonly called keno numbers”, but it’s not worth sinking a lot of money into exclusively picking these numbers as the numbers called will always be completely random.

Fun fact: the odds of choosing all 20 numbers correctly are 1 in 3,535,316,142,212,174,320.

As you can expect, these high odds are reflected in the house edge, which can be as high as 35% for keno.

Your Play	Your Matches	Odds of Winning
1 Pick	1 of 20	1 in 4
2 Pick	2 of 20	1 in 13
3 Pick	3 of 20	1 in 48
4 Pick	4 of 20	1 in 189
5 Pick	5 of 20 4 of 20	1 in 781 1 in 50
6 Pick	6 of 20 5 of 20	1 in 3,383 1 in 169
7 Pick	7 of 20 6 of 20 5 of 20	1 in 15,464 1 in 619 1 in 63
8 Pick	8 of 20 7 of 20 6 of 20	1 in 74,941 1 in 2,436 1 in 199
9 Pick	9 of 20 8 of 20 7 of 20 6 of 20	1 in 387,197 1 in 10,325 1 in 685 1 in 86
10 Pick	10 of 20 9 of 20 8 of 20 7 of 20 0 of 20	1 in 2,147,181 1 in 47,238 1 in 2,571 1 in 261 1 in 39

Online Keno Strategy

Remember That Keno is a Game of Chance

We’ve said it before, but it bears repeating. If someone is selling you a sure-fire keno strategy, run in the opposite direction. Keno is best played for fun.

Manage Your Bankroll

Understand how much you’re wagering, how much you have in your balance, and never bet more than you can afford to lose.

Place Small Wagers

Games of keno are quick, so you’ll probably want to play at least a few in a row. Keep your wagers small to keep the fun going for longer.

Types of Online Keno

Single Game Keno

Relaxed pace of play, one game of keno at a time.

Single Game Keno is exactly as it sounds – one single game of keno, after which you must claim your prize money before starting another game, or risk losing it.

While Single Game Keno offers a relaxed pace of play and makes it easy to manage your bankroll, more experienced players may demand something a little more fast-paced – for those players, online casinos often offer “Multi-Race Keno”.

Multi-Race Keno

Faster-paced gameplay, multiple consecutive games.

With Multi-Race Keno, you commit to playing the same selection of numbers for a series of consecutive games and are unable to claim your winnings until the last race in the series is completed.

This game type is quite popular and can be very fun, but manage your bankroll carefully when playing this type of keno. Your wager amount is multiplied by the total amount of races to which you’re committing – for example, a 10-race $5 keno game would actually cost you $50 ($5 x 10 games).

40-Ball Keno

Fast-paced game with a smaller pool of numbers

40-ball keno is exactly like regular keno, but with less numbers. Players pick 3-10 numbers between 1 and 40, and 10 balls are drawn from the game instead of the regular 20. It is also sometimes called “Instant 40-Ball Keno” for its quicker gameplay.

Super & Power Ball Keno

Regular keno with a bonus

Super and power ball keno are played the same as regular games of keno, but with a bonus ball drawn at the end of the game. If you match a specific number to the bonus ball, you can multiply your winnings and win bigger prizes.

More Games Like Keno

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Online Keno FAQs

Are there strategies for winning numbers in Keno?

Is playing online keno legal?

Where did Keno originate?

Why is Keno so popular?

Can I win real money playing keno?

Are there strategies for winning numbers in Keno?

Not really, as Keno is a game of pure chance. You can’t improve your odds of guessing the correct numbers, but you can manage your bankroll to have more opportunities to play, and increase your potential winnings by choosing fewer numbers. Some sites will list "most commonly called keno numbers", but these are just a result of chance and repetition. You shouldn't pour money into exclusively picking any of these "common" numbers, because there is no guarantee it'll end in success. Just pick your numbers however you like and hope to win!

Is playing online keno legal?

Yes, if you can access legitimate online keno websites, you can play keno online. To make sure the website you are using is safe, use one of our trusted online casinos, and make sure to check out our guide on safe online casinos to make sure all your bases are covered.

Where did Keno originate?

Most people agree that Keno is a variation on an originally Chinese game, where it was very popular. The results of games in large cities may have even been announced to outlying villages and towns via carrier pigeon, before modern communication.

Why is Keno so popular?

Keno is a very easy game to play and understand, and its fairly slow pace makes it a fun and entertaining game to play for long periods if you want to. Its long history and similarities to games like Bingo make it an easy choice for many looking to have some fun at an online casino without needing to learn complex strategies. Plus, you have pretty decent odds of winning smaller payouts more frequently!

Can I win real money playing keno?

Yes! If you want to play keno online for real money, you can do so at one of our trusted online casinos. Otherwise, if you'd prefer to play for free, many online casinos also offer the option to play games for free.