A Beginners Guide to Keno Online
Keno is a popular game played in casinos all around the world and online. Its simple rules and system of play make it a great choice for people looking for a game with an easy pace, simple rules and lots of fun. Keno players choose their numbers, make their wagers, select the number of games they’d like to play. And hope for as many “catches”—or correct numbers—as possible.
Where to Play Keno Online
How to Play Keno
Keno is easy to understand and play, and is a great game for new online casino players. The object of Keno is to choose one or more numbers out of a field of 80 total numbers. Your hope is that the numbers called, which are selected from a spinning drum in traditional casinos, will match the numbers you picked.
At online casinos, the numbers are selected using the casino’s random number generator or RNG. The numbers you correctly picked are called “catches.”
When playing online, you’ll first select your online casino and then your online Keno game. Choose your numbers, the number of games you’d like to play, and how much you’d like to bet per draw.
The RNG will select the numbers, checking each one off on the screen. At the end of the game, you’ll receive your payout based on your catches.
Keno is a game of chance, so you can choose any numbers you would like and still have the same odds. Interestingly, the odds of choosing all 20 numbers are 1 in 3,535,316,142,212,174,320. Due to Keno’s very large house edge, which can be as high as 35%, more experienced casino goers will often choose other games with a lower house edge.
History of Keno
Keno began in China, but no one knows exactly when or where. It’s possible that the original game that Keno is based on was used as a way to raise money for projects like the Great Wall of China. The modern name Keno derives from either French or Latin, and means “five numbers” or “five each.”
Chinese immigrants brought the game to America while building the first transcontinental railroads. The game featured 80 Chinese characters, but as it evolved and moved to the West, the Chinese characters have switched over to the numbers used today.
Types of Keno Online
Single Game Keno
Single Game Keno is exactly as it sounds — it’s one single game of Keno, after which you must claim your prize money before starting another game, or risk forfeiting it.
At a land-based casino, there are only five minutes or so between the end of one keno game and the beginning of the next keno game. If you don’t turn in your ticket in time, you usually forfeit your prize money.
So casinos came up with Multi-Race Keno that allows you to play more than one game of Keno in a row without having to get up at the end of each individual game to claim prize money.
Multi-Race Keno
With Multi-Race Keno you have to play the same numbers for a series of consecutive games, between two and 20 games, and (usually) you cannot claim your winnings until the last race of your series in completed. Also, you have to pay the minimum amount for each race. For instance, in a 15-race $2 Keno game, you would pay $30.
Keno Payouts
Keno payouts are based on how much you wagered and how many numbers you choose to play, and how many you matched on your keno ticket. The higher the percentage of numbers you “catch,” the higher your payout. Which means you’ll stand to win more if you catch one out of five numbers than if you got two out of 20.
Keno is a game of pure chance and luck. There are no true “strategies” to improving your odds of picking the numbers.
Keno Strategy and Tips
Keno is a game of pure chance and luck. There are no true “strategies” to improving your odds of picking the numbers. However, you can try to improve your profits by selecting fewer numbers and hoping to have selected a higher percentage of correct keno numbers.
When you first begin, it’s a great idea to play a keno online free version. This allows you to get a feel for the online casino and if you play for free you can experiment with different variations of online keno. Most online casino games have a free version or practice mode. This is designed to give new players a chance to play the game without the pressure of gambling away real money. Once you become familiar with the online platform, you can start playing keno for real money.
To maximize your fun, remember to keep an eye on your bankroll and never wager more than you’re willing to lose. With Keno, you’ll probably want to play several games, so wager accordingly to keep the fun going. You’ll also want to check out the various bonuses online casinos are offering which may increase your entertainment value.
Remember that keno is a game of luck. So, that means your chances to win are always going to be similar.
Keno Glossary
| Keno Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Catches | Correct numbers on board that match ones on your ticket |
| Close | When you can’t buy anymore Keno tickets for that round |
| Deuce | Two spots grouped |
| Free Play | A win in Keno that doesn’t pay out, but does allow for another turn |
| Paytable | A chart, infographic that explains how much you’ll win depending on draw outcome |
| Race | one Keno game |
| Keno | derived from French or Latin for “five numbers” or “five each” |
| Random number generator | in online casinos, the algorithm-based software that randomly pulls BINGO balls and displays them on screen |
| Multi-Race | you have to play the same numbers for a series of consecutive Keno games |
| Hit | when a drawn number matches a spot on your ticket |