Keno General Rules: A Beginner’s Guide
Playing Keno is extremely simple. It is so simple in fact that it should only take you a little while to understand its rules and how it is played.
Keno is a simple and exciting lottery-style casino game that is easy to learn and fun to play. Before diving into the world of keno, it’s essential to understand the general rules governing the game. In this guide, we’ll outline the basic rules of keno to help you get started.
The Keno Cards
First of all you will need a Keno card or ticket. On the card you will notice all the numbers from 1 to 80. All the numbers from 1 to 40 are on the top half of the card, and the numbers 41 to 80 are on the bottom half of the card.
Pick Your Numbers
Before the game begins you must pick out the numbers you think will win and mark them on the card. You can pick any amount of numbers you want to, but no more than 20 and at least one number.
When the game starts, 20 random numbers will be chosen. When this process is complete the game is over and you will be paid according to how many numbers you got. If you have played ten numbers for example, but you only got 8, you will be paid accordingly. Of course, the payout would have been larger if you got all ten numbers that you played.
Select Your Numbers
- Choose your numbers: Keno players typically select between 1 and 20 numbers (called spots) from a pool of 80 numbers (1 to 80).
- Mark your selections: On a physical keno ticket, you’ll mark your chosen numbers with an “X” or fill in the corresponding spots. In video or online keno, you’ll select your numbers by clicking or tapping on the screen.
Determine Your Wager
- Set your bet: Decide how much you want to wager on each game. This can usually be as low as $1, but some casinos or machines may have higher minimum bets.
- Choose the number of games: In some instances, you can select to play multiple games with the same set of numbers. This is called a multi-race ticket.
The Keno Draw
- The draw: A keno draw involves randomly selecting 20 numbers from the pool of 80. In land-based casinos, this is done with a ball machine or an electronic random number generator (RNG). Video and online keno games use an RNG for the draw.
- Watch for your numbers: As the numbers are drawn, check your ticket or screen to see if any of your selected numbers match the drawn numbers.
Payouts
- Winning combinations: Your winnings are determined by the number of spots you’ve chosen, the number of matching numbers (called catches), and the amount of your wager.
- Check the payout table: Each casino or keno machine has a unique payout table that outlines the potential winnings for different combinations of spots and catches. Be sure to review this table before playing to understand the payout structure.
Large Payouts in Keno
Regarding the payouts in keno you should know that they vary from one casino to another. Usually the payouts are large, but this is mainly because the house edge is rather high. In fact Keno is one of the casino games with the highest house edge. If you play only 2 numbers for example your odds of winning are 6%.
This is a game that appeals to lottery fans. It is very entertaining, and even though the house edge is a bit high, the large payouts compensate for that, making this a wonderful game to play.
Claiming Your Winnings
- Land-based casinos: If you’ve won in a land-based casino, you’ll need to present your winning ticket to the keno cashier to claim your prize.
- Video and online keno: In video and online keno games, winnings are usually credited to your account automatically.
Keno is a straightforward and entertaining game that anyone can enjoy. By understanding the general rules of keno, including selecting numbers, determining your wager, following the draw, and claiming your winnings, you’ll be well on your way to enjoying this classic casino game. Don’t forget to review the payout table for each game, as this can vary between casinos and machines. Good luck, and have fun!