Keno is a lottery-like game originating in China that combines the best of bingo and lotto. The game and strategy is simple enough for beginners while still captivating enough for long-time players. It involves picking numbers and hoping they match some of the numbers drawn at random.
HOW TO PLAY
At the beginning of the game, players receive a card that displays the numbers 1 thru 80. Players use the card to mark the numbers that they believe will appear during the draw. Traditional keno games allow players to mark up to 10 numbers although some keno games will allow up to 15 or 20 numbers. Numbers selected by the players are called “spots.”
The payout table appears once the player has selected their numbers and will show how much can be won if you match certain numbers. The more matching keno numbers, the greater the payout. Some keno variants also reward matching zero numbers when players pick above a certain amount. Games may also offer side bet options to boost your winnings.
Keno players can select to play multiple games with the same number selection or to multiply their bet size if their winning spots are selected.
The game begins when randomly drawn numbers appear on the screen. You may also be shown “hot” and “cold” keno numbers indicating numbers that have appeared recently, or cold numbers that have not.
“Catching a spot” is a term used if a number the player has selected is drawn. The number of spots that you catch determines how much you win.
Keno Strategy
Many players believe that choosing four to eight numbers is the best keno strategy as this range can award attractive payout odds and feels less risky than selecting just one number. While the more numbers you pick increases your odds of winning, keep in mind the payout multiplier decreases as the amount of numbers increases.
Bet Options
There are different bet options that may be offered in keno, these include:
Straight bets – This is the simplest and most common type of bet and depending on the game, players can bet on up to 20 numbers in a single game
Way bets – Players can select a group of numbers, then break them down into equal subgroups called “ways”. Each number must appear in one “way” only, no repeat numbers are permitted.
Split bets – Players can bet on more than one set of numbers, each treated separately, during a single game.
Combination ticket – Also known as a “combo bet”, has players select groups of numbers which are played together on one ticket. The groups may be a combination of straight and way bets for example.
King ticket – Similar to a split bet, except players choose a single number – the King – that must appear in all their groups.
