Keno is essentially a fast-paced, continuous lottery game hosted directly inside the casino environment.
Despite its slow pace, hitting a massive Keno ticket can result in some of the largest payouts in the casino.
The Basic Mechanics of the Game
In a physical casino, you mark these spots with a crayon on a paper ticket and hand it to a "runner."
Once all bets are placed, the casino randomly draws exactly 20 numbers from the pool of 80.
- Choose between 1 and 15 numbers (spots) on a ticket
- The casino randomly draws 20 winning numbers
- Payouts depend entirely on the number of successful matches
Understanding the High House Edge
The casino's mathematical advantage in a standard Keno game frequently hovers between 20% and an astonishing 30%.
Compare this to blackjack, which has a house edge of 0.5%, and you realize how difficult Keno is to beat.
How to Survive at Keno
Therefore, the only true "strategy" in Keno is incredibly strict and disciplined bankroll management.
It is best played passively while eating dinner at the casino restaurant or relaxing in the lounge with a drink.
| Game Type | House Edge | Pace of Play |
|---|---|---|
| Live Lounge Keno | ~25% | Very Slow (5 mins/game) |
| Video Keno (Machine) | ~10% | Very Fast |
As long as you understand the brutal math and play strictly for entertainment, Keno is a delightfully relaxing game.
