Some people claim that game of keno may be one of the most difficult games to win. This is not true. There are lots of people who have walked away with a good amount from it. After learning how to play video keno, its odds of hitting and its best payouts, your view of the game will change.
The keno game originated from China but confusingly, the keno word has a Latin and French background meaning ”five winning numbers”. The game was not legally accepted until the 19th century when the Chinese government embraced the idea of using its taxation to fund public institutions.
The game later spread to the United States and other countries through the Chinese immigrants.
Keno is one of the lottery gambling worlds and has larger casino software compared to other casino games. It can be played both in live keno and video keno forms. In live keno, a player will use special papers and crayons to represent his picks. A pick is a number you choose to bet with.
When playing video keno, a player will touch the screen or sometimes use a wand if it is available to pick his betting numbers and wait for the machine to do the draw.
Keno Bet Numbers And Patterns
Keno, like most lottery games, is a game of luck. There is no specific strategy to follow to increase a player’s chance of winning. All numbers available have an equal chance of being picked. The game’s pay tables may not be friendly with its house edge varying from 4% to 30%.
To start the game, keno players will make a wager by indicating which number he or she wishes to pick from 1 to 80 available numbers. In video keno, the numbers are arranged in a screen where you will touch the screen or use a wand to pick them. In a live keno casino game, the numbers are arranged in a special paper.
These numbers are picked without the connection of previous extractions. To get a pattern of the numbers, you have to carefully study several game sessions which are commonly known as ”pattern numbers”. Once you master these pattern numbers, you can increase your chances of winning.
If one or more of the numbers chosen match a player’s picked number, the player wins.
Keno Odds And Payouts
Many mathematicians or even statisticians who know how to calculate the game’s odds and probabilities will agree that the keno game is one of the casino games with a high house edge. One main disadvantage of keno is that it has low wins.
The payout odds may be confusing especially for beginners. Players need to carefully study the pay tables of the keno games they are playing to understand the odds. The good news is that in video keno, these tables are displayed on the help section of the screen. Always look at the table of the specific keno game you are playing.
As mentioned earlier, there is no specific strategy for increasing your chances of matching your numbers with the generated balls. However, some game professionals give credits to 4, 5, 6, and 7 pick numbers. They say that these numbers have the best payout but this is not yet proved.
Players may hit all the 20 numbers on a 20-pick game. Unfortunately, it is not easy to match all the 20 numbers but considering that this is a game of luck, anything can happen. Keno players can also pick as many numbers as possible as long as the total numbers are within the required amount.
Payouts vary with different casinos. Most casinos permit paytable wages of 1 through 15 numbers but others may extend to 1 through 20 numbers. The payouts depend on the number of a player’s picks and how many of those picks match with machine-drawn numbers.
The greater the numbers of picks a keno player chooses and matches the drawn balls, the greater the payouts.
To calculate your keno payout, you will multiply your number of picks that match the machine-drawn numbers with the quantity of the player’s initial wager to the base rate of the paytable.
You don’t have to physically calculate these mathematical figures; use Keno Payout Calculator to make work easier.
A ”catch” or ”hit” action happens when a player’s picked number matches with machine drawn number. Below is an odds table for picking 1 through 15 numbers showing the figures for each ”hit” or ”catch” numbers.
The odds have been rounded up to 3 decimals.
| Numbers picked | Odds of hitting |
|---|---|
| Pick 1 | Odds |
| Hit 0 | 1 in 4.000 |
| Hit 1 | 1 in 3.333 |
| Pick 2 | Odds |
| Hit 0 | 1 in 1.785 |
| Hit 1 | 1 in 2.633 |
| Hit 2 | 1 in 16.632 |
| Pick 3 | Odds |
| Hit 0 | 1 in 2.401 |
| Hit 1 | 1 in 2.321 |
| Hit 2 | 1 in 7.207 |
| Hit 3 | 1 in 72.070 |
| Pick 4 | Odds |
| Hit 0 | 1 in 3.243 |
| Hit 1 | 1 in 2.311 |
| Hit 2 | 1 in 4.703 |
| Hit 3 | 1 in 23.123 |
| Hit 4 | 1 in 326.436 |
| Pick 5 | Odds |
| Hit 0 | 1 in 4.402 |
| Hit 1 | 1 in 2.465 |
| Hit 2 | 1 in 3.697 |
| Hit 3 | 1 in 11.914 |
| Hit 4 | 1 in 82.697 |
| Hit 5 | 1 in 1,550.569 |
| Pick 6 | Odds |
| Hit 0 | 1 in 6.002 |
| Hit 1 | 1 in 2.751 |
| Hit 2 | 1 in 3.243 |
| Hit 3 | 1 in 7.703 |
| Hit 4 | 1 in 35.041 |
| Hit 5 | 1 in 323.035 |
| Hit 6 | 1 in 7,752.843 |
| Pick 7 | Odds |
| Hit 0 | 1 in 8.225 |
| Hit 1 | 1 in 3.173 |
| Hit 2 | 1 in 3.061 |
| Hit 3 | 1 in 5.714 |
| Hit 4 | 1 in 19.160 |
| Hit 5 | 1 in 115.761 |
| Hit 6 | 1 in 1,365.977 |
| Hit 7 | 1 in 40,979.314 |
| Pick 8 | Odds |
| Hit 0 | 1 in11.329 |
| Hit 1 | 1 in 3.753 |
| Hit 2 | 1 in 3.047 |
| Hit 3 | 1 in 4.656 |
| Hit 4 | 1 in 12.269 |
| Hit 5 | 1 in 54.637 |
| Hit 6 | 1 in 422.527 |
| Hit 7 | 1 in 6,232.271 |
| Hit 8 | 1 in 230,114.608 |
| Pick 9 | Odds |
| Hit 0 | 1 in 15.687 |
| Hit 1 | 1 in 4.532 |
| Hit 2 | 1 in 3.160 |
| Hit 3 | 1 in 4.063 |
| Hit 4 | 1 in 8.764 |
| Hit 5 | 1 in 30.673 |
| Hit 6 | 1 in 174.839 |
| Hit 7 | 1 in 1,1690.107 |
| Hit 8 | 1 in 30,681.948 |
| Hit 9 | 1 in 1,380,687.647 |
| Pick 10 | Odds |
| Hit 0 | 1 in21.838 |
| Hit 1 | 1 in 5.569 |
| Hit 2 | 1 in 3.387 |
| Hit 3 | 1 in 3.740 |
| Hit 4 | 1 in 6.788 |
| Hit 5 | 1 in 19.445 |
| Hit 6 | 1 in 87.113 |
| Hit 7 | 1 in 620.677 |
| Hit 8 | 1 in 7,384.469 |
| Hit 9 | 1 in 163,381.372 |
| Hit 10 | 1 in 8,911,711.176 |
| Pick 11 | Odds |
| Hit 0 | 1 in 30.574 |
| Hit 1 | 1 in 6.949 |
| Hit 2 | 1 in 3.730 |
| Hit 3 | 1 in 3.592 |
| Hit 4 | 1 in 5.600 |
| Hit 5 | 1 in 13.499 |
| Hit 6 | 1 in 49.496 |
| Hit 7 | 1 in 277.176 |
| Hit 8 | 1 in 2,430.625 |
| Hit 9 | 1 in 35,244.056 |
| Hit 10 | 1 in 945,181.488 |
| Hit 11 | 1 in 62,381,978.235 |
| Pick 12 | Odds |
| Hit 0 | 1 in 43.053 |
| Hit 1 | 1 in 8.90 |
| Hit 2 | 1 in 4.206 |
| Hit 3 | 1 in 3.575 |
| Hit 4 | 1 in 4.860 |
| Hit 5 | 1 in 10.062 |
| Hit 6 | 1 in 31.047 |
| Hit 7 | 1 in 142.300 |
| Hit 8 | 1 in 980.778 |
| Hit 9 | 1 in 10,482.068 |
| Hit 10 | 1 in 184,230.290 |
| Hit 11 | 1 in 5,978,272.914 |
| Hit 12 | 1 in 478,261,833.137 |
| Pick 13 | Odds |
| Hit 0 | 1 in 60.992 |
| Hit 1 | 1 in 11.260 |
| Hit 2 | 1 in 4.840 |
| Hit 3 | 1 in 3.667 |
| Hit 4 | 1 in 4.400 |
| Hit 5 | 1 in 7.944 |
| Hit 6 | 1 in 21.052 |
| Hit 7 | 1 in 81.201 |
| Hit 8 | 1 in 458.056 |
| Hit 9 | 1 in 3,847.669 |
| Hit 10 | 1 in 49,844.780 |
| Hit 11 | 1 in 1,060,032.746 |
| Hit 12 | 1 in 41,694,621.350 |
| Hit 13 | 1 in 4,065,225,581.667 |
| Pick 14 | Odds |
| Hit 0 | 1 in 86.946 |
| Hit 1 | 1 in 14.594 |
| Hit 2 | 1 in 5.672 |
| Hit 3 | 1 in 3.860 |
| Hit 4 | 1 in 4.129 |
| Hit 5 | 1 in 6.580 |
| Hit 6 | 1 in 15.207 |
| Hit 7 | 1 in 50.375 |
| Hit 8 | 1 in 239.141 |
| Hit 9 | 1 in 1,644.093 |
| Hit 10 | 1 in 16,739.858 |
| Hit 11 | 1 in 262,397.268 |
| Hit 12 | 1 in 6,764,018476 |
| Hit 13 | 1 in 324,250,135.681 |
| Hit 14 | 1 in 38,910,016,281.667 |
| Pick 15 | Odds |
| Hit 0 | 1 in 124.748 |
| Hit 1 | 1 in 19.128 |
| Hit 2 | 1 in 6.760 |
| Hit 3 | 1 in 4.160 |
| Hit 4 | 1 in 3.997 |
| Hit 5 | 1 in 5.677 |
| Hit 6 | 1 in 11.581 |
| Hit 7 | 1 in 33.456 |
| Hit 8 | 1 in 136.399 |
| Hit 9 | 1 in 789.165 |
| Hit 10 | 1 in 6,576.373 |
| Hit 11 | 1 in 81,020.911 |
| Hit 12 | 1 in 1,539,397.308 |
| Hit 13 | 1 in 48,362,732.102 |
| Hit 14 | 1 in 2,853,401,193.989 |
| Hit 15 | 1 in 428,010,179,098.333 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Are keno Games Legal?
Keno machines are legalized by several jurisdictions which include the District of Columbia, Massachusetts, Maryland, Rhode Island, and New York. They also use a Random Number Generator (RNG) to pull out the numbers.
This also means that the numbers are not tampered with thus ensuring a fair game. To make sure the keno machine you want to play with uses an RNG software, check if the casino site is licensed to operate in your region.
Are Keno Wins Taxable?
All gambling winnings including keno wins are taxed. Gambling income is treated similarly to taxable income and hence you need to report it to IRS.
If you don’t report your winnings, you will get a letter from the IRS which will demand you to pay your tax. This can also lead to legal problems.
Casinos always report your winnings on form W-2G which can be used to track you. This means that a player cannot evade the taxation process.
Why Didn’t I Get a Prize in My Keno Game?
For you to win on keno, you must pick numbers of your choice from 1 to 80 available numbers and wait for the 20 numbers drawn electronically. If the numbers you picked matches with the drawn numbers, you will win and get a prize. If they don’t match with the drawn numbers or the required total numbers, you won’t be entitled to a prize.
For instance, if a player plays with 6 numbers, he/she is required to match at least 3 numbers. If he matches one or two numbers or doesn’t match any number at all, he won’t get a prize. This is the only ”how play keno” or ”keno how to play” way of winning. Make sure you look for detailed strategies and updates to follow on how to play Keno Lotto to have a better outcome.
To be one of the pros in the video keno game, check the casino game guides. These guides explain the rules and strategies of different casino games including the video keno to increase your chances of winning. Also try learning the odds of hitting, pay table, and house edge when playing video keno games.
Conclusion
The many numbers involved, its pay tables, and best payouts make keno games fun. Although it has been said to be one of the most difficult games to win, keno players can still play it and walk away with a good amount of money. All you need to do is to master how to play keno, its payouts involved. Also if you want to learn about different casino games bonuses and promotions including video keno, click here.