Keno Tips and Tricks

Look for the Best Keno Odds and Prizes

Not many people realise that there are several keno variants and that the game can be found in many different contexts. For instance, there is both video keno and keno TV in land based casinos, keno at online casinos, government run keno games, and keno scratch tickets.

Each of these may have slightly different rules and prizes, and this means that there is a great deal of variation in the keno games available. Therefore, it is worth spending time researching the different versions of keno that are easily available to you (it is understandable if you do not want to travel great distances for what should be a simple and enjoyable pastime).

As you do your research, keep track of the different odds and the prizes that are available. Find those that appeal to you the most and that offer the best odds. While there is unlikely to be huge variation, in a game of pure chance, even the smallest edge can help.

Stick to Middle Spot Games

If you have looked at many keno odds charts, you will likely have already noticed that four, five and six spot games offer the best chances of winning. Some players will opt to play seven spot games as the prizes are a bit better.

If you limit the number of spots that you play to a small range, then it is easier to manage the game. You won’t have to think about as many probabilities and the bets all cost the same. Furthermore, it is incredibly unlikely that you will win the jackpot in a 10 spot or 20 spot keno game. Rather than trying to win enormous jackpots, stick to the games that give you the chance of a decent prize, even if it may not be life-changing.

Simple mathematics show that middle spot games offer the best balance of risk and reward. They are unlikely to burn through your bankroll too quickly and they give you a better chance of winning a prize.

Manage Your Budget by Paying for Multiple Games in Advance

If you are playing in a land casino, or even at some online casinos, then you will have the chance to buy a ‘multi-race card’. If you are playing a government lottery keno game, then it is likely to be called something similar to “multiple drawings”.

It is a very straightforward idea. You pay for a number of games in advance and this way, it will be easier for you to track your winnings and losses, and to manage your budget more effectively. 

Don’t Alter Your Number Picking Method Too Often

The truth is, it doesn’t really matter what method you use to pick your keno numbers as it will have no impact on the game’s probabilities.

Some players believe that they can see patterns in the results while some keno games may report “hot” and “cold” numbers. Hot numbers are those that are said to have been drawn more frequently than others in recent games, while the cold numbers are the opposite.

However, there is simply no truth to any of this. When you are playing online or playing at a video keno machine, the outcome is determined by a random number generator (RNG). RNGs are thoroughly tested to ensure that they truly are random and there is simply no way of discerning a pattern. Furthermore, the results of one game will have no bearing on the results of any future game.

There is a small chance that an older video keno machine may contain a chip with an algorithm that has been reverse-engineered. There is a story of a criminal gang who used a powerful computer to reverse engineer the RNG algorithm on some slot machines. However, this is highly unlikely to be possible on modern games and it would require more computing power than you are likely to have access to.

However, if you are using a number picking system. You should stick with it for a few weeks, it will help you get more out of the game and prevent you wasting time on looking for methods to pick so called “lucky” numbers.

Make Use of Odds Tables

The process of calculating odds and probabilities in keno is extremely complicated. The game has payout odds that are capped and one of the few ways that you can increase the potential payout is to increase the amount bet.

As there are so many different options in keno, the probabilities change from one pick level to the next and from one game variant to the next. Therefore, it is important to look at each game’s odds or probabilities chart in order to find the best betting conditions.

There are 80 numbers to pick from when playing keno. This means that the probability of any number being drawn first is 1 in 80. The probability of any remaining number being drawn second is 1 in 79, and so on. Once the first 19 numbers have been drawn, the probability of any remaining number being drawn is 1 in 60.

However, a common mistake is to believe that the odds are improving. They are not. Just because you have the option of choosing 10, 15 or 20 numbers, it doesn’t make it a good bet. You are only likely to match a few of those numbers.

After 20 numbers have been drawn, the best way to calculate your odds is to say that any one number out of 80 has a 1 in 4 chance of being included in the winning set. Any two numbers have an approximately 1 in 16 chance of being included in the winning set. You should multiply each ratio by 4 as you add matching numbers. This will take you close to the true probability. Therefore, the odds of any five numbers being included in the 20 drawn are about 1 in 1550.

Experienced players who look at keno odds charts will normally pick games such as Pick 4, Pick 5, Pick 6 or Pick 7. This is because by matching three or four of the numbers, the prizes are attractive.

Stay with a Progressive Keno Game for a While

Most progressive games will have secondary jackpots that are paid out when players hit a certain combination. When playing a progressive game, you should ensure that it is one that does not require a progressive jackpot side bet, rather one in which the jackpot is built from the game’s basic bet.

If this is the case, then it is worth thinking of the progressive prize as increasing the prize. As keno prizes are awarded at a fixed rate, progressive keno games are preferable to the standard games. If you start playing one, then it is worth staying with for a while. You are already paying for the jackpot, so why not give yourself a chance of winning it.

Set a Loss Limit

This is true for all types of gambling. Unfortunately, losing is inevitable regardless of the game or where it is played. Managing your bankroll is an essential part of gambling strategy and when done properly, it will allow you to keep playing even when on a streak of bad luck. Therefore, it is important to set a loss limit and if your bankroll falls below a certain level, take a break and save your funds for the next gaming session.

To Summarise

Keno is a simple game that is meant to be fun rather than intellectually taxing. Therefore, you should keep the decision making process as simple as possible. However, this doesn’t mean that you cannot develop your own style of play and find your own way of choosing numbers.

In fact, one of the main reasons for keno’s popularity is that it allows people to develop their own systems. Although the system may not change the probability, it can certainly add to the fun.

However, the main take away from this article should be that it is best to keep things simple. Playing middle spot games and using odds tables to find the best balance of risk and reward will help you have as much fun as possible while playing keno.