The Basics of Keno

As played at most major casinos, Keno is basically just a lottery run continually throughout the day, where you pick from amongst 80 numbers. 20 of these numbers will be randomly drawn, and if you've matched enough of these with the ones you've chosen, you can do anything from simply recoup your original bet to winning jackpots of $50,000 to $100,000 dollars.

The first thing to do before embarking on any Keno play is to check the house pay tables. Pay tables basically tell you what you'll win in return for what you wager, but they aren't nearly that simple. In an apparent attempt to confuse the seniors that flock to the game, casinos usually have somewhere around twenty different pay tables that you can choose from when wagering. Pay tables also vary greatly between casinos, usually no two offer the same ones. So it's tough to give you specifics on how they all work in a basic guide, since they are so unique and can change so frequently at locations. But we can take a look at the basics of wagering and some common things you'll see.

Basically, you'll choose to pick an amount of numbers, usually anywhere from one to twenty. The proportion of matching numbers in view of how many you picked overall is part of what determines how much you win. The other factor determining winnings is the "base rate" of the pay table, which is pretty much used as a multiplier for your number of hits. Again, this is where pay tables vary wildly and there are no hard and fast rules, but generally you'll have to get more than half of your numbers drawn to break even or get a small winnings. Obviously the overall odds of getting something go up with the amount of numbers you choose, but so does the price of the ticket, and the amount of numbers (usually called "spots" in the casino) that you have to get right to win something.

Usually there is a "keno booth" or "keno lounge" where the drawings are actually done. Some casinos allow you to pick up a ticket here and fill it out and submit it yourself, but some require you to give tickets to the "keno runners", who you'll see all over the casino calling "Keno!" Keno runners are always available in either case as a convenience, as they'll usually go around the bars and eateries in the casino and take tickets while you are eating or drinking, or if you are busy with another game. Most modern casinos also have screens and televisions all over the property that show the results of the most recent drawings.

The "house edge" on Keno is usually the worst in the house. "House edge" is the advantage that the casino has over you in any given game, usually expressed as a percentage. The larger the percentage, the more the house has an edge on you. The house edge in Keno varies greatly due to different rules and different pay tables at casinos, but it never is less than 4% or so, and can range all the way up to 66%. By comparison, playing basic strategy on video poker or blackjack usually gives the house a less than 2% advantage on you, and a skilled card counter at live blackjack can gain a 1% or more advantage on the house. You won't see the "house edge" of Keno published in the casino, but generally it hovers around 20 to 25% for most average bets, which is worse than the average for slot machines at around 15%. House edge is a bit misleading, though, as it basically is a measure meant for "serious gamblers" that doesn't take into account play for sheer fun and excitement factor, as well as various other intangibles. It's true that the 4% to 5% will only be had if playing the minimum amount of numbers for a very minimal possibility of reward, but the 66% number usually expresses someone buying a ticket in an attempt to hit the $50k or $100k jackpot by hitting all or nearly all twenty numbers at once.

Keno is something like a more rapid version of the state lottery, with comparable odds, and a comparable likelihood of getting part or all of your money back. The appeal is dropping only a dollar or a dollar fifty and hoping to hit the big jackpot in return. It also gives you an excuse to chill around the casino and partake of mixed drinks or maybe get something to eat.