Keno can be very versatile in terms of pay table and house edge. Also, it depends largely on the maximum number of spots that players can choose and attempt to 'hit' or 'catch'. It is typically limited to 10, 12 or 15 numbers (spots), but it can also be 20 numbers right away. Any profit the business makes from gambling comes from the money the gamblers pay into the game, whether it’s a poker machine, Keno, Blackjack or other game. For example the House Edge built into a poker machine in Tasmania means that on average around 10% of every bet you make, that is, every time you press the button, goes back to the venue. The biggest mistake you can do is to shy away from playing keno just because you have heard some terrifying stories about the high house edge. Assuming that you don’t have any chance to overcome the house advantage is a totally wrong approach.

Keno can be very versatile in terms of pay table and house edge. Also, it depends largely on the maximum number of spots that players can choose and attempt to 'hit' or 'catch'. It is typically limited to 10, 12 or 15 numbers (spots), but it can also be 20 numbers right away. One thing is always the same, there are 20 winning numbers drawn out of the total 80. Let us put the most typical 10-Spot Keno variation under the microscope and follow some concrete calculations.

This web page is a follow-up to the general Keno rules. Of course you can find there some interesting calculations as well. This time we pick up the most typical Keno variation with 10 spots. Thus the top prize is paid out if a player manages to guess 10 numbers out of the 20 numbers drawn.

Having chosen a Ten Spot Keno game, we can now calculate all the true odds and probabilities that are valid for this type of game. We will also use some model or possible pay table, which is the last element to enable us calculate the house edge (based on this model pay table). As the pay tables vary from casino to casino, so does the house edge.

A Model Paytable

Let us start with the pay table. Table 1 shows the payout ratios (the multiples) for all combinations of spots and successful hits. If you e.g. tried to catch 10 numbers and succeeded to hit them all, you would receive $200,000 for a $1 ticket. If you were less successful and hit 'only' 9 of 10, the win would be $10,000 and so on. You can see that if you attempted to hit 10 to 6 numbers and hit no number, your bet would be returned.

The color key is simple. The payouts in green are winning, those in bright red are losing. The same logic is used for the remaining tables related to probability, odds and house edge as well.

Table 1 – A model 10-spot Keno pay table

Note: The model pay table was actually borrowed from the Czech lottery game Šťastných 10 (meaning 'Lucky 10' in English), which is virtually a ten spot Keno game that fits perfectly for our needs. The calculations of odds and probabilities below are 100% valid for any ten spot Keno game. The model pay table will also be used demonstrate the calculation of the house edge (see Table 4, but let us not skip over).

Ten Spot Keno Probabilities & Odds

The probabilities for all combinations of spots and hits are shown at the Table 2. It is a very valuable source of information. First of all, as always, the total of probabilities in a column must equal one (or 100% if you like). Then you can see, which outcomes are the most probable. For instance if you chose to catch 10 numbers, the most probable outcome would be hitting 2 numbers out of 10 (0.2953 or 29.53% to be exact).

You can also sum up the green values in a column to arrive at a winning (or actually 'not losing' probability, because if you manage to catch zero numbers your bet will only be returned), in case of the 10-spot ticket it is 0.1105 or 11.05%. Now you can sum up the red values or deduct the winning probability from 1 or 100% and you get the probability to lose 0.8895 or 88.95%.

Table 2 – Ten spot Keno probabilities

For an exhibit we can calculate the probability of the least probable outcome, that is to catch all 10 numbers out of 10 (please note that for space purposes there are only 7 digits displayed in the Table 2). We already know that probability can be defined as the number of positive possibilities (the nominator) divided the total number of possibilities (the denominator).

It is easier to determine all possibilities (combinations) – they are the same for all-spot Keno games. We may use the Excel function =COMBIN(80,20) and get the result of 3,535,316,142,212,180,000 combinations (the denominator). To calculate the number of all winning possibilities is a bit harder as we have to catch 10 numbers out of 10, but there are 20 winning numbers drawn out of 80. Thus, with the use of Excel, the nominator is the following: =COMBIN(10,10)*COMBIN(80-10,20-10) = 396,704,524,216.

Now we can put it together and calculate the probability to get the top prize in ten spot Keno. That is so close to zero that it is almost impossible:

396,704,524,216 ÷ 3,535,316,142,212,180,000 = 0.000000112211895134156 or 0.0000112211895134156%.

You may think that the standalone probabilities in the Table 2 are not enough to decide whether they are that good or that bad. And you would be right. They need to be matched with the payouts. That is the only fair way to assess it and that is actually how the house edge is being calculated. But let us not jump forward.

First we can have a look at Table 3, the odds. They are just another and perhaps better-arranged presentation of the probabilities (the relation is: Odds = One divided Probability).

Table 3 – Ten spot Keno odds or the probability in the format '1 in ...'

10-Spot Keno House Edge

The calculation of house edge in ten spot Keno is simpler as it seems. We will determine it based on the concept of expected value. We will take the net payouts from the Table 4 and the probabilities from the Table 2. The procedure to arrive at the expected outcome is as follows: the net payouts are simply multiplied (weighted) by the probabilities and added up.

Table 4 – Ten spot Keno net payouts (considering the $1 invested in the game)

Let us take e.g. a ten spot column as an example and suppose we bet a dollar. We may win $199,999 netto with the probability 0.000000112211895134156, so the partial expected outcome is 199,999 × 0.000000112211895134156 = approx. 0.0224 (see the coordinates 10×10 in the Table 5). Now we slide a row down, that is to hitting 9 out of 10 and the net win $9,999 with the probability 0.0000061 and the next partial expected outcome is approx. 0.0612 (due to rounding) and so on. Then we add up all partial results and get the value –0.5016 or –50.16%. That is quite high compared to Craps for instance (<2%).

Table 5 – Ten spot Keno house edge

The expected outcome for a player is negative. It is no surprise as it is the essence of all gambling and lottery games. House gets what a player loses—that is where the house edge comes from. Thus if you played 10 spot Keno with this pay table (Table 1), then, in the long run, you would likely lose about 50 cents per each dollar wagered in the game.

It is needed to highlight, however, that the expected value is related to the long-term period and that it does not mean that you could not be lucky enough to win the top prize with your first Keno ticket. It is just a lottery. You mostly lose, but if you win it is usually worth it.

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Table Of Contents

• Keno players look for ways to win big more than they should
• Combinatronics can 'solve' the game of Keno
• Use the formula in this article to calculate your Expected Return (ER) when you play real money Keno games

Keno: you either hate it or love it.

Some Casino games are just like that - you either enjoy endless sessions regardless of the house edge and your winning chances…

…or even 50 seconds at the table will feel like a lifetime.

The game of Keno is one of them.

Some play Keno for hours at land-based and online Casinos while others still wonder why a game like this one is allowed on the Casino floor.

I write this guide assuming you belong to the first kind.

You shouldn't be looking for the basics of Keno strategy if you weren't planning to play Keno online.

What Can You Expect From This Article?

I'll tell you what this article is not:

This isn't a guide for beginners who don't know what Keno is.

If you have never played this game before, you don't need my Keno strategy tips. You need this other guide on how to play Keno to get started with the game.

It's also not a guide to picking the lucky numbers to win at Keno every time you play.

Don't shop for Keno numbers online, please. Nothing good happens to those who do.

Even the best Keno strategy or system can not guarantee a 100% success rate. The collections of hot and Lucky Keno numbers you see online are irrelevant.

Keno is a gambling game. It's interesting, fast-paced, and loud. But it is not a predictable one.

I also don't plan on telling you how to pick lucky Keno numbers to increase your chances to win.

However, I do have more than a few Keno strategy tips to share with that will help you increase your chances to win.

Are you ready to start?

Keno Isn't for Suckers

Many self-proclaimed professional gamblers call Keno 'a game for suckers' for its horrendous house edge.

While this is theoretically correct (the 25 to 40 percent house edge of some Keno games is indeed almost criminal), those who understand gambling know that Keno offers good value.

See the contradiction here?

On one hand, the house edge is big enough to show that you are likely to lose often and never hit the life-changing jackpot the screen promises you.

But then - think about how you play Keno.

A full game of Keno can last up to 10 minutes from start to finish and it might not cost you more than $1 or $2 to play.

Meanwhile, you get treated like a king with complimentary drinks and snacks flowing to your seat. That's because Casinos love Keno players.

Now, think about Slots.

At an average of six seconds per spin, how far will $1 or $10 bring you?

Keno is a great game to chill and fantasize about big and semi-impossible wins. It is a game for dreamers who want to have interesting but don't want to spend an unreasonable amount of cash.

Make Sure You Get a Bonus to Play Keno

While land based Casinos treat you with drinks and snacks, online Keno sites keep you on their pages with bonuses and promotions.

As a Keno player, you need to spend some time to shop around for the best Keno deals, as long as they come from reputable and trusted names.

Sign up for a free account to activate a 100% Keno bonus!

Receive up to €500 to play online and test your Keno strategy!

Finding the right bonus to play might not seem an important part of an effective Keno strategy, especially if you think it's all about lucky numbers.

But the extra bonus money you get when you register to play at a good online Casino is the best way to play some extra games and see if your numbers are drawn.

To do this well, you need to do some research and not rely on the usual suspects.

With online Keno not being the most popular gambling game in the world, the sites that specialize in it are often niche ones.

Take CasinoMulti, for example.

While this might not be the best-known gaming website the world, their welcome bonus gives you up to €500 to play Keno online and that's a lot.

Hellovalot, if you ask me.

Especially when you see how many different Keno games you can play there. Their offer is impressive.

See it for yourself. Register a free account to access the lobby and see how many (and how good) they games of online Keno are.

Play Free Keno Games Online

Keno games are so cheap that most sites don't offer a free version of this game. If you don't pay, you can't play.

That's what I like about CasinoMulti is not like that.

Before this article turns too much into a serenade for this Casino (which isn't), let me tell you this:

You can play 13 Keno games for free if you register and choose to play for interesting.

CasinoMulti is the only site to offer so many free Keno games. That's why I think they deserve a praise.

Through the free games you can:

• apply the strategy tips below
• understand Combinatronics is a real thing
• accept that Keno numbers come whenever they feel like - not when you ask them to.

Here's a handy list of 13 Keno games available for free and real money play:

Cold Numbers, You Say?

Don't base your Keno strategy on cold numbers and hot numbers - unless you want to be sure to leave your money at the Casino.

Whether you use the Quick Pick feature available at most online Casinos or you focus on your kid's birthday you have the same winning odds.

This isn't to say you should just use the Quick Pick option every time you play. Part of what makes Keno interesting is the idea to call luck with what is dear to us.

So - make each game special.

Write down a list of numbers that mean something to you, perhaps make each group challenge each other taking notes on how often one prevails over the other and, don't stress too much about the results.

In lottery-like games like Keno, you just need to sit back and wait for the numbers to be drawn.

Multi Race Cards

The best way to save some time, especially if you plan on playing the same numbers all over again, is to pick the Multi Race Cards that most online Keno sites offer you.

The Multi-Race cards allow you to play the same numbers over a series of consecutive Keno games.

Multi-Race Cards don't increase your chances to win money at Keno but help you save time and spare you from the annoyance of having to click on the same numbers times and times again.

Winning Odds in Keno

Keno House Edgewater

Your interests in Keno strategy tells me you don't know much about the odds in Keno and your true chances to win big on this Casino game.

** Spoiler Alert: these numbers might kill your love for Keno **

But since I promised to tell you everything you need to play Keno with the best strategy there is - let's have a look at some scary numbers.

What are the chances you will hit all the 20 numbers?

The key to winning big and to bring home the seven-figure top prize offered in many Keno games is to play for 20 numbers and nail all of them. So, the question is: how likely is this to happen?

To paraphrase Joan Kung, here's where 'Learning Mathematics Helps Us Be Virtuous.'

Numbers show there are 3,535,316,142,212,172,000 different ways for a group of 20 numbers to be picked from a total of 80 numbers.

Theoretically, you have more chances to win at Roulette by throwing your chips on the table while blindfolded than to hit 20 numbers and win the jackpot in Keno.

But you don't need to play all the 20 numbers, do you?

If the 20-spot ticket isn't going to be included in our games for obvious reasons, let's see what happens when you play Keno with a 6-spot ticket.

Your winning chances increase (but don't jump from your chair just yet).

If you sum up the probabilities you have to catch 0, 1, or 2 numbers (the three occasions where you don't win anything) - things get a little on the sad side.

That's because you discover you have 83.78% chances to lose your game. And that's not to mention the 13% on the table, because that's when you win nothing more than your initial bet.

That's why a good bonus is SO important.

Adding bonus money to your bankroll you finance your losing games in the hope that when Lady Luck decides to smile at you, it's with a win of 4, 5, or 6 numbers.

In case you are curious to see the odds of hitting all the numbers, including those in between 6 and 20, the table below is for you:

Cold / Hot Numbers in Keno

Since I mentioned them earlier, let's go a little deeper on the concepts of Cold Numbers and Hot Numbers in Keno.

Cold Numbers: These are the numbers drawn less frequently. Usually, a number is added to the list of the cold numbers when it isn't drawn for 15 consecutive times.

Hot Numbers: These are the numbers that are drawn most frequently in a sequence of five Keno games. Some will tell you there are numbers that are hotter than others: don't believe them. It isn't true.

Combinatronics to Win at Keno

Here's where things get a little more complicated. If you made it till this part of my Keno strategy guide, take a deep breath and get ready to swim through numbers and calculations.

What is Combinatronics? 'Combinatorics is a branch of mathematics about counting – Combinatorics can help us count numbers of orders in which something can happen.' (Source: Mathigon)

I am not going to go into all details of Combinatorics (after all, even the MIT says 'it is not an easy task' to define it), but I want you to learn this:

The way Keno works allows you to calculate your expected return every time you play - and this doesn't often happen in gambling.

Combinatronics helps calculate the different ways you can arrange a portion of a larger group of items - exactly what happens with the numbers in Keno:

There's 80 of them, but only 20 help create a winning combination.

After you apply Combinatronics to understand the probabilities in Keno you can calculate the Expected Return (ER) and figure out how much money you are likely to win (or lose) in a given number of games.

Here's how you calculate : ER = Payoff x Probability

Using an example provided by the always useful Mensa Guide to Casino Gambling (see here) by Andrew Brisman, we can proceed to calculate the E (Expectation), the exact amount of money we can expect to win or lose over the long run with a given bet:

For the table above, we have that:

E = Total ER - Amount Bet: 0.7008 - 1 = 0.2992

(And that's also how you calculate the House Edge, which here is of 29.92%)

Play Keno Online

Keno - Wizard Of Odds

This concludes our journey through the bizarre world of Keno strategy.

If you have questions, remarks, or you would like to talk about Combinatronics and its applications to win at Keno, you are welcome to leave a comment below - I would love to talk Keno and Keno strategy with you.

Otherwise, just play it!

_{(Cit. Mad Men: Season 5, Episode 8)}

CasinoMulti features the best Keno games you can find on the internet and they welcome you with €500 as a welcome bonus.

Can it get any better than that?

It Kennot!

Keno Odds – The Keno Guide