Keno strategy
How to win at Keno
Keno is essentially a game of chance, so there isn't as much room for employing strategy as there is in, say Sic Bo or Punto Banco / Baccarat.
However, there are a couple of factors a Keno player needs to understand in order to improve their chance of winning:
1. How many numbers to choose.
2. The payout for matching those numbers.
How many numbers you choose will depend on your risk profile (see below) - i.e. are you a higher risk player looking for the maximum payout, or are you a slow, steady player who'd prefer to get consistent smaller wins?
The best online casinos for Keno
Once you know how many numbers you're looking to match, you can make the next decision - where to play. Different online casinos have different payouts for the same results, so it's extremely important to choose the casino that will give you the maximum payout on a winning bet.
The table below shows the payouts at our recommended casinos, in the following categories:
Category A : Bovada and Dreams (RTG software)
Category B : Ladbrokes, betfair, William Hill, bet365 and Winner (Playtech)
Category C : Spin Palace (Microgaming)
Category D : Miami Club, Black Diamond, Guts (Various).
As an example, if your preference is to match just 3 numbers, one of the Category B casinos would pay the highest at 47 to 1. If you were looking to match 7 numbers, a Category A casino would pay 8,000 to 1, much more than a Category D at just 100 to 1.
| Match | Category A | Category B | Category C | Category D |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | n/a | n/a | 3 |
| 2 | 15 | 9 | 15 | 9 |
| 3 | 45 | 47 | 45 | 16 |
| 4 | 155 | 91 | 100 | 12 |
| 5 | 850 | 820 | 400 | 50 |
| 6 | 2000 | 1600 | 800 | 75 |
| 7 | 8000 | 7000 | 3000 | 100 |
| 8 | 30,000 | 10,000 | 7000 | 720 |
| 9 | 50,000 | 10,000 | 8000 | 1200 |
| 10 | 100,000 | 10,000 | 9000 | 1800 |
| 11 | 100,000 | n/a | n/a | 3000 |
| 12 | 100,000 | n/a | n/a | 4000 |
| 13 | 100,000 | n/a | n/a | 6000 |
| 14 | 100,000 | n/a | n/a | 7500 |
| 15 | 100,000 | n/a | n/a | 10,000 |
Keno betting strategy
As discussed above, the number of spots you bet on will depend on your risk profile:
Lower-risk gamblers, looking for steady returns, would choose to match 1 or 2 spots.
Medium-risk gamblers, who want consistent results, but with the possibility of occasional larger wins, would look to match 3, 4, or 5.
Higher stake punters, who play Keno for the chance to win big would look to match anything from between 5 and 15 balls, for this is where the large payouts are found.
Lower risk
If players are cautious and only want to bet on 1 number, then Bovada offer a payout of 3 to 1, the highest of our casinos. Keno at Bovada is also eligible for the $3,000, 100% matching bonus with a wagering requirement of just 50x, so players should factor this into their betting decisions.
For 2 numbers, we recommend players bet at a Category A casino (ie Bovada) as they offer a payout of 15 to 1.
Medium risk
For betting on 3 numbers, the Category B casinos (betfair, William Hill, bet365 and Winner) offer the highest payout at 47 to 1.
For betting on 4 or 5 numbers, the biggest payout is again to be found at the Category A casino (Bovada)
Higher stakes
Once players look to bigger payouts, the Category A casino (Bovada) is the clear choice. They offer the best payouts, and the maximum payout of 100,000 is reached as early as 10 matched numbers. Although you can bet on up to 15 numbers, the payout remains at 100,000 to 1, so it's an unnecessary risk.
Keno Bonuses
Whatever your level of risk, you should compare the Keno bonuses on offer (see carousel, below) and decide which casino offers the best value.
Even if a casino doesn't offer the best payouts, you're still eligible for a Keno bonus, which can give you many hours of enjoyment.
The best casinos for Keno
Check out the casinos below for the best Keno games currently available.
Online Keno guide
Keno is probably the simplest game in the casino. Very similar to Bingo, you just choose a number of spots to bet on, then sit back and wait for the balls to be drawn. The more you match, the more you win!
In order to take you from beginner through to expert player, we've put together a comprehensive Keno guide, that tells you everything you need to know.
Check out the pages below, which will explain the history and background of Keno, the basic rules, an explanation of the odds and payouts, and suggest a way to devise a winning Keno strategy.
Keno basics
Basic rules and tips for playing Keno. Guide to playing Keno at online casinos, including how many spots to bet on, which numbers to pick, where to play to get a bonus.
Keno practice game
To help you get familiar with the game, Bovada - our #1 recommended Keno casino - has given us this free play game, which you can play without downloading, on your mobile, tablet or desktop.
You'll get 1,000 play money credits and as long as you want to practice!