Keno is a very popular casino game that gamblers love to play because of its simplicity and availability. It is a lottery-style game that is extremely simple for new players to understand. Different variations of the game are offered through the multitude of online casinos that each come with unique rules and gameplay styles. Irrespective of what type of Keno game you are playing, they all follow the same general concept. Players who frequently play it are well aware that, just like other casino games based on chance, the player cannot affect the game’s outcome. It is important to note that although you can discover and attempt to follow a Keno strategy to play the game, there is no sure way to win. The game can become quite addictive as it is one of the easiest gambling options and requires little thought. It is reliant on a chance to determine the outcome.
How Does The Game Work?
When explaining the game and Keno strategy to beginners, many seasoned gamblers compare it to Bingo. This is partially appropriate as both these casino games are fundamentally numerical. Despite this striking comparison, the game has many unique traits that make it compelling. One of the telling differences is that, unlike Bingo, the players can select the numbers for each card.
The Rules
- Firstly, you must decide how much you want to wager on a specific round, and how many numbers you wish to choose. You may select between 1 and 20 numbers from a game board of 80 numbers. Always note that the payout amounts vary depending on how many numbers you choose and how many get drawn.
- Secondly, you must now choose your numbers as you would if you were playing a lottery. Just like with most lotteries, many online casinos will give you the option to get the numbers selected for you at random. The numbers in Keno range from 1 to 80.
- Thirdly, the game is ready to start, and 20 of the 80 numbers are chosen randomly using a Random Number Generator.
- Fourthly, if one of your numbers is picked, this is referred to as a ‘Catch’ and will earn you a win. The number of Catches determines the winnings that you get during the game.
Payouts
The many online casinos with their variations of Keno all offer different payout scales, so it is important to analyse the payout structure before starting your game. Viewing the payout structure, many gamblers soon realise that the odds of selecting all 20 winning numbers are virtually impossible. Since there is a possibility that you can win by selecting significantly fewer numbers, many gamblers are inclined to think that there are profitable returns if their luck is in. Consequently, when playing the game, it is vital to evaluate the Paytable to ensure that you are getting the best possible returns. By predicting anywhere between two and eight numbers correctly, you are most likely to win, as these qualify as winning catches in the Keno strategy.
Keno Strategy and Tactics
Although there is no magical formula that will guarantee winnings, there are many tactics that you can learn and apply to your Keno strategy to give you the best possible odds of achieving success. Although you can win larger amounts if you select more numbers, the odds of winning reduce as you require more Catches to win. Online casinos typically use Random Number Generators, so each of the 80 numbers has an equal chance of being drawn. Despite this striking fact, there will always be gamblers with numbers that they consider lucky and will generally stick by those irrespective of the circumstances.
The odds of playing this game are approximately the same as in online slot games. Players are responsible for selecting as many numbers up to 20 as they desire. The sequence of numbers drawn is random, so players must understand that their choices cannot affect the game’s outcome. Incredibly, there are a total of 3,535,316,142,212,174,320 possible combinations that could conceivably arise when the game draws 20 out of 80 numbered balls.
Hot and Cold Numbers Explained
Some gamblers formulate their Keno strategy and bet on numbers that were not drawn in previous rounds in the hope that they would eventually come up. Those are often called cold numbers. Other gamblers bet on numbers that had recently come up or came up most times during previous rounds. These are referred to as hot numbers. Although neither of these strategies is guaranteed, peculiar trends and patterns are common in terms of randomly drawn numbers.
Sequential Numbers
Many gamblers simply stick to their favourite or lucky numbers and the combinations they prefer to bet on. On the other hand, some gamblers like to bet on consecutive numbers or numbers that appear in pairs, as successive numbers often seem to come in sequential order. However, none of these methods carries mathematical advantages and can be described more as a playing style rather than a Keno strategy or tactic.
Groups of Numbers
A popular Keno strategy amongst avid players is playing with groups of numbers. Typically, players must select the number of spots they want to play, for example, six spots. In this scenario, the series of numbers that they can get is 1-2-3-11-12-13 or 1-11-21-31-41-51. Players must observe what numbers were drawn previously when the plan was initiated. The central concept is that these numbers are drawn daily, and the Keno numbers are forever rotating. Therefore, luck is bound to find its way to a winning combination.
When playing Keno, you must be observant to spot a rotation number, which is advantageous because you wait until your turn and will likely win. Although the maximum number to be drawn is 20, very few players hit anywhere close to that many. Even predicting 15 numbers is difficult, while the odds of guessing 14 are 1:390 million. The main idea is that you must always consider Keno a casino game based on pure luck. As it is a Random Number Generator game, it is hard to identify the good numbers to select during your gameplay. Many players find unusual luck and win the biggest jackpots with numbers related to their families, such as ages, dates of birth, and commemorative dates.
Handy Tricks To Maximise Your Gameplay
There are many ways to mix up your Keno gameplay and add great variation. Here are some amazing tricks to help you with your online gaming experience.
Keep An Eye Out For The Best Odds And Prizes
There are too many variations of the game for players to keep track of, but this shouldn’t stop you from exploring what online casinos have on offer. Every casino is entitled to set its own rules for the game. These include:
- Adding progressive prizes or not
- Extending the number of spots available for wagers
Quite simply, players need to explore their options online. They often realise that they may have more available than they initially realised. Each variety of the game is unique in that it has its odds and prizes. As part of your Keno strategy, it is important to compare the payout charts from these various options and select the most favourable chart.
Stick To Playing The Middle Spot Games
Seasoned players will tell you that by studying the Keno odds charts, you will soon realise that the four, five, and six-spot games have the greatest odds of winning any prize. Some players even prefer seven-spot games because the prizes are slightly better. By restricting the number of spots that you can play to a small defined range, it’s easier to manage your expectations. You will find fewer probabilities to think about, and your bets will cost the same.
The savviest gamblers realise that attaining perfect Catches are impossible. In light of that, they aren’t looking to win millions, and instead prefer to win decent prizes to complement their entertainment. Unbelievably, the middle spot games offer the best risk-reward efficiency. Moreover, players are less likely to deplete their bankroll compared to other games and more likely to win a prize.
Only Change Number Picking Methods Once A Month
Although the method of picking numbers in Keno has little consequence as the game’s probabilities don’t change, many gamblers vehemently oppose that theory. They can testify to common patterns of numbers that frequently appear on the game board. With online casinos employing Random Number Generators and highly sophisticated algorithms in the interest of a fair draw of numbers, these results are considered random enough. Despite this, players who use a number-picking system to identify patterns should stick with those numbers for at least a month before changing them. This will maximise your gameplay as your sustained effort will eventually generate a winning streak.
Use Odds Tables To Select The Best Pick Limits
Keno has one of the most intricate processes for computing odds and probabilities. Since the payout odds are capped, one of the only ways to increase the payout is to increase the bet amount. Due to the variety that Keno offers, the probabilities change from pick level to pick a level and from game variation to game variation. Seasoned players, therefore, analyse the game’s odds or probabilities chart to identify the best wagering conditions.
To illustrate this better, since there are 80 numbers to select from when playing Keno, the probability of any one of those numbers being drawn first is 1 in 80. The probability of any of the remaining numbers being drawn second is 1 in 79. Once the initial 19 numbers have been drawn, the probability of any remaining number being drawn is 1 in 60. When experienced players observe the odds charts, they quickly decide on games like Pick 4, Pick 5, Pick 6, or Pick seven as they find contentment in matching three or four of those numbers and still win decent prizes.
Play Progressive Keno Games
The beauty of playing progressive games is that they reward players with random secondary jackpots when they hit specific combinations. Suppose a progressive jackpot is awarded from the game’s basic wager. In that case, players are safe to assume that the casino has already calculated the prizes into the win ratio for the game. Because prizes are awarded at a fixed rate, progressive Keno games are preferred to standard games.
Bankroll Management
Seasoned players are wary of their bankroll and typically practice prudent bankroll management when formulating their keno strategy. To effectively manage your bankroll, three basic principles will ensure that you bet safely and avoid spending more than you anticipated. These principles are:
- Don’t invest more than you are willing to lose
- Always take advantage of any casino bonuses on offer
- Pay for multiple drawings in advance, wherever possible
- Try as much as possible to make consistent bets
- Avoid trying to compensate for previous losses with subsequent larger bets
The Bottom Line
It is common knowledge among players who frequent online casinos that playing a simpler game provides a more enjoyable experience. Any additional steps in the decision-making process are seen as cumbersome and spoil the entertainment value. The amazing thing about playing Keno is that players can develop their style of play. This makes the game feel more personal and enables the players to get more directly involved. Although lottery-style games take most of the decision-making away from the players’ hands, Keno remains popular as players love the challenge of improving their approach to choosing games and numbers. Enjoy your gameplay, and good luck!
