Keno is one of the first lottery games invented on this planet. It's not the most popular of all casinos games, slotsnaturally being the first choice, but it has a solid fan base which appreciate the simplicity and excitement of that game.
Online Keno is as popular as in brick and mortar casinos and it's hard to find a site that doesn't offer it. Nevertheless, there are big differences between various casinos and how they treat Keno players: the variety of games they offer, the bonuses players can get, the winnings odds of the games and of course the trustworthiness and reputation of the casino itself.
If you're new to playing keno online, then playing free keno games gives you a risk-free experience before. Pick your keno numbers (also called spots). Multi keno for real money And if you think keno is a slow game, think again. Slots of Vegas has sped it up by offering the Play 10 feature. This option plays 10 games in a row using the numbers you picked, and all you have to do is sit back and watch the winnings come in. Real Money Mobile Keno Games. Real money mobile keno games present the classic lottery-style casino game in a format that's compatible with smartphones and tablets. Serious gamblers like to look down their noses at luck-based games like keno. But this casino classic has a cool origin story, shrouded in mystery, and it's a laid-back game. All real money keno games follow the same basic premise. You pick and match numbers to win cash. However, there are several different real money keno games online. For example, in Power Keno.
Below you can find our list of best internet destinations to play online keno for real money. Those are handpicked from thousands of online sites and guarantee superb gaming experience and lots of fun.
Worth noticing that playing real money Keno online carries some substantial advantages: for example top online keno games offer winning odds which are sometimes 30% higher than in landbased casinos. That's huge!
Advantages of Online Keno
Naturally, playing keno online is different than in regular live casinos. Online play lucks the social aspect of the game, but more than compensates for that in other areas. The main advantages are:
- Play anytime: unlike in real casinos, you don't need to wait to play your favorite game.
- Variety: online world offers a huge variety of games.
- Bonuses : as you can see in the table above, internet casinos go all the way to attract players and you can take advantage of that with some free cash.
- Chances of Winning: the winning odds in online keno higher than in any land based casino. Actually keno has the biggest difference than any other game. Offline, the payouts are usually around 60%, while best online keno games reach even 96% return. We know that most keno fans are not into odds and percentages, but using different words: playing real money keno online, you will get much better value for you money. First, you will get longer playtime. Second, your chances of winning, which is the most fun part of any game, are much higher. Almost twice higher!
- Free play: one of the wonders of the internet is that you can play keno for free, without making a deposit.
Online play does carry some disadvantages that you should be aware of. The main one is the game speed. Online gameplay is much faster, especially if you use some autoplay feature. So make sure that you play in your own pace and don't rush things and never place on the line more money than your originally intended. You can find more info in our Live vs Online Keno comparison.
Have Fun!
Poker chips in every game have certain values assigned to them. In cash games, these poker chip values are exact representations of the actual cash, i.e., a. Poker chip values. The ratios of the chip values will typically be about 4-to-1 or 5-to-1. Some typical chip values are: $1-$5-$25-$100 and $5-$25-$100-$500. The higher chip values might sit on the side until a color-up is done. For really big tournaments you will want to have a 5th chip value. Monetary Values of Color-Coded Poker Chips Basic Poker Chip Colors and Standard Values. Full Poker Chip Colors and Standard Values. Purple, $500 Light Blue, $2000 Brown, $5000 There are some variations to. When Hosting a Poker.
Keno History in Few Words
The gambling game of Keno a very long history, going all the way back to Ancient China. Legend has it that Keno even helped pay for the construction of the Great Wall of China, as well as other public works projects during ancient times.
The game in China became known as 'white dove ticket,' due to the practice of sending the results of the draws by carrier pigeon to outlying cities and towns. It was originally played using Chinese characters, using the first 80 characters of the Thousand Character Classic.
Keno was first offered at a licensed casino in 1847 in the colony of Macao, now part of China, and the present day gambling hub of the Far East.
80 numbers are now used in the Western version, so the game really hasn't changed that much over the centuries. It was first brought to the West by Chinese immigrants who came to America to build railroads in the 19th Century.
Where the Name Keno Comes From
The name 'Keno' was coined by a casino in Houston, Texas, in 1866, and the new name stuck, a more catchy name with Westerners perhaps than boc hup bu or puck apu, as the Chinese called it.
Since then, the game of Keno has really caught on, as a simple way that casinos can offer lottery style games. Keno may actually even be a more entertaining game than traditional government run lotteries, given the variation that Keno offers and all the selection of different ways to win.
Lotteries do offer much bigger jackpots than Keno does, due to the sheer number of players that lotteries boast. However, with lotteries, you are mostly shooting for huge prizes, and while smaller prizes are available, they are always secondary, and therefore the odds on these smaller prizes are never very good.
With Keno though, the payout tables correspond to how many numbers you choose, so players can shoot for small payouts, big ones, and everything in between. The odds and what one is playing for directly correspond to the player's preferences, which is the best thing about Keno.
Basic Rules
From among the 80 possible selections, one chooses between 1 and a predetermined number, generally between 10 and 15 numbers chosen by the player. While 20 of the 80 balls will be drawn, the odds of hitting all 20 are so astronomical, 1 in 3.5 quintillion, or 1.5 billion billion. To make this a reasonable bet, all the money in the world would not be enough to pay out.
Just to clarify: No one in the whole history of keno has ever caught 20 out of 20.
This, coupled with the fact that Keno is generally run by operators that can only afford to make much more modest payouts, generally limits this to a maximum of 10 selections, where hitting all 10 'only' has a probability of about 1 in 10 million, which allows maximum payouts that operators can afford.
How to increase you winning odds at Keno
Keno also offers operators the ability to structure their payout tables to pay more or less for more frequent hits, and more or less for rare ones, which also allows them to manage their risk by paying out more for frequent ones and less for infrequent ones.
So this lets them offer an enticing overall payout while allowing for lower maximums, ones they can be comfortable with. Keno is a very flexible game to run actually and even small land based casinos and online operations can safely and profitably offer it.
At land based casinos, Keno has a much higher house edge than other casino games. This is necessary in order for them to profitably run the game, as draws are infrequent and therefore the expense involved in running it is high proportionate to their revenue.
So with a slot machine or table game, results occur on a minute to minute basis, so while casinos have fixed costs to recover, the frequency of the results allow for this to be recovered with only a slight house edge.
Keno draws are held far less often, and casinos generally will have a Keno lounge as well as runners taking bets from players elsewhere in the casino, so the house edge with Keno needs to be higher, and can go to almost 30%.
Land based Keno is still pretty popular though in spite of this, and with minimum bets as low as a dollar, paired with the love that a lot of players have for lottery style games, can still make this well worth running and playing.
Lotteries themselves have house edges as big or bigger than land based Keno games, and lotteries are hugely popular, so people aren't really that put out by it. If one played a slot machine with such a huge edge, one and one's money would part much more quickly, and it's the sheer frequency of the losses that would matter here, and this is something you don't generally see with either Keno or the lottery.
Online Keno gets around this problem, as these games are no more expensive to run online as any other online casino game, meaning that they cost virtually nothing in additional cost to the online casino.
So they can be offered at odds as good or better than you would ever see at any land based casino game, and as good or better than you would see at any online casino game as well.
Another great feature of online Keno is that you don't have to wait until a specified time for the drawing, as drawings take place as soon as you wager, since this is all done by computer with random number generators, as is all online gambling.
This is simply not possible with land based Keno, as operators are not able or willing to do a Keno draw just for you, whenever you wish to play. With online Keno though, casinos are more than happy to provide this individualized service, and at odds far better than you'd ever get at a land based Keno draw.
So online Keno has become quite popular due to these inherent advantages, and while online Keno does not enjoy the same degree of popularity as some other online casino games do, many online casinos do offer Keno and the game is ready any time you are for you to enjoy it to its fullest extent.
For further reading, check our How to Play Keno article.
Real Money Keno – FAQ
Can I make money playing Keno?
No. Keno is a game of luck and there is simply no way to make money with it. It doesn't mean you can't win money, even a lot, but it's not a way to make a leaving.
What is the best Keno strategy?
Despite the previous answer, there is a way to increase your winning odds. All you need to do is to choose the best keno game and to make the number of picks that offers the highest RTP. This number varies between one version to another but it's easy to find it out.
Are online Keno games fair?
Yes. All online casino games are tested and verifyed by 3rd parties such as Ecogra, TST and others. Don't forget that all games designed to give the house an edge – there is no reason for casino to rig the games.
Can I play Keno for real money on mobile?
Of course. Over 50% of bets are now made on mobile and keno is no different. You can play mobile keno for real money in almost every casino.
How many numbers should I choose in Keno?
There is no general answer to this question as it varies based on the payouts of the specific keno game. For example in Jackpot Keno you can see that you get the best odds by choosing 3-5 numbers. In Microgaming Keno you should go with 13-15 picks.
Do online casinos offer Keno Bonus?
Yes, almost all casino bonuses can be used for Keno. Keno is not the most popular game but all welcome bonuses and slots bonuses can be used on keno.
Should I use a bonus while playing Keno?
Depends. Not all bonuses are good. However using cashable casino bonuses and bonuses with low wagering requirement can indeed improve your chances of going home with some money.
In a previous article, we talked about how to play keno online however let's look more into what options are available for US players looking to play for real money. While Keno isn't as popular compared to other games, there are still options available (although limited) at most US online casinos.
Best Online Casinos for Keno Games
The industry is flooded with many online casinos. The number of options can be overwhelming – especially for newbies. To help you start off on the right foot, here are some of the best Keno casinos to consider for US residents.
Keno Rules – How to Play for Real Money
Now, if this is the first time you are coming across this game, you are probably worried and hesitant to give it a try. But here's the thing – you don't have to worry. The rules are easy and simple to learn and implement. Below is a quick guide on how to play the game.
Select an Online Casino
Online Keno Games For Real Money Prizes
While it can be confusing deciding where to play online, our recommended list above are all US friendly and have great keno options for you to try. Unfortunately, there are no live keno options for US players yet but as soon as there are we'll mention them on this page.
Choose numbers from the grid
Once you've chosen a casino offering your preferred Keno variant, the next step is to choose the numbers. You can choose as many or as few numbers as you please from the card grid. There are a total of 80 numbers to choose from. However, bear in mind that there are always a minimum and a maximum number each Keno variant allows. Usually, the minimum is 1 and the maximum is 20. But as pointed out above, the rules vary with the variant chosen.
Decide on how much to bet
Once you've chosen your numbers, you can now proceed to choose the amount to wager. Depending on the casino you choose to play at, the minimum and maximum amount allowed can vary but usually it can be anywhere from $1 to $10.
Note: once you've placed your bet, you cannot retract it. As such, you should be careful and alert when placing your wager.
Wait for the draw
You can either press ‘Play Five' or ‘Play One'. Whichever you choose, the game will draw numbers and display your winnings. However, it's important to note that if you choose to go with ‘Play One' your numbers will be valid for one game. But if you choose ‘Play Five' the numbers will be valid for a total of 5 games.
Real Money Online Keno Variations
The vast majority of online keno games don't really differ too much from the standard rules. There is usually a set of 40-80 numbers to choose from and you just select which numbers you think will be selected and go from there.
There is however one variation which we should mention that is somewhat similar to the popular land-based keno machine Superball Keno. It's called Powerball Keno (created by Saucify), which adds a nice twist to the game where the last ball drawn is considered a 'Powerball' that adds a 4x multiplier to your winnings. While unfortunately there is no progressive jackpot available, this online variation is the closest you'll find to Superball Keno.
Here's a free version of it so you know what to expect (flash is required).
Real Money vs. Free Keno Games
Which one should you play? Real Money or Free Keno? Well, we advise that you play both. When you are starting out, focus on free Keno games. This will give you time to practice. And since no real money is involved, there is a lot of room for trial and error.
With free Keno games, you'll get to understand which strategies to employ and how to manage your bankroll. Heck, you might even come up with your own winning strategies.
Once you are comfortable with the game, you can upgrade to Real Money Keno. Here the stakes are real. You have to be strategic in the bets you make. And remember, money has no feelings. Also, Keno is a game of chance. With every bet, your chances of winning are almost as good as your chances of losing.
Here's another free keno game you can try if the one above doesn't load. This one's provided by Bovada so the grahpics are a bit more modern compared to the Powerball Keno game above.
Strategies for Playing Online Keno
Though Keno is purely a game of chance, there are some tips and strategies that can help you increase your chances of winning a reward.
- Don't pick lots of numbers
When you pick many numbers, you stand to win a bigger prize. But also, you are required to place a bigger bet. Clearly, there's a thin line. And if you think about it, it's harder to hit a jackpot with many numbers than with a few. For this reason, it's advisable to pick 4 or 5 numbers in every game.
- Welcome bonus
Always sign up at casinos that offer a lucrative sign-up bonus. You can use the bonus to play Keno and win without spending a dime. Grande Eagle Casino has a great keno welcome bonus of $20 free if you use the code KENO20 or a 299% match bonus up to $2,990 if you use the code KENO299
- Manage your bankroll
It's easy to get carried away with the excitement of the game and the chances of winning big rewards. But even then, you should put a leash on your excitement. Retrain yourself from spending all your cash in the first rounds of Keno. Spending all your cash at once will deplete your bankroll fast and land you in trouble.
- Casino payouts
Take some time to research the casino. Know the casino's maximum payout. Higher payouts are better.
Extra Tips to Better Your Chances of Winning
Risk
The number rule of gambling is; always bet what you are willing to lose. Never assume you'll win your bet. Actually, you should assume you've lost the cash once you make a deposit. So in the event you win, then it will be a bonus and when you lose, you won't be devastated.
Odds
Always study your odds before placing a bet. Low odds or bets that do not equal the possible reward should be dropped. Always shift to a different game or find another casino. In a game of chance like Keno, odds are everything.
Successive Numbers
Keno is a random game. As such, every number has the same chance of being drawn. With this in mind, most players opt to pick spaced out numbers. And while this is a good move, you should also consider picking consecutive numbers. If you study previously drawn numbers, you'll notice Keno usually has several successive numbers. So do not shy away from picking successive numbers.
Boeing 777-x9. Pick different numbers
It sounds like we are contradicting ourselves right? Well, we are not here's what we mean. You should not memorize previous winning numbers. All draws are different and random. Pick a different set every time. Do not entertain the devastating thoughts of picking losing numbers.
Spend small
The numbers you pick should be inversely proportional to your stake. With many numbers, the stake should be low. With few numbers, the stake should be high. If you do the math, the end result will always be around the same value.
The History of Keno
Keno originated from Ancient China. The Chinese in that age used the proceeds from Keno to construct the Great Wall of China. Given the size of the wall, it's sufficient to say that the profits made from the game were big. As such, Keno must have been a popular game in Ancient China. In addition to funding the construction of the wall, the profits were also used to fund other projects.
Ancient China called Keno the ‘White Dove Ticket'. The Chinese gave it this name because they used carrier pigeons to send Keno results to close towns and cities. It's also worth noting that during these times, Keno was played in Chinese Characters. However, only 80 characters of the 1000 possible were used.
Keno found its way into casinos in 1847. Since then, the game has transformed. But even then, the basics have remained the same. For instance, the western version also includes 80 numbers and it's still a game of chance.
So where did the Name ‘Keno' Come From?
The earliest use of the name ‘Keno' can be traced back to a casino in Houston in 1866. The name stuck. It was catchy and better than puck apu or boc hup bu – the names the Chinese used.
Since then, Keno has steadily gained traction as a simple lottery styled game. And actually, for some, Keno is more exciting and more entertaining in comparison to other government lotteries. The variations and the wide selection of possible wins add some excitement to the game.
Advantages of Online Keno
Naturally, playing keno online is different than in regular live casinos. Online play lucks the social aspect of the game, but more than compensates for that in other areas. The main advantages are:
- Play anytime: unlike in real casinos, you don't need to wait to play your favorite game.
- Variety: online world offers a huge variety of games.
- Bonuses : as you can see in the table above, internet casinos go all the way to attract players and you can take advantage of that with some free cash.
- Chances of Winning: the winning odds in online keno higher than in any land based casino. Actually keno has the biggest difference than any other game. Offline, the payouts are usually around 60%, while best online keno games reach even 96% return. We know that most keno fans are not into odds and percentages, but using different words: playing real money keno online, you will get much better value for you money. First, you will get longer playtime. Second, your chances of winning, which is the most fun part of any game, are much higher. Almost twice higher!
- Free play: one of the wonders of the internet is that you can play keno for free, without making a deposit.
Online play does carry some disadvantages that you should be aware of. The main one is the game speed. Online gameplay is much faster, especially if you use some autoplay feature. So make sure that you play in your own pace and don't rush things and never place on the line more money than your originally intended. You can find more info in our Live vs Online Keno comparison.
Have Fun!
Poker chips in every game have certain values assigned to them. In cash games, these poker chip values are exact representations of the actual cash, i.e., a. Poker chip values. The ratios of the chip values will typically be about 4-to-1 or 5-to-1. Some typical chip values are: $1-$5-$25-$100 and $5-$25-$100-$500. The higher chip values might sit on the side until a color-up is done. For really big tournaments you will want to have a 5th chip value. Monetary Values of Color-Coded Poker Chips Basic Poker Chip Colors and Standard Values. Full Poker Chip Colors and Standard Values. Purple, $500 Light Blue, $2000 Brown, $5000 There are some variations to. When Hosting a Poker.
Keno History in Few Words
The gambling game of Keno a very long history, going all the way back to Ancient China. Legend has it that Keno even helped pay for the construction of the Great Wall of China, as well as other public works projects during ancient times.
The game in China became known as 'white dove ticket,' due to the practice of sending the results of the draws by carrier pigeon to outlying cities and towns. It was originally played using Chinese characters, using the first 80 characters of the Thousand Character Classic.
Keno was first offered at a licensed casino in 1847 in the colony of Macao, now part of China, and the present day gambling hub of the Far East.
80 numbers are now used in the Western version, so the game really hasn't changed that much over the centuries. It was first brought to the West by Chinese immigrants who came to America to build railroads in the 19th Century.
Where the Name Keno Comes From
The name 'Keno' was coined by a casino in Houston, Texas, in 1866, and the new name stuck, a more catchy name with Westerners perhaps than boc hup bu or puck apu, as the Chinese called it.
Since then, the game of Keno has really caught on, as a simple way that casinos can offer lottery style games. Keno may actually even be a more entertaining game than traditional government run lotteries, given the variation that Keno offers and all the selection of different ways to win.
Lotteries do offer much bigger jackpots than Keno does, due to the sheer number of players that lotteries boast. However, with lotteries, you are mostly shooting for huge prizes, and while smaller prizes are available, they are always secondary, and therefore the odds on these smaller prizes are never very good.
With Keno though, the payout tables correspond to how many numbers you choose, so players can shoot for small payouts, big ones, and everything in between. The odds and what one is playing for directly correspond to the player's preferences, which is the best thing about Keno.
Basic Rules
From among the 80 possible selections, one chooses between 1 and a predetermined number, generally between 10 and 15 numbers chosen by the player. While 20 of the 80 balls will be drawn, the odds of hitting all 20 are so astronomical, 1 in 3.5 quintillion, or 1.5 billion billion. To make this a reasonable bet, all the money in the world would not be enough to pay out.
Just to clarify: No one in the whole history of keno has ever caught 20 out of 20.
This, coupled with the fact that Keno is generally run by operators that can only afford to make much more modest payouts, generally limits this to a maximum of 10 selections, where hitting all 10 'only' has a probability of about 1 in 10 million, which allows maximum payouts that operators can afford.
How to increase you winning odds at Keno
Keno also offers operators the ability to structure their payout tables to pay more or less for more frequent hits, and more or less for rare ones, which also allows them to manage their risk by paying out more for frequent ones and less for infrequent ones.
So this lets them offer an enticing overall payout while allowing for lower maximums, ones they can be comfortable with. Keno is a very flexible game to run actually and even small land based casinos and online operations can safely and profitably offer it.
At land based casinos, Keno has a much higher house edge than other casino games. This is necessary in order for them to profitably run the game, as draws are infrequent and therefore the expense involved in running it is high proportionate to their revenue.
So with a slot machine or table game, results occur on a minute to minute basis, so while casinos have fixed costs to recover, the frequency of the results allow for this to be recovered with only a slight house edge.
Keno draws are held far less often, and casinos generally will have a Keno lounge as well as runners taking bets from players elsewhere in the casino, so the house edge with Keno needs to be higher, and can go to almost 30%.
Land based Keno is still pretty popular though in spite of this, and with minimum bets as low as a dollar, paired with the love that a lot of players have for lottery style games, can still make this well worth running and playing.
Lotteries themselves have house edges as big or bigger than land based Keno games, and lotteries are hugely popular, so people aren't really that put out by it. If one played a slot machine with such a huge edge, one and one's money would part much more quickly, and it's the sheer frequency of the losses that would matter here, and this is something you don't generally see with either Keno or the lottery.
Online Keno gets around this problem, as these games are no more expensive to run online as any other online casino game, meaning that they cost virtually nothing in additional cost to the online casino.
So they can be offered at odds as good or better than you would ever see at any land based casino game, and as good or better than you would see at any online casino game as well.
Another great feature of online Keno is that you don't have to wait until a specified time for the drawing, as drawings take place as soon as you wager, since this is all done by computer with random number generators, as is all online gambling.
This is simply not possible with land based Keno, as operators are not able or willing to do a Keno draw just for you, whenever you wish to play. With online Keno though, casinos are more than happy to provide this individualized service, and at odds far better than you'd ever get at a land based Keno draw.
So online Keno has become quite popular due to these inherent advantages, and while online Keno does not enjoy the same degree of popularity as some other online casino games do, many online casinos do offer Keno and the game is ready any time you are for you to enjoy it to its fullest extent.
For further reading, check our How to Play Keno article.
Real Money Keno – FAQ
Can I make money playing Keno?
No. Keno is a game of luck and there is simply no way to make money with it. It doesn't mean you can't win money, even a lot, but it's not a way to make a leaving.
What is the best Keno strategy?
Despite the previous answer, there is a way to increase your winning odds. All you need to do is to choose the best keno game and to make the number of picks that offers the highest RTP. This number varies between one version to another but it's easy to find it out.
Are online Keno games fair?
Yes. All online casino games are tested and verifyed by 3rd parties such as Ecogra, TST and others. Don't forget that all games designed to give the house an edge – there is no reason for casino to rig the games.
Can I play Keno for real money on mobile?
Of course. Over 50% of bets are now made on mobile and keno is no different. You can play mobile keno for real money in almost every casino.
How many numbers should I choose in Keno?
There is no general answer to this question as it varies based on the payouts of the specific keno game. For example in Jackpot Keno you can see that you get the best odds by choosing 3-5 numbers. In Microgaming Keno you should go with 13-15 picks.
Do online casinos offer Keno Bonus?
Yes, almost all casino bonuses can be used for Keno. Keno is not the most popular game but all welcome bonuses and slots bonuses can be used on keno.
Should I use a bonus while playing Keno?
Depends. Not all bonuses are good. However using cashable casino bonuses and bonuses with low wagering requirement can indeed improve your chances of going home with some money.
In a previous article, we talked about how to play keno online however let's look more into what options are available for US players looking to play for real money. While Keno isn't as popular compared to other games, there are still options available (although limited) at most US online casinos.
Best Online Casinos for Keno Games
The industry is flooded with many online casinos. The number of options can be overwhelming – especially for newbies. To help you start off on the right foot, here are some of the best Keno casinos to consider for US residents.
Keno Rules – How to Play for Real Money
Now, if this is the first time you are coming across this game, you are probably worried and hesitant to give it a try. But here's the thing – you don't have to worry. The rules are easy and simple to learn and implement. Below is a quick guide on how to play the game.
Select an Online Casino
Online Keno Games For Real Money Prizes
While it can be confusing deciding where to play online, our recommended list above are all US friendly and have great keno options for you to try. Unfortunately, there are no live keno options for US players yet but as soon as there are we'll mention them on this page.
Choose numbers from the grid
Once you've chosen a casino offering your preferred Keno variant, the next step is to choose the numbers. You can choose as many or as few numbers as you please from the card grid. There are a total of 80 numbers to choose from. However, bear in mind that there are always a minimum and a maximum number each Keno variant allows. Usually, the minimum is 1 and the maximum is 20. But as pointed out above, the rules vary with the variant chosen.
Decide on how much to bet
Once you've chosen your numbers, you can now proceed to choose the amount to wager. Depending on the casino you choose to play at, the minimum and maximum amount allowed can vary but usually it can be anywhere from $1 to $10.
Note: once you've placed your bet, you cannot retract it. As such, you should be careful and alert when placing your wager.
Wait for the draw
You can either press ‘Play Five' or ‘Play One'. Whichever you choose, the game will draw numbers and display your winnings. However, it's important to note that if you choose to go with ‘Play One' your numbers will be valid for one game. But if you choose ‘Play Five' the numbers will be valid for a total of 5 games.
Real Money Online Keno Variations
The vast majority of online keno games don't really differ too much from the standard rules. There is usually a set of 40-80 numbers to choose from and you just select which numbers you think will be selected and go from there.
There is however one variation which we should mention that is somewhat similar to the popular land-based keno machine Superball Keno. It's called Powerball Keno (created by Saucify), which adds a nice twist to the game where the last ball drawn is considered a 'Powerball' that adds a 4x multiplier to your winnings. While unfortunately there is no progressive jackpot available, this online variation is the closest you'll find to Superball Keno.
Here's a free version of it so you know what to expect (flash is required).
Real Money vs. Free Keno Games
Which one should you play? Real Money or Free Keno? Well, we advise that you play both. When you are starting out, focus on free Keno games. This will give you time to practice. And since no real money is involved, there is a lot of room for trial and error.
With free Keno games, you'll get to understand which strategies to employ and how to manage your bankroll. Heck, you might even come up with your own winning strategies.
Once you are comfortable with the game, you can upgrade to Real Money Keno. Here the stakes are real. You have to be strategic in the bets you make. And remember, money has no feelings. Also, Keno is a game of chance. With every bet, your chances of winning are almost as good as your chances of losing.
Here's another free keno game you can try if the one above doesn't load. This one's provided by Bovada so the grahpics are a bit more modern compared to the Powerball Keno game above.
Strategies for Playing Online Keno
Though Keno is purely a game of chance, there are some tips and strategies that can help you increase your chances of winning a reward.
- Don't pick lots of numbers
When you pick many numbers, you stand to win a bigger prize. But also, you are required to place a bigger bet. Clearly, there's a thin line. And if you think about it, it's harder to hit a jackpot with many numbers than with a few. For this reason, it's advisable to pick 4 or 5 numbers in every game.
- Welcome bonus
Always sign up at casinos that offer a lucrative sign-up bonus. You can use the bonus to play Keno and win without spending a dime. Grande Eagle Casino has a great keno welcome bonus of $20 free if you use the code KENO20 or a 299% match bonus up to $2,990 if you use the code KENO299
- Manage your bankroll
It's easy to get carried away with the excitement of the game and the chances of winning big rewards. But even then, you should put a leash on your excitement. Retrain yourself from spending all your cash in the first rounds of Keno. Spending all your cash at once will deplete your bankroll fast and land you in trouble.
- Casino payouts
Take some time to research the casino. Know the casino's maximum payout. Higher payouts are better.
Extra Tips to Better Your Chances of Winning
Risk
The number rule of gambling is; always bet what you are willing to lose. Never assume you'll win your bet. Actually, you should assume you've lost the cash once you make a deposit. So in the event you win, then it will be a bonus and when you lose, you won't be devastated.
Odds
Always study your odds before placing a bet. Low odds or bets that do not equal the possible reward should be dropped. Always shift to a different game or find another casino. In a game of chance like Keno, odds are everything.
Successive Numbers
Keno is a random game. As such, every number has the same chance of being drawn. With this in mind, most players opt to pick spaced out numbers. And while this is a good move, you should also consider picking consecutive numbers. If you study previously drawn numbers, you'll notice Keno usually has several successive numbers. So do not shy away from picking successive numbers.
Boeing 777-x9. Pick different numbers
It sounds like we are contradicting ourselves right? Well, we are not here's what we mean. You should not memorize previous winning numbers. All draws are different and random. Pick a different set every time. Do not entertain the devastating thoughts of picking losing numbers.
Spend small
The numbers you pick should be inversely proportional to your stake. With many numbers, the stake should be low. With few numbers, the stake should be high. If you do the math, the end result will always be around the same value.
The History of Keno
Keno originated from Ancient China. The Chinese in that age used the proceeds from Keno to construct the Great Wall of China. Given the size of the wall, it's sufficient to say that the profits made from the game were big. As such, Keno must have been a popular game in Ancient China. In addition to funding the construction of the wall, the profits were also used to fund other projects.
Ancient China called Keno the ‘White Dove Ticket'. The Chinese gave it this name because they used carrier pigeons to send Keno results to close towns and cities. It's also worth noting that during these times, Keno was played in Chinese Characters. However, only 80 characters of the 1000 possible were used.
Keno found its way into casinos in 1847. Since then, the game has transformed. But even then, the basics have remained the same. For instance, the western version also includes 80 numbers and it's still a game of chance.
So where did the Name ‘Keno' Come From?
The earliest use of the name ‘Keno' can be traced back to a casino in Houston in 1866. The name stuck. It was catchy and better than puck apu or boc hup bu – the names the Chinese used.
Since then, Keno has steadily gained traction as a simple lottery styled game. And actually, for some, Keno is more exciting and more entertaining in comparison to other government lotteries. The variations and the wide selection of possible wins add some excitement to the game.
Now, it's true that lotteries have larger jackpots than Keno after all, they do have more participants. However, when you participate in a lottery, you are gunning for the jackpot. And even though smaller wins are available, they are typically secondary to the main jackpot. For this reason, the odds on the smaller wins are, well, small.
With Keno, the payout varies with the number numbers chosen. So essentially, you can gun for big wins, small wins and every other win in between. The odds and the rewards are proportional and correspond to your preferences.
Keno FAQ
Are there any progressive jackpot keno games online?
Unfortunately no. There used to be one called Bonus Keno by NetEnt, however they have since removed the game from their catalogue.
Where can I get a Keno bonus in USA?
As mentioned earlier, we recommend visting Grand Eagle Casino because they have promotional bonus codes specific to Keno. You can choose either Oneida bingo and casino.
- Welcome bonus of $20 free if you use the code KENO20
- 299% match bonus up to $2,990 if you use the code KENO299
Tip:Regardless of where you play it, make sure you read the wagering requirements carefully so you know exactly what's involved with collecting the bonus.
Where are the best places to play Keno online?
Well, this depends on your preference. Do you want a low house edge? Are you looking for Keno game variety? Do you want more rewards?
Depending on what you want, the best place to play Keno will vary. Read online reviews and read the different online casinos to make an informed choice.
What's the difference between Live Keno and online Keno?
Live Keno uses video streaming technology where you can see an actual person in a studio draw the numbers to determine if you have won or not. Currently there aren't any live keno options for US players but if you'd like to see what it looks like you can view an example of Ezugi's live keno here.
What's the Difference between Bingo and Keno?
Though these two have some similarities, there are also some distinct differences. The main difference is that Bingo offers tickets that have preselected numbers while Keno allows you to choose the numbers.
Also, in Keno, you choose the size of your wager and the number of draws for the selected numbers. In Bingo the game goes on until they find a winner.
Keno Online For Money
Do you need all the number to match for a win?
No. While matching multiple numbers increases your returns, it's not necessary to match all of them.
Why can't I find A Keno game at My Casino?
Keno isn't as popular as blackjack and slots. As such, most casinos don't feature it on the homepage. It's often found in the specialty games category. If it's not there, it's in the table games category.
While Keno doesn't enjoy the same level of popularity other online casino games do, more and more casinos are starting to include it in their list of games.
Can you play Keno online for real money?
Absolutely! Simply select a casino, make a deposit, place a wager on any keno game for the chance to win.
