Keno

Is it as simple as they say?

If you’ve ever played the lottery and thought that was easy, wait till you try keno. In keno, all you need to do is mark off the numbers you want and then wait to see if you’re a winner. Keno’s greatest draw card is the high payouts and relatively low bets.

What do you do with your keno ticket?

In physical casinos, you’ll find keno tickets on every table in the demarcated keno areas. Each keno ticket has 80 numbers marked on them ranging from 1 to 80. You can pick any numbers you want, but no more than 20 on a single ticket.

Casinos have their own keno rules, but the basis of the game remains the same. If you mark fewer numbers, the chances of winning are greater but your payout will be less. On the flip side, if you mark more numbers, your chances of winning are higher, but the payout is lower. It is a general rule of thumb that marking 3 to 8 numbers offers the best odds. It doesn’t matter which numbers you mark because each number has an equal chance of winning. If you do, however, have an affinity towards any particular numbers – like dates of birth or lucky numbers – go ahead and pick them. A bit of luck never hurt anyone.

The keno tickets are named according to how many numbers you mark on them. If, for example, you mark six numbers on your keno ticket, your keno ticket is named “six spots”. This will change by the markings on your ticket. These markings are called “spots”. You can also write on your ticket how many rounds you would like to play. If, for example, each game costs $2 and you want the ticket to ride for 5 rounds, this will cost you $10.

It is possible to win big with keno – all depending on the numbers you choose and the amount that you want to bet. The house edge is said to be around 30% and your chances of winning are about 0.25% per spot.

What do you do with your ticket once you’ve picked your numbers?

This is where keno runners and writers come into play. Keno runners are the people at the casino that take your keno ticket and exchange it for a computerized ticket for you to claim your winnings. Betting at the races works on a similar principle. You can also hand your ticket to a keno runner who will take your money and tickets to the keno writer. You don’t have to limit your choice to one keno ticket. You can fill out as many tickets as you like and bet as much as you like.

Once you receive your computerized ticket, you will notice that the date, time and validation code have been printed on it. This is used to authenticate your ticket so that if you win, there is no way to question it. The number of the game that you are entered for will also be printed on the ticket. This is known as the “Keno Race” number. If you want to see the progress of the races, this will be displayed on the board in the keno lounge.

Use the keno runners to your advantage. They are there to make your stay at the casino more comfortable. The easiest way to enjoy yourself is to fill out your ticket and allow the keno runners to do the rest. If you win, they’ll find you and inform you. Of course, it’s more fun to watch the proceedings for yourself.

Your time at the races

Ok, so your ticket’s been filled out, you’ve handed it to the keno runner or the keno writer and you have your computerized ticket. Now all you have to do is wait for your keno race. Because you cannot change the outcome of the game, or anything for that matter, once you’ve handed in your ticket, the only thing you can really do is relax.

Before your race starts, you can view the results of the previous race on the keno table screen. Try not to kick yourself too hard if you could have won big at the previous game had you played it. Your chance will come. Once the screen goes blank, it means that the next race is about to start. It is now too late for anyone else to participate in this race. Each number is drawn one by one so it draws out the intensity of the game.

If you notice that your numbers have appeared, it is in your best interest to head to the keno desk as soon as possible. There is only a certain time frame available for you to claim your winnings. If you don’t do this within the allotted time, you cannot claim your winnings. There is a disclaimer on the tickets that states this.

Get playing

As you can see, keno is a very easy and convenient way to gamble. Once you’ve picked your numbers, there are people hanging around you just waiting to help. If the offer is there, take it. You may as well try your luck at other games while you wait for your next race to start.