A Beginner’s Guide to Keno – 5 Things You Must Know


Keno players dream of winning big.  Keno is like most lottery games in terms of being a game of luck. Players choose numbers and hope as many as possible match those randomly drawn by a hopper or machine. This beginner’s guide to Keno offers some information that should be known before you play this fast-paced and unpredictable game whether you play in a land-based or online casino. 

Play online at a licensed site

If you want to play Keno online, look for a site that will keep your personal information safe and will be fair with winnings and managing your account. The best sites like Eurogrand Casino are licensed and overseen by regulatory authorities to ensure they are secure and their games are fair. Operators will show their license number at the base of their home page, which you can check against the database held by the relevant authority since some licenses are suspended or withdrawn.

There are no “Lucky” keno numbers

No Keno system can guarantee success since it is entirely a game of chance. There are online offers for “hot” or lucky keno numbers, but these are nonsense and the offers are just a way of getting money out of you. 

Calculate your expected return

It is your choice how many numbers you choose to play in Keno. You can search online to calculate your Expected Return (ER) for the numbers you choose when you play real money Keno games. Most people choose no more than 10 numbers because of the ER. The simplest form of the game is known as Spot Keno, but variants of the game have multipliers and extra balls and the ER will be different for these games. 

Understand the house edge

The house edge is a percentage that reflects the advantage that a particular casino game has over the player. It is an average figure, not a sum taken from each individual bet.  It gives a player the chance to estimate their expected losses during a game. The game with the lowest house edge is blackjack at 0.5 per cent when a player following a perfect betting strategy. The house edge for Keno can be anywhere between 25 and 40 per cent so be sure to select the lowest house edge before you deposit cash to play a game. 

Whilst the house edge shows that players are likely to lose and are unlikely to hit the jackpot, it is the chance of winning a life-changing sum of money that entices players into the game. At the same time, a game of Keno will provide entertainment for the 10 minutes for the game to start and finish, all for a dollar or so.  In contrast, a spin of the slots costs the same but lasts six seconds which requires a much larger bankroll than Keno. 

Claim bonuses and promotions

If you want to play Keno online, check the generous bonuses and promotions that sites offer in a very competitive market. You can often find a 100 per cent Keno matched bonus on your first deposit which will let you play extra games. As a reward to loyal players, casinos may offer free game promotions, so look out for these too.