Keno Winning Strategies

For those who like games of chance rather than games of skill and risk, Keno is a popular choice among casino enthusiasts. It is like having a lottery every 15 minutes or so, with slightly better odds to win. Players select numbers on a Keno ticket, and may select between one number up to 10, 15, or even 20. The number of spots a player can choose depends on the casino where they are playing.

casino-keno
Once a Keno card has been filled out and the wager posted, the game is out of the player’s hands. Similar to state and interstate lotteries, Keno balls are drawn from a clear, round air bubble device called a gooseneck. 20 balls are drawn per keno “race.” Prizes awarded to players are based on how many numbers they have chosen correctly, and in some cases prizes are awarded for having no numbers correct at all.

Since there is very little the player can do to affect the outcome, other than guessing wildly at that the winning numbers will be, there is no definite method for winning. Following, however, are some good strategies to utilize to make the most of your Keno experience.

First, never play only one number. It may be tempting to do so, since the minimum bet is so low and it gives you 20 opportunities to win your entire bet. The grim truth is, though, the chances of connecting with a single number strongly favor the house, not the player, giving a house edge of around 25%.

Second, play 9 numbers in races that allow up to 20 selections. The odds seem to peak at the number 9, and get worse and worse the farther you stray from there. In Keno games that do not allow 20 selections, a good rule of thumb is to bet on 50-75 % of the allowable spots.

Thirdly, find out all the information you can before playing. There are as many variations in the game of Keno as there are casinos that offer the game, so look online and compare and contrast Keno payouts to find the best locations to play. A few minutes devoted to this can pay off hugely in your enjoyment of the game.

The final thing to note regarding Keno is that you should practice good money management. With lotteries, a dollar played weekly will not break the vast majority of people. 2 dollars gambled away every 15 minutes can lead into the hole faster than you might realize. Try to keep track of how much you wager, and how often you make a profit in the game, and look for ways to increase the cash and minimize the outlay.