The Live Keno Lounge was a staple of 20th-century American casinos. On the other hand, Video Keno has had a relatively shorter history. While Keno can be played almost anywhere these days, Video Keno is mainly found in either brick-and-mortar or online casinos. Here are the differences between Live Keno and Video Keno.
| | Live Keno | Video Keno |
|---|---|---|
| 1. GAME FORMAT | A traditional lottery-style game | A digital version played on a video machine. |
| 2. PLAYING SPEED | Draws occur at set intervals with time in between | The player controls the continuous the pace for faster or slower play |
| 3. BETTING OPTIONS | Fixed betting amounts (paytable) | Offers a range of betting options. These options depend on different games and different paytable structures on each. |
| 4.PLAYER INTERACTION | Usually played in a slower social setting | Usually a solitary experience on a machine. |
| 5. ODDS | | Video Keno usually has better odds. |
Is Video Keno Regulated?
State gaming commissions regulate Video Keno as all other electronic-based casino games under their jurisdiction. The incorporation of the Random Number Generator randomly selects 20 numbers out of 80 for each play. All numbers have equal chances of being drawn since each draw is an independent event, unaffected by earlier results.
How To Play
It’s actually pretty easy.
- The playing area (card) has spots from 1 to 80 in a standard video keno game.
- Choose 1 to 10 of the numbers.
- Some games offer four cards or more.
- Press start or draw, and the game randomly draws 20 numbers.
- Your winnings are based on the number of spots hit on the draw.
- Done!
The Odds – Video Keno Payouts Chart
Keno can have some of the worst odds in the casino… even worse than slots. Some video keno paytables, while rare, can return around 85%.
Let’s look at the odds of hitting a certain number of catches based on the number of spots chosen. The payouts are determined by the number of spots chosen and the number of catches achieved. Here’s a sample payout chart for a $1 bet:
| If You Choose this number of spots | This is the probability of getting them all | Standard Payout |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 25.00 % | $3 |
| 2 | 6.25 % | $12 |
| 3 | 1.39 % | $43 |
| 4 | 0.30 % | $130 |
| 5 | 0.07% | $800 |
| 6 | 0.02 % | $1600 |
| 7 | 0.005 % | $5000 |
| 8 | 0.001 % | $15,000 |
| 9 | 0.0003 % | $25,000 |
| 10 | 0.0001 % | $100,000 |
Note: Payouts can vary between different casinos and game versions.
The More Numbers You Pick, the Harder It Is to Win the Top Prize
Keno’s probability structure means your chances decrease exponentially as you select more numbers. Picking 3 numbers gives you decent odds of hitting all three, but choosing 10 makes matching them nearly impossible.
That said, your overall odds of winning any prize will vary based on the number of spots chosen and the pay table. There are Keno calculators out there that let you put in the pay table information and it will let you know your overall odds, as well as the long-term payback, based on the pay structure you collected.
Payouts Vary Wildly Between Casinos
Different casinos and game developers feature varying paytables that dramatically affect your potential returns. Always check the paytable and compare machines before committing to a game. An easy way to do this is to look at 5-of-5. In other words, you are playing five spots and hitting all five. In video keno, if you get more credits for hitting 5-of-5 on any non-bonus version, you will have better odds.
Before settling on a game, examine how much it pays for partial hits. Some games offer better returns for 4/6 or 5/6 matches.
Considerations and Smart Decisions
1. Avoid systems.
Stay away from formulas and strategies advertised online. Many services claim to crack Keno’s code or find specific numbers that hit more often. The Random Number Generator makes that impossible – end of story. Remember, it’s a game of chance.
2. Betting More Doesn’t Guarantee Bigger Wins
While increasing your wager size does raise potential payouts proportionally, it doesn’t improve your odds of winning. The video keno odds are the same whether you bet 1 or 100 credits per game. Don’t chase losses by increasing bets. Maintaining consistent bet sizes that allow extended play sessions is generally wiser.
3. Manage Your Bankroll
Given Keno’s relatively high house edge (typically 10%-25%), managing your money wisely is crucial. Set strict loss limits before you start playing. Don’t bring more than 50 times your typical bet amount for a session. Set win goals like cashing out when you’ve doubled your original bankroll.
4. Implement Consistent Betting Patterns
Rather than randomly changing your wager amounts, create a betting pattern that matches your bankroll. Many successful players use a flat betting system where they wager the same amount consistently. This prevents the common pitfall of increasing bets after losses and depleting your bankroll.
5. Earning Rewards
Earning Player Reward Points playing any type of Video Keno varies greatly. Look for machines that have only keno on them. A machine with both video keno and video poker will give the same value as video poker. This means you must put in 2x the amount to equal slots.
6. Use Bonus Features and Progressive Jackpots
Modern video keno games often include special features like bonus rounds, multipliers, or progressive jackpots. These features can significantly enhance your potential payouts, but increase volatility. Here are a few suggested games that are a step up from the video originals:
2-4-6 Way and 3-6-9 Way Keno:
These aren’t as flexible as marking a way-ticket on a live keno game and defining your grouping. However, they give video players an option to spice up a straight ticket.
In 2-4-6 Way Keno, you pick three groups of two numbers. Those numbers are then played in combinations. You have three two-number ways. There are also four-number ways and one six-number way going simultaneously.
Cleopatra Keno – Bonus, Max and 4-card availability:
While the graphics are the same as in IGT’s long-popular Cleopatra slot machine, the play is pure Keno. The twist is present. If the last number drawn is a spot you chose, you receive 12 free plays. It is shown as a Scarab. These plays come with double payoffs.
Caveman Keno – Bonus, Plus, and 4-card availability
This was one of the first Keno bonus games, and it remains popular today. You mark anywhere from two to 10 numbers. The game then generates three different numbers and assigns them to dinosaur eggs. If the egg numbers are drawn, the eggs hatch, and add a bonus if you have those selected numbers. If the 20 numbers chosen include zero or one egg, you get your regular winnings from the paytable. If two egg numbers are drawn, your winnings are 4X. If all three egg numbers are selected, your winnings are 8X.
MULTI-CARD VIDEO KENO
Four-Card Keno was followed by 20-Card Keno. These games revolutionized Video Keno in the same way Triple Play, Five Play, and Ten Play machines revolutionized video poker.
And Now Even More Variations!
Newer IGT machines feature additional variations such as Wolf Run Keno and Da Vinci Diamonds Keno. Aristocrat now has machines that feature games like Buffalo Keno. The common thread is more slot-like bonus rounds, which further increase the volatility.
Summary
With the average house edge of 30 percent, live Keno is usually among the worst bets in most casinos. But video keno can still be an enjoyable experience. Spend a few bucks, enjoy comps, and move on when it becomes no fun.
When we’re not having any luck at the slots, we move to video keno. A couple of years ago in Vegas, hubby played through a $20 bill with a few little hits, then added a $5 bill, all the while playing one quarter at a time. Before playing out the $5 bill, he hit 7 of 7 numbers for a $1,700 jackpot! Even betting only one quarter, we feel like we’re at least getting to play while protecting the bankroll until luck on the slots turns around, and the cocktail servers kept us well supplied!
I completely agree. When video poker wasn’t working, my wife and I would switch to video keno. We would even make it a competition by choosing the same game, putting $20 in, alternate turns and after 20 plays, whoever had more money left, would buy the drinks. Of course(lol) they were comped anyway.
One of our moderators has won that 7/7 prize on 25 cents a few times now – it’s definitely an exciting moment when considering the size of the bet!
Seven numbers is my favorite bet. When I play Four card games, I use 4,5,6,7 numbers. But 7/7 is awesome!
We’re right there with you! It happens often enough (similar to the frequenct of a royal flush in video poker) that it can occur, and pays well enough to be an exciting moment prize wise as well!