Playing real money online keno gives players a chance to win large payouts with relatively small bets. Keno is a Chinese 80-ball lottery game that became popular in US land-based casinos over the past 150 years. It's now available in all legitimate US online casinos.
Read our online keno guide for the game's rules, strategy and odds. Also learn where you can play keno online for free, while also learning about keno's huge potential payouts.
How To Play Keno
Keno combines elements of lottery and bingo gaming. It's easy to learn how to play keno, which makes it popular with casual players.
The goal of keno is to pick 1 to 10 winning numbers from a field of 80 numbers. Some games allow players to make up to 15 selections, called "spots." A game of online keno happens in three easy steps.
1. The player chooses numbers from a field of 1 to 80, plus their wager size and the number of games they want to play.
2. The keno casino's random number generator (RNG) selects 20 numbers from the field of 80.
3. Count up the number of winning numbers (or "catches") you have. Players receive payouts based on a keno pay table.
history of Keno
Keno online is similar to keno in a land-based casino. The game itself actually originated in China. According to legend, the game actually saved an ancient Chinese city. The game was so popular that the the funds raised from ticket sales helped build the Great Wall.
Results of the games were sent by carrier pigeons which lead to the tickets being called "white dove tickets" or "pigeon" tickets. Early immigrants from China introduced the game to the West, where it was given the name Keno. It became widely popular in Texas by 1866.
Playing Keno Online for free
Rookie players sometimes make the mistake of jumping into online keno hard and fast. Savvy gamblers know it's always best to hone your skills on a new game before betting with real cash. Even if you're a seasoned player, not all games are created equally. Game developers are constantly adding new bells and whistles to online keno games.
Playing keno online for free is an excellent way to understand game mechanics and button placement. It also helps you get used to flashy graphics, bonus rounds, symbols to look for and more.
Playing Keno Online for Real Money
Playing keno online for free is a great way to hone your skills, but playing keno for real money is what most players really want. In order to start playing keno online for real, there are a few things you need to do. The first thing is find a reputable online casino to play at.
Reading reviews and ratings is a great way to get to a feel for a keno casino. It also helps you determine if the casino is a legitimate establishment or one you should avoid. Sites like ours are a good place to start. The next section in our online keno guide provides details about what we look for when we review online casinos.
How We Rate Keno Sites
Safety and Security – Best Casino Bonuses – Casino Banking – Casino Games Selection – Keno at Mobile Casinos – Fast and Reliable Payouts
Popular Online Keno Games
US online casinos feature many versions of online keno. Here are some of the popular game types American online keno players may encounter.
- Single Game Keno: The basic way to play keno online. You pick a single set of numbers ("spots") for a single drawing. If you have a winning draw, you collect cash before the next game.
- Multi-Race Keno: Similar to multi-hand online blackjack, you play multiple games of keno at once. It's a fast-paced game, but players should make smaller wagers on each individual drawing.
- Keno Draw: Version of online keno found at Sportsbook, Sportsbook, Ignition and Sportsbook. Bets range from $0.01 to $10 with six bet ranges. The big jackpot ranges from $1,000 for one-cent bets to $1 million for $10 bets.
- 40-Ball Keno: Variant played with half as many lottery balls. Select from 3 to 10 numbers, while the RNG draws 10 numbers in all. Jackpots are smaller, but odds of winning small prizes are higher.
- Power Ball Keno: Standard 80-ball keno but with a big bonus jackpot. Like the Powerball lottery, you buy a bonus ball for higher payouts. This game is called Super Ball Keno in some online casinos.
- Live Keno Online: While US live casinos seldom feature live dealer keno, some international live dealer casinos offer drawings of live keno online with real game hosts and hostesses.
Online Keno Rules
The rules of online keno closely mimic land-based keno rules, but there are subtle differences. One major difference is the number of side bets available. Keep these tips and tricks in mind when playing keno online.
- Faster Play: Many online lottery sites have keno drawings every five minutes. You can play many games of online casino keno in that time. It's like a scratch card or slots game, so adjust bets accordingly.
- Keno Side Bets: Many online keno cards have side bets. These might be Super Ball or Power Ball side bets, or something more exotic. These have bigger payouts but lower odds.
- Slots Bonuses: Most online casinos advertise slots bonuses, but allow keno and scratch cards to clear the wagering requirement. Read the wagering requirement terms and accept the bonus cash, if keno clears the requirement.
- Free Online Keno: Most online casinos allow players to play for free, so learn the keno rules and test gameplay before you wager. Some casino sites only allow free-play keno before making a deposit, so sign out of your account to play free keno, if so. If you want to keep playing keno but with a lower risk, consider playing at a low deposit casino.
Online Keno Odds And Payouts
Online Keno Strategy
Keno is a game of chance, but certain betting strategies help players enjoy the game more. Here are some keno strategies to keep in mind.
- Make Small Bets: Online keno hands go quick, like slots or scratch cards. Make smaller bets to compensate.
- Use Bankroll Management: Calculate your bankroll in order to calculate bet sizes. Use "loss limits" and "win goals" to limit session times.
- Don't Believe Scam Artists: Keno is a pure game of chance. Don't believe anyone who's trying to sell you a surefire keno strategy – it doesn't exist.
- Play Free Online Keno: To learn the game controls and rules, play the free version of online keno before making a bet. Don't play real money keno until you know how to make a bet properly.
- Choose 4 to 8 Numbers: Trying to collect 10 keno numbers isn't a good bet, so select 4 to 8 numbers and hope for the best. More than 8 numbers tend to be wasting your money.
- Ignore Hot Number and Cold Numbers: Online keno uses random number generators, so don't fool yourself into trying to calculate a pattern in the random numbers. Hot number and cold numbers are an illusion.
How To Play Keno Online In 5 Easy Steps
People who are new to online casinos or mobile casinos might not know that they can play keno online. That's because new players often overlook the Specialty Games page, which is where online and mobile keno games are located. If you're new to online keno, here's a step-by-step guide to playing keno online.
1. Online Casino Registration: Read casino reviews to choose the best US online casino. Sign up for a player account at an online casino with keno games.
2. Make a Deposit: If you wish to play keno for real money, make a deposit using credit cards, bank wire transfers, or crypto methods.
3. Accept the Welcome Bonus: Most online casinos' welcome bonuses allow slots, scratch cards, and Keno to clear the wagering requirement. If you play keno, accept the bonus.
4. Play Keno for Real Money: If you made a deposit, play keno for real money. Remember to clear the wagering requirement before making a withdrawal request.
5. Play Mobile Keno: If you want to play keno on the go, use your Android smartphone or iPhone to access the mobile keno app.
The Advantages Of Playing Keno Online
Playing keno online has many advantages over the keno room at your local casino. It's the same Chinese lottery game you've played elsewhere, though it has the convenience and handy controls you'll only get online. Here is a list of reasons you might prefer playing keno online.
- Multiple Keno Games: The best US online casinos have multiple versions of Keno.
- Quick Keno: Be careful but play at your own pace. Offline keno drawings take a while. Even keno-specific sites have drawings every 5 minutes or so. Online keno at a casino site happens at the same pace as online slots.
- Keno Bonuses: Most online casinos offer welcome bonuses that include Keno in the wagering requirements. Even slots bonuses tend to allow keno, so you can use bonus cash for most online keno gaming.
- Free Online Keno: If you don't want to risk your hard-earned cash, you can play the free version of online keno at US online casino sites. Once you click the game icon, choose the "Practice" or "Demo" mode.
- Mobile Keno: Play keno on the go with an Android phone or iPhone. Use your mobile device to click on the mobile keno app and you can play anywhere with a Wi-Fi connection.
- Big Payouts: Most keno games online have jackpots between $100,000 and $1 million. These huge prizes are rare, but they do exist.
Top Online keno tips
We hope you've enjoyed our online keno guide. Remember these top tips when playing keno online:
- Play for free first. Sharpen your keno skills with free rounds. Almost all reputable casinos will allow you to play some games for free.
- Extend your play with small bets. Keno is a fast-moving game with lots of rounds. Remember to stretch your fun with small wagers.
- Don't Believe in Superstitious Numbers. There are no such things as hot and cold numbers. Keno is a completely random game. The RNG built into the software ensures this. Just relax and enjoy the thrill of winning!
More Games Like Keno
Players who love online keno often like other casino games. Here are some comparable online casino games you might enjoy.
- Online Bingo: Another game with random numbers drawn and big potential jackpots.
- Online Roulette: Like keno, you pick numbers and receive a wide range of odds and payouts on your bets.
- Online Slots: Playing slots online is the only way to have bigger jackpots than online keno.
More Online Casino Games
The online casino games below don’t have a lot of similarities to Keno, but they represent the most popular games among US players at the moment.
- Online Blackjack: Learn basic strategy, then play online blackjack for the best odds in the casino. Most US casino sites have 5 to 10 blackjack variants.
- Online Baccarat: The most popular table game in Asia is also a favorite with US players. Bet on banker or player, but avoid the tie bet.
- Online Craps: Craps is the most popular dice game in casinos. Online craps has a full range of bets that you'd find in a brick-and-mortar casino.
- Online Sic Bo: If you can't find craps online, try the Chinese dice game "Sic Bo". Many dice shooters like the betting layout, though the house edge isn't as nice.
- Live Dealer Games: Play baccarat, blackjack, or roulette using real-life dealers with games streamed to your screen in real-time.