How a keno round works
Choose your numbers
Pick from the board, which in most versions runs from 1 to 80. Many games also offer a random 'quick pick'.
Set your stake
This is the stake for the whole ticket.
Start the draw
The game draws its numbers, commonly 20 in classic keno.
Count your hits
Matched numbers are highlighted, and the paytable sets the payout for that many hits.
Board size and how many numbers are drawn vary between keno games. The rules screen of each one gives the exact figures.
Reading the keno paytable
The paytable is a grid: how many numbers you picked down one side, how many you hit across the other. Picking few numbers means a modest top prize that's easier to land. Picking many numbers raises the top prize but makes it much rarer, and with some pick counts, hitting only a few numbers pays nothing.
Before choosing your numbers, look at the row for the pick count you're planning. It shows how many hits you need just to get your stake back.
Draw-based and instant keno
Some keno games draw on a fixed schedule, with everyone sharing the same draw. Others are instant: each ticket gets its own draw the moment you play. Instant versions run much faster, so the same budget goes much quicker.
Frequently asked questions
How do you win at keno?
By matching enough of your chosen numbers with the numbers drawn. The paytable sets the payout for each combination of picks and hits.
How many numbers should I pick in keno?
It changes the risk rather than the odds of the game being 'better'. Fewer picks give smaller, more frequent prizes; more picks give larger, rarer ones.
Are keno draws random?
Yes. Each draw is independent, and previous results don't affect the next one.