Mastering The Rules of Keno

Learning to play the game of Keno is simply learning the basics of the game.  If you are relatively new to the game, it is best to drop by at a Keno counter and grab hold of Keno brochures.

If the game of Keno is relatively new to you, you will find out that it is quite easy to learn.  The game basics are similar regardless of the location but the payouts as well as the guidelines are different in each casino.  Prior to playing, it is advisable to drop by at a Keno counter to get a free booklet detailing the house rules and the payouts. 

To begin, ask for a Keno sheet from a counter or a Runner (an individual charged with selling Keno tickers throughout the casino area).   Mark fifteen to twenty numbers on a Keno sheet and forward your sheet and wager to the counter or runner.  A typical bet begins at a dollar.  The clerk feeds your numbers into the computer and provides you with a printed ticket.  Be sure that the numbers on the ticket correspond with the ones you have chosen.  Once the game closes, meaning that winning numbers have been drawn, no alterations can be made. 

At the start of the game, the eighty numbered balls in the Keno bowl are jumbled.  Twenty balls are randomly drawn from the bowl.  The numbers are lit on the Keno game boards found in the casino and in most restaurants.  You win if your numbers are sufficient to be selected.  The payout table determines the sufficiency of the numbers to merit a win for an individual.  More selected numbers means more numbers needed to be lit before winning. 

When you are affirmed as a winner, you need to verify your winning ticket before the beginning of the next game.  If one ticket is good for multiple games, you do not need to collect your prize at the end of the last game but before the start of the next game following that game.  This rule is not applied if you are playing twenty one to a thousand games, which may be different for each casino.  Bets placed for that many games may be collected for one year.  Before saying that the rule holds for the casino you are playing, ask for assistance from a Keno employee. 

Special Tickets are granted by casinos which may vary depending on the casino.  These tickets add diversity to the game. For instance, in "Top and Bottom Keno," no spots are marked.  The letter "T" is written on the top portion of the ticket while the letter "B" is written at the bottom portion.  Winning happens when more than thirteen of the twenty numbers you selected are either in the top or bottom portion of the ticket.  This is an instance when a casino offers a certain type of a game but is not provided everywhere. 

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