Keno is a straightforward game, but there’s a lot more to it than choosing numbers. Some approach keno by relying on luck alone, and there’s a reason that’s their first instinct. Keno is a fun pastime, but in order to play well and increase your odds of winning, it helps to understand the game and how to approach it. In this beginner’s guide, I cover expert tips and actionable strategies on how to play keno and win.
Learning the Keno Basics
Playing online keno with the leading sweepstakes apps allows you to choose autodab with an RNG (Random Number Generator) to randomly draw a number of winning numbers, and your payout depends on how many you’ve matched. Traditional keno involves you picking between 1 and 80 numbers. From there, a random draw of 20 numbers is generated. To win, some or all of your chosen numbers have to match those drawn.
The Art of Choosing Numbers
One of the first things you can do to structure your game is pick how you will play. Numbers are random, pure and simple. There are many systems out there that claim to improve your odds, but don’t necessarily do so. For me, picking a spread of numbers on the card is a good starting point.
By spreading your numbers around, you have a better chance of getting a match, even if it’s just one. Don’t get me wrong, I want that big jackpot, but increasing my spread gives me more coverage. Another popular option is keno number clustering.
Clustering is when you group your numbers together. While there are no lucky or hot and cold numbers, I try to stick with one Keno strategy.
How Keno Payouts Work
The 4 Card Keno strategy is great because by playing four different cards, you are increasing the odds of having any of your numbers come in. I like to play with numbers on all four cards, slightly overlapping, so that I can spread my risk without giving it away completely. However, in reality, it is all a balancing act of how many numbers to select per card, and of course, playing multiple cards will impact your bankroll, so change your bet size to reflect how many cards you are playing.
By playing seven numbers, I can cover the most numbers while not overly depleting my odds. Seven is a number that, for me, is enough to increase my chances of winning, but still not so many that I think of my odds as remote. When I am choosing which 7 numbers to play, I tend to choose from a mixture of sections of the card. So I might play a couple in the lower 1-30 range, a couple in the 31-60 mid-range, and then a couple in the higher 61-80 range.
Managing Bankroll
No matter your Keno strategy, one of the key things you can do to play responsibly is to set a budget for your session. Problem gaming is an issue you can control to not let your life spiral into a deep depression or worse. Once you decide on a budget, it’s critical never to exceed your set amount, no matter how many hands you’ve won or lost. Dividing your bankroll into multiple sessions is a very effective way of doing this.