Keno Online Guide – How To Play, Glossary & Hints

Keno – What Is It?

In short, Keno is a lottery-style casino game where you are required to match a selection of randomly drawn numbers to numbers that you’ve selected yourself. Casinos offering the game, both off and online, will have varying payouts depending on how many numbers were chosen, how many were matched, and the wager placed. However, it’s important to note that Keno games generally have a higher House Edge, the casino’s advantage over you, than most other casino games, depending on the variation being played. Despite the higher House Edge, thousands of people still enjoy playing the games.

Rules Of Keno UK

Keno is comprised of 80 numbers, all of which are displayed on an 8×10 Keno card. Depending on the variation you’re playing, you’ll need to pick up to 15 numbers from your Keno card. At a brick-and-mortar casino, you’ll make these numbers, known as a Keno Spot, off your Keno card using a pencil or bingo dabber. After selecting your Keno Spots, you’ll need to place a wager on the game which varies depending on the casino’s rules. You’ll also need to decide how many games you’re playing. Once you’ve placed your wager, 20 Keno balls will be randomly drawn and you will be required to mark them off your Keno card.

In Keno, you will make wins for any number you match and your earnings increase the more numbers you match. Ultimately, however, the amount you win will be dependent on how many numbers you match and how much you wagered, with some players being lucky enough to win big on small wagers by matching a majority of their Keno Spots. You won’t know how much your payout is until you’ve started matching numbers.

Keno Bets

Like with all other casino games, there are a variety of bets you can place on Keno games. What you decide to bet will be completely up to you, but if you’re new to the game, we suggest you stick to simple bets while you get to understand the casino game. The most common types of bets you can place when playing Keno games include:

• Straight Bets: Betting on up to 15 numbers in a game
• Split Bets: A combination of more than one straight bet within a single game
• Way Bets: A selection of numbers split into smaller groups known as ‘Ways’, but cannot be repeated
• King Tickets: You choose a single number known as The King that must appear in all of your number group bets
• Combinations: A ticket featuring a combination of the various bets explained above
• Top/Bottom Tickets: A unique way of placing a Keno bet where you split the ticket into top and bottom sections and choose one side to bet on. You win if 13 or more numbers match

All of these Keno bets can be made when playing Keno at brick-and-mortar casinos and they can be played at online casinos too.

How Does Keno Online Work?

Keno online isn’t much different from its brick-and-mortar counterpart. When playing Keno online, you’ll load the casino game and then select the numbers you want to play with by clicking them on your Keno online card. Like with the brick-and-mortar game, you’ll also be required to select how many games you’re looking to play and your wager for the game.

Depending on the game you’re playing, the casino should display the total cost for all games, your wager per game, and how much you’ll earn for matching Keno Spots. When you do match a number on your online Keno card, the Keno Spot will be marked off in some way, and once all 80 numbers have been drawn, you will receive your winnings.

One of the major differences between playing online Keno and the brick-and-mortar version is that online Keno uses a random number generator (RNG) to select which numbers are drawn. This ensures fairness when playing since the RNG cannot be affected in any way.

Keno UK Casino Bonuses

Most online casinos available in the United Kingdom offer promotions and bonuses to new customers, usually as spins on video slots or funds that can be used on other casino titles. These bonuses usually match your deposit up to a certain amount and are usually advertised as a “100% match up to £100”. The amount you can claim will depend on the individual online casino, and you can find details about the different casino bonuses available by reading our reviews.

So while there are no specialised online Keno casino bonuses, you can use generic casino bonuses on Keno games, depending on the terms and conditions of the bonus you’re looking to claim. If you do decide to use your casino bonus on Keno games, it’s important to make a note of the terms and conditions as they will explain any restrictions imposed on the bose, such as betting and withdrawal limits. Terms and conditions will also list the wagering requirement of a bonus, which is the number of times you must wager the bonus before anything can be withdrawn.

Keno Variations

What we’ve described above is the basic variation of Keno online, but some online casinos offer other variations, such as Live Keno. In this version of the popular casino game, real-life dealers are streamed directly to you and can be interacted with through a dedicated messaging service. Rather than drawing the numbers themselves, the dealer will use a specialised Keno machine to draw numbers like that used in brick-and-mortar venues.

At the time of writing, both Ezugi and InBet Games have released live variations of online Keno, offering a more authentic casino experience and one that’s more social compared to the traditional online title.

Keno Jackpot

Alongside traditional and Live Keno, some online casinos can offer a Jackpot variation of online Keno. In this Keno variation, the game can feature a fixed jackpot, a progressive jackpot, or multiple jackpots of any kind that can only be triggered under certain circumstances. Unfortunately, this variation of Keno isn’t very common at UK online casinos, which can be incredibly disappointing.

Which Online Casinos Offer Keno Games?

Like fellow casino game Craps, Keno games aren’t as popular as other casino titles. This means it’s significantly harder to find Keno games than other titles like Blackjack or European and American Roulette. Now, looking through the hundreds of different online casinos in the UK for Keno games is a tedious process, which is why we’ve done it for you. Below, you’ll find a list of the UK-licensed online casinos that currently offer Keno as part of their game catalogue.

888 Casino

888 Casino is an online casino website operated by the 888 Holdings Group. The site is one of the most popular online casinos in the UK and is well-known internationally too. You can find Keno UK games here, along with a gigantic catalogue of other casino titles, like video slots, table games, jackpots, and live titles too. If you’d like to know more about the website, take a look at our 888 Casino review here.

32Red

32Red is a well-known online casino in the United Kingdom that is famous for its large selection of casino games – including Keno – and for having one of the longest-running shirt sponsorships in football with Rangers FC. The online casino offers several promotions, a fun rewards scheme, and plenty more. Check our 32Red Casino review here for more details.

The Sun Play

The Sun Play is an online casino based on The Sun tabloid. The website, which is owned by Grace Media Limited, offers a wide selection of casino games, including Keno, along with numerous promotions and bonuses too. Want to know more about The Sun Play? Check out our review right here!

Party Casino

Our final recommendation for a Keno UK casino is Party Casino. The website is owned by LC International Limited and is home to a gigantic selection of casino games, including Keno, slots, table games, and plenty more too. You can enjoy a generous welcome bonus and so much more at Party Casino, and our review has more details.

Choosing The Best Keno UK Casinos

As already mentioned and as you can see from our recommendations above, there aren’t many online casinos that offer Keno as part of their game offering. Of those that do, it’s important that you select the right online Keno casino for you, and this means thoroughly analysing what services they offer, which promotions are available, what support services you can utilise, and how safe the website is.

When looking for what the best Keno casinos are in the UK, you’ll need to check the website’s licensing. All online casinos looking to operate in the UK are required to hold a valid license from the UK Gambling Commission, the country’s regulator for all things gambling. To earn a license, the operator must follow the Commission’s stringent rules designed to keep you and your personal information safe.

What’s more, you’ll need to check what promotions are available at Keno UK casinos. Most websites will provide you with a welcome or sign up offer in the form of spins or funds that you can use on all or select games. Most online casinos will also provide other promotions for long-term customers and run a VIP or loyalty scheme. But there will be some casinos that do not, so it’s always worth checking the promotions available before signing up. What’s more, if you do decide to claim a bonus, you’ll need to read through the terms and conditions to ensure that the bonus is fair and doesn’t have unrealistic wagering requirements and win or withdrawals limits.

Alongside all of the above, you should also check the game selection available to ensure a varied catalogue of titles to prevent you from getting bored. You should also take a look at what payment methods are accepted, the casino’s mobile-friendliness, whether there are any fees, and what customer support services are available for you should you encounter a problem. Thankfully, you can find all of that information in our reviews here at CasinostoPlay.com, so find a casino you like and take a read through our reviews to discover everything you need to know.

Can You Play Free Keno Games?

Due to rules and regulations in the United Kingdom, there is no way of playing free Keno games, particularly if you’re looking to make winnings from the games. In the UK, you are required to verify your age and identity in order to play casino games, a move designed to clamp down on underage gambling. What’s more, all casino games offering real money require a deposit or a casino bonus to play with, which is why you cannot play free Keno games.

However, there are some social casinos, downloadable from the Google and Apple stores or on platforms like Facebook, which offer casino-style games. Known as social casinos, these games are free to play but do not provide you with any real winnings. Rather, you use a virtual currency which you earn back by playing games or by purchasing with real-life money. However, it’s important to note that, like other free games, social casinos may impose limits on how many games or rounds you can play and may force you to wait or pay to temporarily remove these limits.

These social casinos offer numerous casino-styled games, including free Keno games. Just make sure you read up on the rules to understand how the game works and what the limitations are when playing.

Keno Glossary – Everything You Need To Know

Like with other online casino games, there are several terms that we believe are important for you to learn before playing the game. These terms are important regardless of whether you’re playing online or not. To help you understand these important terms, we’ve put together a glossary, check it out below:

• Aggregate Limit: How much a casino will pay for a single Keno round
• All Or Nothing: A bet which you win by either marking off all your numbers or none of them
• Balls: The balls numbered 1 to 80 that are used to draw numbers in Keno
• Call: Announcements of the numbers drawn are called Calls and are made by an employee known as a Caller
• Catch Or Hit: A drawn number that matches your options are known as a Catch
• Catch-All Or Zero: A bet similar to the All or Nothing
• Deuce: Two of your selected numbers that are found beside each other on your Keno scorecard
• Exacta Ticket: A single Keno ticket that is played across two rounds and offers a higher payout than regular tickets
• Net Win: The amount you will win minus your bet
• Push: When your winnings from a game match that of your bet
• Replayed Ticket: Using the same ticket across multiple single Keno games
• Spot: The numbers you mark off on your Keno ticket
• Ticket: The name for your Keno scorecard

The terms above are some of the most important and frequently used within Keno games. There are several other terms, such as Runner (The casino employee that collects tickets and pays winnings to players), but since Keno is relying more on technology, these terms aren’t as widely used at brick-and-mortar casinos.

If you’re looking to play Keno online or in real life, we suggest you try and learn the terms we’ve listed here, as they’ll provide you with a better understanding of how the game works and plays.

Everything You Need To Know About Keno

Keno was founded in China as baige piao or pai-ko p’iao and its roots date back around 2,000 years. During the third century, the game could be found all across China in gambling houses, but the original baige piao ticket, which is reportedly still used today in China, contained the first 80 characters of the Qianziwen or Book Of A Thousand Characters, rather than numbers.

The game arrived in the United States in the mid-1800s with Chinese immigrants. In the 1900s, the game was known as the Chinese Lottery with its letters altered to numbers and the game was popular among non-Chinese groups. Later on, the game acquired the name Keno, a title based on the French (Quine) or Latin word (Quini) for “five winning numbers” or “five each”.

In the early 1930s, Keno was made available at gambling houses in Nevada, but its name was changed to Race Horse Keno. This variation of the game used this title and the names of horses over numbers to avoid conflicting with laws regarding lotteries. When those laws were changed in the 1950s, Race Horse Keno reverted back to its initial numbered variation and became incredibly popular.

There are several rumours claiming that Keno saved an ancient city at war and that it helped raise funds to build the Great Wall of China, but these rumours have never been confirmed. In addition, it’s been claimed that the results of large-scale Keno games in big cities were sent to outside villages via carrier pigeons, with the name baige piao translating to “white dove ticket” in Chinese.

Is There A Difference Between Keno, Lotto, And Bingo?

If you’ve read through this, you’ll probably have noticed that there isn’t much of a difference between Keno, Lotto, and online Bingo. All of the games are related to baige piao and while all of them can be played off and online and do not require any specialised skill or experience to enjoy, there are some major differences in how they play.

For example, in Keno and Lotto, you are required to select the numbers you want to bet on, but in Bingo, the numbers are predetermined for you. What’s more, the number of selections you have per game differ, with Keno generally having more numbers to select (Up to 20) depending on the variation you’re playing.

When it comes to prizes, in Bingo you only win once you’ve matched the numbers of a single row, have made a special pattern or have matched all numbers on your scorecard. In Lotto and Keno, however, the amount you win depends on how many numbers you’ve successfully matched. Bingo and Lotto will generally have higher jackpots and payouts, while Keno has smaller ones, but Keno is a much faster-paced game, so wins can come more frequently.

You can now see that while Keno, Lotto, and Bingo all seem incredibly similar at first glance, the way they play and the prizes they offer are incredibly different. Many people prefer playing Keno over Lotto and Bingo, while other people prefer the latter titles. We suggest you give all of them a try to find out your preference.

Are There Any Keno Strategies?

Unfortunately, there are no Keno strategies. The reason for this is that the game is very much chance-based and there is nothing you can do to improve your edge over the casino, regardless of whether you’re playing off or online. Luckily, there are some tips we can share with you to try to maximise your enjoyment of the game. Check them out below:

#1 – Keep Your Keno Selections Low

Although the average payout increases the more numbers you select, it’s actually harder for you to land a win as you’ll need to match more selections. This is why it’s a good idea to keep your selections low as you have a better chance of making matches.

#2 – Stick To Simple Tickets

Similarly to the above tip, we suggest you stick to simple tickets. Although the more complicated tickets will provide you with better payouts and can be more fun to play, they are generally harder to land successfully, so it’s better to stick with simple tickets, particularly if you’re a beginner.

#3 – Avoid Registering With A Casino Solely For Keno

We also suggest you avoid registering with a casino solely because it offers Keno. We understand that Keno is somewhat hard to find in the online gambling industry, but we cannot stress enough that you should only register with a casino if it meets all of your requirements, including payment methods, promotions, customer support, and game selection. Do your research and check our reviews if you need any further guidance on available casino sites.

#4 – Don’t Worry About Numbers

When it comes to playing Keno, many people stress over which numbers to pick for the game. There’s no need to stress over numbers in Keno, however, since the numbers are drawn using a Random Number Generator, software that randomly generates numbers. There is no pattern, so feel free to pick any numbers that you want, and if you still feel stressed after reading this, you’ll find that some games have an auto selection for you, allowing the game to pick numbers for you.

#5 – Manage Your Funding

When playing, regardless of whether it’s Keno or another casino game, it’s a good idea to utilise your online casino’s deposit, loss, and time limits to prevent yourself from spending too much time and money or from making too large a loss. It may also be worth checking if your casino has lock withdrawals, to prevent you from reversing withdrawals. This is a great way of managing your gambling behaviour and preventing gambling-related harm or addiction.

While it’s disappointing that there are no Keno strategies, we believe that our tips listed above will certainly go a long way in making the game much more fun to play and easier for beginners. So why not give Keno a chance? You might really enjoy it!