It will not usually be looked at as the funnest game in the universe of wagering, but keno has massive amounts of fanatical supporters. And so it should! It’s a routinely exciting lottery-esque game that’s a snap to pickup, abundantly available in tons of alternate formats, and one that may yield millions for people who master its innumerable subtle intricacies. But let’s begin with the basics here.
When describing keno to newbies, some gambling masters compare it to the lottery. This is at least to a certain extent correct, in that both games are essentially numerical. Yet to carry that comparison too far is likely to be to undervalue the endless unique characteristics that make keno so compelling. Not like bingo, keno players have the power to select the numbers for each and every card.
Keno cards have a total of eighty numbers, but the gambler is furnished with an extra degree of personal responsibility by being able to pick as many (or as few) numbers as he thinks is appropriate. And it doesn’t take a genius to determine how to fill out a card: all you do is circle or otherwise mark each of your chosen numbers with a standardpen like you used when you were a kid.
Once you have checked your numbers, take the keno card back to the person at the keno booth. The keno pit manager will record those numbers and then give you a receipt. Don’t lose this (potentially) lucrative piece of paper! Even if the keno pit manager remembers your pretty face and wants help out, without a winning ticket on you, you will win exactly $.00 for your winning card.
And there you have strategy numero uno: always make sure to keep your keno ticket. Let’s move to something a little bit more complicated, ok?
Now that you’ve checked off your numbers, settle into a nice keno booth and see the action happen on the monitor. That’s where the winning numbers appear in lights. If you have winners, mark your card accordingly. Make sure not to drag your feet, or sit there praising yourself for an obnoxious length of time. You want to get back to the keno booth to collect your winnings, and a new keno game will probably get going within 5 minutes.
Strategy number 2: always be sure to get back to the keno stand on time!
Assuming you do not trust yourself to meet that 5 minute deadline every time, you always have the option of buying a "multi-race" card. These include the self same set of your handpicked numbers on anywhere from 2 to twenty slips. When the max number of keno games (fitting the number of tickets) is completed, you may then get off your lazy back side and go collect your winnings.
Yet an additional choice is known as a "stray and play" keno slip, which normally lets you make number choices for 30 games or more. Gosh, you can take vacation to Italy and not have to worry about getting back in time to redeem your winnings. Most "stray and play" cards are good for up to a whole year after it’s purchased!
And now you know a couple essential strategies for winning keno. If you are a knowledgeable gambler, they may seem to be incredibly obvious. But it won’t hurt to brush up on the basics, and if you are a beginner player, every little bit of advice will help make your keno playing more exciting.