Keno Strategy

Updated: September 27, 2026

Keno is available at a wide range of land-based casinos and at most online casinos. It is one of the easiest games to play, but it is also widely considered to be one of the worst gambles on the floor.

If you have never played Keno before, you may be struck by the similarities between Keno and state lottery games.

The game begins when you select between one and fifteen numbers from a pool of 80 eligible numbers. Twenty balls are drawn and if enough of your numbers match, you win a payout. The payout increases based on how many numbers you match.

The best decision you can make as a player is to choose the best possible paytables, meaning those that offer the lowest house edge. Different sets of numbers often have different payback percentages, even in the same casino.

Popular Keno Pay Tables

There are easily hundreds of possible pay tables, so I can't list them all here. You can change these to get an idea of what the best returns are as you play. Consider new strategies when choosing your games.

Casinos don't really want you to worry about the expected return, and they don't really want to make it easy for you to figure out how beneficial a Keno game could be to the casino. Virtually all Keno games offer such a minimal return that you should probably either avoid playing them altogether or approach them as you would a lottery ticket.

When you buy a lottery ticket, there is a remarkably small chance that you will hit a massive payout, but you understand that the odds are not in your favor. Should you try Keno in the same way, you can enjoy a game of chance without stressing too much about how much of a disadvantage you might be playing at. Remember to play responsibly.

• A new type of game that pays 3 for hitting your number pays 75%. This type of lottery game can be exciting. A Pick 2 that pays 12 for hitting both numbers pays 72%. Picking two winning numbers can result in fun prizes. A Pick 3 that pays 1 for matching 2 numbers and 43 for matching 3 numbers pays 74%. The excitement increases when there are more numbers to pick. A Pick 3 that pays 1 for matching 2 numbers and 42 for matching 3 numbers pays 72%. Probability theory can be used to increase the odds of winning. A Pick 4 that pays 1 for matching 2 numbers, 3 for matching 3 numbers and 130 for matching 4 numbers pays 74%. Strategies for picking numbers vary from player to player. A Pick 5 that pays 1 for 3 numbers, 10 for 4 numbers and 800 for 5 numbers pays 72%. People enjoy the thrill and excitement of these games. A Pick 5 that pays 1 for 3 numbers, 15 for 4 and 700 for 5 pays 72%. Picking the right numbers can be a challenging task. A Pick 6 that offers 1 for 3 numbers, 4 for 4 numbers, 95 for 5 numbers and 1500 for 6 numbers pays 73%. It's exciting to anticipate the next draw. A Pick 6 that pays 1 for 3 numbers, 2 for 4, 85 for 5 and 2,000 for 6 pays 71%. Many players use luck-based strategies. A Pick 7, which pays 1 for 4 numbers, 25 for 5, 350 for 6 and 8,000 for 7, pays 72%. Watching the drawing is exciting for participants. A Pick 7 that pays 2 for 4 numbers, 30 for 5, 300 for 6 and 5,000 for 7 pays 71%. Skills can increase the odds of winning. A Pick 8 that pays 9 for five numbers, 90 for 6, 1,500 for 7 and 25,000 for 8 pays 73%. Predictions add to the excitement of the game. A Pick 8 that pays 5 for 5 numbers, 100 for 6, 1,500 for 7 and 30,000 for 8 pays 70%. Players are always eager to play more. A Pick 9 that pays 4 for 5 numbers, 50 for 6, 280 for 7, 4,000 for 8 and 50,000 for 9 pays 75%. Each draw brings a new wave of excitement. A Pick 9, which pays 3 for 5 numbers, 30 for 6, 400 for 7, 4,000 for 8 and 40,000 for 9, pays 67%. Smiles are common when winners are announced. A Pick 10 that pays 1 for 5 numbers, 22 for 6, 150 for 7, 1,000 for 8, 5,000 for 9 and 100,000 for 10 pays 72%. Participation increases with attractive rewards. A Pick 10 game that pays 1 for 5 numbers, 10 for 6, 100 for 7, 1,000 for 8, 5,000 for 9 and 100,000 for 10 pays back 61%. The excitement continues despite the risks. A lottery pick 11 that offers 8 for 6 numbers, 80 for 7, 400 for 8, 2,500 for 9, 25,000 for 10 and 100,000 for 11 pays back 71%. The environment becomes lively and fun. A Pick 12 game that pays 5 for 6 numbers, 32 for 7, 200 for 8, 1,000 for 9, 5,000 for 10, 25,000 for 11 and 100,000 for 12 pays 72%. Responsible betting is always encouraged. A Pick 13 game that pays 1 for 0 numbers, 1 for 6, 20 for 7, 80 for 8, 600 for 9, 3,500 for 10, 10,000 for 11, 50,000 for 12 and 100,000 for 13 pays 72%. Experience adds to the excitement. A Pick 14 game that pays 1 for 0, 1 for 6, 9 for 7, 42 for 8, 310 for 9, 1,100 for
• A Pick 2 that pays 12 for hitting both numbers pays 72%
• A Pick 3 that pays 1 for hitting 2 numbers and 43 for 3 numbers pays 74%
• A Pick 3 that pays 1 for 2 numbers and 42 for 3 pays 72%.A Pick 4 that pays 1 for 2 numbers, 3 for 3 numbers and 130 for 4 numbers pays 74%
• A Pick 5 that pays 1 for 3 numbers, 10 for 4 numbers and 800 for 5 numbers pays 72%
• A Pick 5 that pays 1 for 3 numbers, 15 for 4 numbers and 700 for 5 numbers pays 72%.A Pick 6 that pays 1 for 3 numbers, 4 for 4 numbers, 95 for 5 numbers and 1500 for 6 numbers pays 73%
• A Pick 6 that pays 1 for 3 numbers, 2 for 4, 85 for 5 and 2000 for 6 pays 71%.A Pick 7 that pays 1 for 4 numbers, 25 for 5, 350 for 6 and 8,000 for 7 pays 72%
• A Pick 7 that pays 2 for 4 numbers, 30 for 5, 300 for 6 and 5,000 for 7 pays 71%
• A Pick 8 that pays 9 for 5 numbers, 90 for 6, 1,500 for 7 and 25,000 for 8 pays 73%.A Pick 8 that pays 5 for 5, 100 for 6, 1,500 for 7 and 30,000 for 8 pays 70%
• A Pick 9 that pays 4 for 5, 50 for 6, 280 for 7, 4,000 for 8 and 50,000 for 9 pays 75%
• A Pick 9 that pays 3 for 5, 30 for 6, 400 for 7, 4,000 for 8 and 40,000 for 9 pays 67%.A Pick 10 that pays 1 for 5 numbers, 22 for 6, 150 for 7, 1,000 for 8, 5,000 for 9 and 100,000 for 10 pays 72%
• A Pick 10 that pays 1 for 5 numbers, 10 for 6, 100 for 7, 1,000 for 8, 5,000 for 9 and 100,000 for 10 pays 61%.A Pick 11 that pays 8 for 6 numbers, 80 for 7, 400 for 8, 2,500 for 9, 25,000 for 10 and 100,000 for 11 pays 71%
• A Pick 12 that pays 5 for 6 numbers, 32 for 7, 200 for 8, 1,000 for 9, 5,000 for 10, 25,000 for 11 and 100,000 for 12 pays 72%.A Pick 13 that pays 1 for 0 numbers, 1 for 6, 20 for 7, 80 for 8, 600 for 9, 3,500 for 10, 10,000 for 11, 50,000 for 12 and 100,000 for 13 pays 72%
• A Pick 14 that pays 1 for 0 numbers, 1 for 6, 9 for 7, 42 for 8, 310 for 9, 1,100 for 10, 8.00 for 11, 25,000 for 12. 50,000 for 13 and 100,000 for 14 pays 72%
• a Pick 15 that pays 1 for 0 numbers, 10 for 7, 25 for 8, 100 for 9, 300 for 10, 2,800 for 11, 25,000 for 12, 50,000 for 13, 100,000 for 14 and 100,000 for 15 pays 71%;

Keno Pay Table Analysis

Casinos try to trick you into thinking that the best returns are offered by the Keno pay tables that have the highest payout amounts. Do not fall for it.

If you take a close look at the payout table above, you will see that the table with the lowest house edge is either the Pick 1 game at 75% or the Pick 9 game at 75%.

The pay tables that offer the highest payouts, 100,000 in this case, all fall in the low 70's. Keep in mind that this is just a small sample of the pay tables available, but in general, the higher the payout amounts, the lower the return percentages.

The real problem is that none of the pay tables offered here or anywhere else offer enough of a return to play Keno. A 25% house edge is simply too much to overcome.

The only possible saving grace for Keno is that when you play in a casino, there is a set amount of time between draws, so you can only play so many draws per hour. This can mean that you lose less money per hour than faster paced games, but I have a hard time giving the casino such a big advantage.

How to Use These Keno Pay Tables

Keno pay tables are useful because the only real strategy you can use is to play the best table.

The way to use these Keno pay tables is to get an idea of which ones offer the best payback percentage. Then compare them to the ones available where you play.

If you cannot determine the house edge of the Keno game you are considering playing, ask someone at the casino. They may not tell you, but they can share the information with you. It will cost you nothing to ask.

Should You Play Keno?

Only you can decide if you mind giving the casino such a big edge, but I will admit that although I do not do it often, I do play Keno from time to time. I also buy lottery tickets from time to time.

As I mentioned above, when I play keno or the lottery, I spend a dollar or two in hopes of hitting a big score.

In other words:

I don't really expect to win but I am hoping to win.

When I want a chance to get an edge on the casino I never even consider playing keno.

Because I think of Keno as a lottery, I tend to place $1 bets on the tickets that offer the highest dollar payouts. If the highest offer is $100,000, I will play that game. I sacrifice a dollar for the slim chance of winning $100,000. I will not really miss the dollar, but if I win, I will certainly enjoy the $100,000.

Keno Alternatives

In order to consider alternatives to playing Keno, you need to determine why you want to play Keno in the first place.

Do you play Keno to give your mind a rest or in the vain hope of hitting a big score like playing the lottery? Do you play under the false belief that you can beat the game in the long run, or do you play at a very slow pace to keep your bankroll going as long as possible?

Pai Gow Poker

If you treat the game of Keno like buying a lottery ticket, or if you want to play a slow paced game to build your bankroll, you are probably playing what you should be playing. The alternative that offers a slow paced game with a much lower house edge is Pai Gow Poker. It looks complicated at first, but it is actually quite easy to learn how to play. It is both slow, though not as slow as Keno usually is, and many hands end in a push, so you only play so many hands per hour that either win or lose.

Baccarat

In case you are looking for a game that lets your mind rest, you should consider playing Baccarat. It requires only a single bet decision and then you can just watch the action. It offers a much smaller house edge than Keno and is readily available just about anywhere you can play Keno. The disadvantage of Baccarat is that there is no chance of a big win on a single deal. The payouts are basically 1 to 1, so some players find it boring compared to Keno.

If you were hoping to beat Keno in the long run, I hope you have changed your mind after reading the analysis on this page. There is no way to beat a casino game with such a large house edge in the long run. Keno strategy is almost as easy as learning how to play Keno. You can either choose not to play a game that offers such a large edge to the casino, you can play on the pay table that offers the lowest house edge, or you can just treat it like the lottery and ignore the house edge. The correct strategy is to play the pay table that offers the lowest edge to the casino.