How to Play Keno: Spots, Payouts and Odds, Plus Keno in Australia

If you are looking for a casino game that you can play for a long time on small bets without learning complicated rules, keno is worth considering.

Keno has been played around the world for centuries. It combines the simplicity of a lottery or bingo with the chance of large payouts.

What You Will Learn

• In keno, you pick numbers from 1 to 80, and your payout depends on how many of them match the 20 numbers drawn.
• The more numbers (spots) you pick, the harder it is to hit them, and the larger the payouts become in return.
• This article also explains how keno is played in Australia and the rules that apply here.

This article takes about 12 minutes to read.

What Is Keno? A Casino Game Where You Pick Numbers from 1 to 80

Keno is a simple casino game that plays much like a lottery. You choose numbers from 1 to 80, and your payout depends on how many of them match the numbers drawn at random.

You are not playing against a dealer, so many players enjoy keno as a relaxed game they can play at their own pace.

Features of Keno: Pros and Cons

Pros of keno

1. Simple rules that beginners can follow easily: No special skill or technique is needed. Anyone can start playing right away just by picking numbers.
2. Playable on a small budget: Bets start from around A$0.10, so players with a small bankroll can play for a long time.
3. Adjustable risk: By changing how many numbers you pick, you can choose anything from a steadier style that hits more often to one aimed at large payouts.

Cons of keno

1. Return to player (RTP) is generally on the low side: It varies by game and by the number of spots you pick, but is roughly 70–95%. The house edge tends to be higher than in other casino games, so bankroll management is essential over long sessions.
2. Offered by fewer casinos: Compared with slots and mainstream live casino games, fewer online casinos carry keno, so the choice is somewhat limited. In Australia, keno is mainly played in venues (see Keno in Australia below).

Basic Keno Rules and How a Round Is Played

The Basics: Pick Numbers from 1 to 80

To play keno, you first choose any numbers you want from 1 to 80, shown on a keno card or on the screen, and mark them.

How many numbers you can pick at once varies by game: usually 1–10, and up to about 15 in some games. The number of numbers you pick is known as the number of spots; a ticket with five numbers, for example, is a 5-spot ticket.

Once all players have made their picks, 20 winning numbers are drawn from 1 to 80, by a physical draw machine in live keno or by a random number generator in RNG keno.

The payout for the round depends on how many of your numbers match the 20 drawn.

Step 1: Choose your numbers and the number of spots

Pick any numbers you want from 1 to 80. Every number has the same chance of being drawn. What changes with the number of spots you pick is how hard it is to hit them and how large the payouts are.

Step 2: Set your bet and the number of autoplay rounds

Set your bet for each round and, if you like, the number of autoplay rounds, which repeat the draw several times in a row with the same numbers.

Step 3: Check the draw and the winning numbers

When you press the Start button, the 20 numbers are revealed one after another, so you can see in real time how many of your numbers have been hit.

Payouts Depend on the Number of Spots and Hits

The key factor in how much you are paid is the combination of the number of spots you picked and the number of hits, meaning the numbers that actually match.

Payouts are set with the casino’s house edge built in, and the size of that edge differs according to the pay table for each number of spots. As a result, the RTP can vary within the same game depending on how many spots you pick.

Keno Bets and Variations for Beginners and Experienced Players

The two basic ways to play keno are the straight ticket, which bets on a single set of numbers, and the way ticket, which combines several groups of numbers and bets on them at the same time. This section also covers the two formats of play, which differ in how the numbers are drawn.

The Straight Ticket: The Simple, Standard Bet

The most basic way to play keno is the straight ticket. A straight ticket is a single bet on one set of numbers that you expect to be drawn.

Its main advantage is a clear payout structure: you can see at a glance how many of your numbers were hit. There are no extra calculations or complicated rules to follow, so you can focus on the result of the draw.

For example, if you buy a straight ticket on the five numbers 5, 12, 28, 44 and 70, you are paid according to how many of those five numbers match the numbers drawn. The amount you bet each round is also easy to keep track of, which makes bankroll management straightforward.

While you are getting used to the game on small bets, picking about 4–6 numbers on a straight ticket makes it easier to get a feel for your bet per round and how often you hit. This range is not more favourable than any other; it is simply a guide while you learn the game.

The Way Ticket: Betting on Several Combinations at Once

Players with some experience of the game often prefer the way ticket, which combines several groups of numbers on a single card.

On a way ticket, you divide the numbers you pick into groups and bet at the same time on each group on its own and on combinations of groups.

This saves you the trouble of buying several separate tickets every round, and a single draw can produce several payouts at once. Because it covers a wide range of numbers at the same time, it suits players who want to win something more often.

As an example, suppose you make three groups of three numbers each, Group A, Group B and Group C, for nine numbers in total. You can then bet on all of the following at the same time.

• Each group on its own (3 ways): A only, B only, C only
• Two groups combined, as 6-spot bets (3 ways): A + B, B + C, A + C
• All groups combined, as a 9-spot bet (1 way): A + B + C

In this way, you play a total of 7 ways on a single draw (written on a keno ticket as 3/3, 3/6, 1/9).

RNG Keno at Your Own Pace and Live Keno for the Atmosphere

Keno at online casinos comes in two main formats: RNG keno and live keno.

Features of RNG keno (computer draw)

• Play at your own pace: You press the Start button when you are ready, so it suits players who like to take their time choosing numbers.
• Fast play: With the autoplay feature, you can play many rounds in a short time.
• Small minimum bets: Many games accept bets from around $0.10 per round, so they are easy to play even with a small bankroll.

Watch on YouTube ↗

Features of live keno

• The atmosphere of a land-based game: A studio host and a physical draw machine select the numbers in real time.
• A visible draw: You can see the balls coming out on screen and follow the result as it happens.
• A shared experience with other players: Through features such as live chat, you watch the same draw as players around the world.

RNG keno suits short breaks when you want to play many rounds, while live keno suits occasions when you have more time and want to enjoy the atmosphere of a land-based game.

Watch on YouTube ↗

Three Ways to Limit Losses and Make Your Keno Bankroll Last

Keno is purely a game of chance. Even so, choosing your numbers with care and managing how you spend your bankroll can keep you from wasting money and let you play for longer. Because the RTP is below 100%, you will still lose over the long run, but understanding how the probabilities work and managing your bankroll strictly lets you approach keno more sensibly.

Balancing the Number of Spots Against the Payouts

In keno, the number of spots you pick changes the balance between your chance of hitting and the size of the payouts. The more spots you pick, the harder it is to hit them all, and the larger the payouts for each round. Picking fewer spots raises your chance of hitting but keeps the payouts modest.

Which number of spots is “most favourable” depends on the pay table set by each casino and game, so there is no single number of spots that is always right.

Before you play, check the game’s pay table and choose the number of spots based on whether you value frequent hits or larger payouts.

If you value frequent hits, pick fewer spots. If you value larger payouts per round, pick more.

Be Careful with Betting Systems That Raise and Lower Your Bets

Betting systems such as the Martingale and the Paroli (patterns for raising and lowering your bets) are sometimes presented online as ways to improve your chances of winning, with rules such as “raise your bet after a losing streak” or “double your bet after a win”.

However, each keno draw is completely independent, and past results have no effect on the next one.

In theory, therefore, these betting patterns do nothing to improve your chances of winning or your expected value. The only thing that grows during a losing streak is the size of your bets, which raises the risk of losing a large part of your bankroll in a short time.

If you want to play keno steadily, a realistic way to make your bankroll last is to use flat betting as your default, keeping your bet the same every round.

Set a Budget in Advance and Manage Your Bankroll for the Long Term

The biggest mistake to avoid in keno is getting emotional while chasing a big win and spending more than you planned in a short time. No matter how carefully you choose your numbers or play, normal variance means that losing streaks will come.

Before you start, set a clear limit on how much you will spend that day, and stop when you reach it. Deciding on a loss limit in advance is the starting point for playing keno over the long term.

Rather than reacting to every win or loss, divide your overall budget into small portions in advance and spread it over dozens or hundreds of rounds. Dividing your budget does not change the expected value of each game, but it keeps your bankroll from running out quickly and helps you avoid unnecessary losses.

Frequently Asked Questions About Casino Keno

How is keno different from bingo?

Keno and bingo are similar in that both are draw-based number games, but they differ in two main ways: how the numbers are chosen and how the payouts work.

In bingo, the numbers on the card you receive are already set, so players have no say in which numbers they play. In keno, you choose any numbers you want from 1 to 80 and bet on them, and the number of spots you pick lets you adjust the balance between your chance of hitting and the size of the payouts.

Is keno difficult for casino beginners?

Keno is actually one of the easiest casino games for beginners to try. There are no decisions to make against a dealer and no advanced rules to learn. You simply choose your numbers and wait for the draw.

You can play at your own pace with bets from around $0.10 so keno also works well as a first game for beginners who want to get used to playing at a casino.

Keno in Australia

The keno rules explained in this article apply in much the same way in Australia, but where and how you can play keno here is shaped by Australian law.

How Keno Is Played in Australia

Traditionally, keno in Australia has been an in-venue game played in clubs, pubs and casinos, licensed and regulated by state and territory governments. Keno is offered in pubs and clubs in states and territories including Victoria, Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory.

The pay tables and RTP figures in this article are general figures. Venue keno games in Australia publish their own pay tables, so check them at the venue or on the official website before you play.

Some online keno products have been licensed in individual states and territories. However, federal gambling reforms passed by Parliament in August 2026 ban online keno products, often called “pocket pokies”, from 1 January 2027. After that date, keno remains available in venues. Separately, keno and lotteries were exempt from the ban on using credit cards for online and phone wagering introduced in 2024.

Online casino-style games are treated differently. Under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001, enforced by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), it is illegal to provide online casino games such as online pokies, roulette and blackjack to people in Australia, and it is also generally illegal to advertise them to Australians. The law is aimed at the businesses that provide or advertise these services. The ACMA asks Australian internet service providers to block illegal offshore gambling websites and the affiliate websites that promote them. The RNG keno and live keno formats described earlier are offered by online casinos in other countries.

Apart from the state-licensed online keno products mentioned above, legal online gambling in Australia is limited to racing and sports betting with providers licensed in an Australian state or territory, and lotteries.

Age, Safer Gambling and Getting Help

You must be 18 or over to gamble in Australia, including playing keno. Venues such as clubs, pubs and casinos are regulated by each state and territory. Before you play, set a budget and a time limit, and stop when you reach either one.

BetStop – the National Self-Exclusion Register is a free Australian Government service that lets you exclude yourself from all licensed Australian online and phone wagering providers in one step, for a period from 3 months up to a lifetime. It covers betting providers, not venues, which have their own state and territory exclusion programs.

If gambling is causing problems for you or someone close to you, call the National Gambling Helpline on 1800 858 858 (free, confidential, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week), or use Gambling Help Online for live chat and email counselling.

Summary: Number Choice and Bankroll Management Cannot Change the Expected Value, but They Limit Unnecessary Losses

Casino keno has simple rules: you choose numbers from 1 to 80 and can play with small bets.

With no dealer to play against, beginners can play at their own pace.

The approaches covered in this article – choosing your number of spots to suit the pay table and managing your bankroll with a set budget and flat betting – cannot change the expected value itself. They do help you avoid unnecessary losses and play calmly for longer.

Before you play, check the venue’s pay table and minimum bet so you know what to expect.