Game Rules

Keno

How the Game Is Played

You play Keno by filling out a Keno ticket and submitting it. Each Keno ticket has 80

numbers, corresponding to the 80 numbers printed on ping pong balls contained in the

Keno cage, from which the winning numbers are derived.

When you turn in the ticket, you are registered for the next game. When the game

begins, the numbered ping pong balls are spit from the Keno cage into the goose, an

outlet that takes the balls one at a time. The number on each ball is flashed on the

brightly-lit screen located in the Keno lounge. The numbers remain lit until the game is

completed (i.e., 20 numbers are drawn).

You win if you picked a sufficient number of correct balls, based on the payoff chart

provided for the bet you made.

The Ticket

In addition to showing the 80 numbers you can bet on, the tickets contain boxes for

other information including:

1. Your name

2. The number of games (bets) you want to play

3. The amount of each bet

4. The total amount of money you’re betting (this equals the number of games

you’re playing times the amount of each bet).

You fill out the tickets by clicking on the numbers you think will win. In Hoyle Casino,

you can pick 1 to 15 numbers or 20 numbers.

Betting

Most bets in Keno are designated by the number(s) you pick. For example, a “one-spot

straight ticket” is a bet on a single number. A “two-spot straight ticket” is a bet on two

numbers. The amount of money you can bet in Keno depends on the type of bet

you’re making. These bets are usually for $1, $2, $5, $10, or $20.

The most common bet is a five-spot straight ticket, in which five numbers are picked.

For this bet to win, three of the numbers you pick must come up on the balls. This

particular bet pays even money if you pick three numbers right. If you pick four winning

balls, you are paid off at 9 to 1. If, in this example, you guess all five balls right you’ve

hit the jackpot, paying 800 to 1.

As another example, the payoffs for a common $2 bet (in this case, a 10-spot straight

ticket) are shown here:

Catch Win

10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50,000

9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,000

8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,000

7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260

6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

In addition to straight bets, other types of bets are available. These include specials,

the edge, top/bottom, and left/right bets.

Hoyle Casino offers special promotional tickets that pay more than the usual ticket.

These tickets are better deals, and your odds of winning are increased. The four-spot,

five-spot, or six-spot specials fit into this category and can be used on any 4 to 6

number bets. The ticket has an additional box (marked “special”) that must be checked

for this bet to be in effect.You are required to place a higher wager, but the odds are

better. Remember to check the “special” box on a 4 to 6 number bet, or you will be

making a standard 4 to 6 wager.

If you stick to playing just the special tickets, you will certainly increase your overall

Keno winning percentage.

Winning

In Hoyle Casino, your Keno winnings are automatically credited to your account, you

don’t need to do anything. In a real casino, if a subsequent game begins before you’ve

presented your winning ticket, you forfeit all winnings!

Replaying a Ticket

Hoyle Casino allows you to replay your tickets. To use a duplicate ticket, choose

“Duplicate” in the ticket window, and click submit.You can duplicate any of your past

tickets.

Strategies for Winning at Keno

Number games like Keno are made-to-order for gamblers with a superstitious streak.

Lucky numbers, unlucky 13s, special dates, and special numbers all can play a part in

picking your numbers. If the numbers pay off in Keno, you can win big, which is the

attraction. Unfortunately, it’s hard to win a lot in Keno, even when playing the special

tickets with better odds. The house advantage in Keno normally runs from 20 percent

to 30 percent or even higher. Professional gamblers who earn their living in the

casinos will not usually be found sitting in the Keno lounge, marking “Xs” in the little

boxes on the ticket.

Keno Strategy Highlights

• Play the special tickets such as the 4 to 6 spot specials for better payoffs.

• Keno can be enjoyable, but the odds are heavily against you. Mix Keno in with

some other games with better odds (like Blackjack or Video Poker), but don’t play