It won’t often be seen as the sexiest game in the world of wagering, but keno has huge amounts of devout followers. And so it should! It’s a consistently exciting lotto-style game that’s a breeze to master, readily available in loads of assorted variations, and one that may return millions of dollars for gamblers who learn its innumerable subtle nuances. But let’s start with the basic facts for now.
When explaining keno to beginners, some gambling connoisseurs compare it to lotto. This is at least in some ways correct, in that both games are fundamentally numerical. Yet to take that comparison too far might be to underestimate the great many unique traits that make keno so interesting. Unlike bingo, keno enthusiasts have the power to pick 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 numerous (or as few) numbers as he or she wants. And it doesn’t take a super genius to figure out how to fill out a card: all you do is circle or otherwise mark all of your desired numbers with a every day oldmarker like you used when you were in third grade.
Now that you have selected your numbers, carry your keno card back to the nice person at the keno stand. The person will record those numbers and then hand you a receipt. Make sure no to lose this (potentially) lucrative piece of paper! Even if the keno pit manager remembers your loud shirt and wants help out, without a winning receipt in hand, you will be given precisely $.00 for your actions.
And there you have strategy #1: always make sure to keep your keno slip. Let’s move on to something a little more complex, shall we?
Now that you’ve checked off your numbers, get into a nice keno booth and watch the action happen on the monitor. That’s where the winning numbers show up for all to see. If you picked winners, mark your card aptly. Be sure not to move to slowly, or sit there praising yourself for an obnoxious length of time. You must get back to the keno stand to get your winnings, as a new round of keno will certainly start within five minutes.
Strategy number 2: always make sure to get back to the keno stand on time!
Assuming you don’t trust yourself to meet that 5 minute deadline every time, you always have the option of purchasing a "multi-race" card. These include the self same set of your selected numbers on anywhere from two to 20 slips. When the max number of games (fitting the number of tickets) is played, you may then get off your numb rump and go retrieve your winnings.
Yet another alternative is known as a "stray and play" keno slip, which generally lets you make number picks for 30 rounds or more. Golly, you can take vacation to Greece and not have to fret about getting back in time to retrieve your winnings. Most "stray and play" slips are good for up to a whole year after it’s bought!
And now you know several necessary strategies for winning keno. If you are an advanced player, they might seem to be stupidly obvious. Still, it will never hurt to brush up on the basics, and if you are a newbie keno player, every little bit of direction will help make your keno gambling more entertaining.