It may not commonly be deemed the best game in the arena of betting, but keno has millions and millions of zealous players. As well it should! It’s a regularly exciting lotto-style game that’s a breeze to pickup, abundantly available in many different styles, and one that may yield mega-dollars for players who learn its innumerable subtle rules. But let’s start with the beginner’s rules for now.
When explaining keno to newcomers, some betting connoisseurs compare it to the lottery. This is at least in some ways correct, in that both games are generally numerical. But to take that comparison too far can be to underrate the innumerable unique traits that make keno so entertaining. Not like bingo, keno users have the ability to pick the numbers for every card.
Keno cards have a total of eighty numbers, but the gambler is given an increased degree of personal responsibility by being able to pick as many (or as few) numbers as she desires. And it doesn’t take a nuclear physicist to determine how to fill out a card: all you do is circle or otherwise mark all your desired numbers with a good oldball point pen like you had when you were a kid.
After you have picked your numbers, carry the game card back to the person at the keno booth. The keno pit manager will record those numbers and then hand you a receipt. Make sure no to drop this (potentially) lucrative bit of paper! Even if the clerk remembers your pretty face and wants help out, without a winning ticket on you, you will be given precisely $.00 for your efforts.
Now there you have strategy number one: always take care to keep your keno ticket. Let us advance to something a little bit more useful, what do you think?
Once you’ve picked your numbers, get into a nice keno booth and observe the action take place on the monitor. That is where the winning numbers show up in lights. If you checked winners, mark your card appropriately. Be sure not to move to slowly, or sit there praising yourself for too great a length of time. You want to get up to the keno stand to redeem your winnings, as a new round of keno will likely begin within a few minutes.
Strategy number two: always get back to the keno booth on time!
Assuming you don’t trust yourself to meet that five-minute margin each time, you always retain the option of purchasing a "multi-race" card. These include the very same set of your chosen numbers on anywhere from 2 to 20 tickets. When the maximum amount of rounds (matching the number of tickets) is finished, you should then get off your numb bum and go collect your winnings.
Still another opportunity is referred to as a "stray and play" keno ticket, which usually lets you make number picks for 30 rounds or more. Hell, you can take vacation to Italy and not have to fret about getting back in time to collect your numbers. Most "stray and play" game cards are good for up to a whole year after it’s bought!
So now you know a handful of essential schemes for winning keno. If you are an experienced player, they might seem to be quite obvious. Still, it does not hurt to brush up on the basics, and if you are a beginner gambler, every bit of advice will help make your keno wagering more exciting.