It won’t often be considered the sexiest game in the realm of gambling, but keno has tons of passionate followers. And it should! It’s a routinely thrilling lottery-type game that’s simple to master, abundantly available in lots of assorted variations, and one that might pay out millions of dollars for people who master its numerous subtle nuances. But let’s deal with the basic rules here.
When describing keno to amateurs, some wagering pros compare it to lotto. This is at least to some extent correct, in that both games are essentially numerical. However, to take that comparison too far can be to misunderstand the good many unique traits that make keno so entertaining. Unlike bingo, keno enthusiasts have the power to pick the numbers for every card.
Keno cards have a grand total of 80 numbers, but the player is given an increased level of personal responsibility by being able to decide on as many (or as few) numbers as he desires. And it doesn’t take a nuclear physicist to figure out how to fill out a card: all you do is circle or otherwise mark all your picked numbers with a standardmarker like you used when you were in school.
After you have marked your numbers, carry the keno card back to the nice person at the keno booth. The girl will record those numbers and then hand you a receipt. Make sure no to lose this (potentially) valuable piece of paper! Even if the clerk remembers your loud shirt and wants help out, without a winning slip in hand, you will collect exactly $.00 for your winning card.
So, there you have strategy number one: always make sure to keep your keno slip. Let’s advance to something a little more advanced, yes?
Now that you’ve picked out your numbers, get yourself into a comfy keno booth and watch the action unfold on a video monitor. This is where the winning numbers are displayed in lights. If you checked winners, mark your card appropriately. Make sure not to take too much time, or sit there praising yourself for too great a length of time. You really want to get back to the keno stand to collect your winnings, and a new drawing will probably start up within not too many minutes.
Strategy number two: always be sure to get back to the keno booth on time!
Since you can’t trust yourself to meet that five-minute deadline each and every time, you always retain the option of purchasing a "multi-race" card. These include the very same set of your handpicked numbers on anywhere from 2 to 20 slips. When the max amount of keno games (the same as the number of tickets) is played out, you can then get off your numb rump and go redeem your winnings.
Another option is recognized as a "stray and play" keno card, which usually lets you make number choices for 30 keno rounds or more. Gosh, you can take a world tour and not have to fret about getting back in time to get your winnings. Most "stray and play" cards are good for up to a whole year after it’s purchased!
So now you are aware of several needed techniques for winning keno. If you are a good gambler, they may appear to be stupidly obvious. But it will not hurt to study up on the basics, and if you are a novice player, every bit of direction will help make your keno wagering more fun.