Can You Win on Keno Machines?

One of the easiest and also the most frustrating games to play at a casino is Keno. 

The reason so many people play the Keno machines at the casino is because it’s primarily a luck-based game that doesn’t require any skill, but this can also lead to frustration because it’s difficult to effectively employ any strategies to increase your chances of winning. 

Additionally, a lot of people believe that Keno machines are rigged to make it impossible for players to win, ensuring that all money goes to the house. 

But is it true that winning at Keno is impossible? Can you actually win on Keno machines? That’s what we’re going to discuss in today’s article, so stay tuned. 

Is it Possible To Win On Keno Machines?

First thing’s first: is it even possible to win on Keno machines? The answer is yes, it’s just a matter of bearing the odds in mind. 

Although many people have come to believe that all Keno machines are rigged in favor of the house, meaning that players essentially have no chance of winning. In most cases, however, this simply isn’t true.

It’s important to research casinos thoroughly before handing over your money to make sure they don’t use unfair practices, but most Keno machines are legally installed and are regulated to prevent unfair rigging. 

Keno works similarly to entering the lottery. There are 80 numbers to choose from in total, and you can pick up to 20 numbers (this would be called 20-spot Keno) and see how many of the numbers you picked end up being drawn.

Depending on how many of your numbers are drawn and how much money you bet (this can be anywhere between $1 and $20), you’ll receive a payout of a different size. 

Obviously, if you focus on numbers with higher chances of success, you’ll be more likely to get a payout, but this is hard to pinpoint accurately. However, the bottom line is that it definitely is possible to win at Keno.

Can You Guarantee Winning At Keno? 

When people find that it is indeed possible to win at Keno, they will often start looking for ways to guarantee a win. Unfortunately, that’s not how Keno machines work (see also “What Is A Progressive Keno Machine?“). 

While there are a few tips and tricks you can employ to increase your chances of winning at Keno, it’s important to bear in mind that you can never totally eliminate the element of chance involved in the game. 

Like the lottery, Keno involves a fair amount of chance because the algorithm that picks the winning numbers is random. You have no control over which numbers will be drawn, so you can’t guarantee winning on Keno machines.

How To Win On Keno Machines 

Just because you can’t guarantee a win when playing a game of Keno doesn’t mean you should get discouraged. Yes, Keno is ultimately a game of chance, but there’s a little bit of strategy you can employ to get yourself slightly better odds of winning. 

Choose Your Casino Wisely 

As we mentioned earlier, while it’s a myth that all Keno machines are rigged in favor of the house, you do need to make sure you’re playing at a reputable casino that has had their Keno machines installed legally according to regulations (see also “How Do You Play A Keno Machine?“). 

Choosing a trusted casino will mean you don’t have to worry about unfair practices and will ensure that you have a fair chance of winning.

It’s also worth noting that different casinos provide different machines for Keno and will have different variations of the game available to play (see also “Are Keno Machines Random?“). If you prefer one version of Keno over others, make sure you frequent casinos that prefer this variation of the game. 

Look At The Odds 

When you look at the odds for Keno, you’ll quickly see that the chances of winning are pretty slim. Again, it’s very similar to the lottery. You don’t have a high chance of winning, but if you do win, you will get a very good payout. 

Now, the odds of winning at Keno very much depend on what kind of hit you’re going for.

It might be tempting to chase a 20-number hit because of the size of the payout, but when you actually look at your chances of winning that payout… Let’s just say they’re not great. 

On average, the odds of you picking 20 numbers and all of them being drawn are 1 in 3,535,316,142,212,173,800.

To put it another way, you are literally more likely to be hit by a meteor than for this to happen. So, your best bet is not to go for 20-number hits, but to chase hits with better odds. 

If you pick 5 numbers, your odds of them all being drawn are much better at around 1 in 4, or 25%. 

Stick With The Same Numbers 

If you want to play more than one game of Keno, we recommend sticking with the same number selection each time.

This just makes sense statistically because the more you play one set of numbers, the more likely that set is to eventually be drawn. 

On the other hand, if you’re changing your chosen numbers all the time, you’re reducing the statistical possibility of eventually getting a win. 

Obviously, statistical possibility in a game of luck isn’t an exact prediction. Just because a 5-number game of Keno gives you a 25% chance of winning doesn’t mean you’ll definitely win if you play the same numbers 4 times, but it does help to improve your odds. 

Final Thoughts 

It is definitely possible to win at Keno. You just need to make sure that you’re playing at a trustworthy casino and that you know your odds so that you can make them work in your favor. 

Avoid chasing 20-number hits on Keno machines because your odds of being struck by a meteor are higher than getting this type of payout.

Instead, prioritize the same set of between 4 and 7 numbers each time you play Keno.

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