The king of the lottery-style games, Keno, is played all over the world.
It is a simple prediction game where bets are placed while players try to identify the luckiest numbers and the most successful patterns.
Players think they have the last say over the outcomes, but we’re here to dispel some rumors and myths.
Learn how to use our secret patterns and techniques to help you become a more successful keno player.
Keno is a simple game and if you have played bingo before, or entered the lottery, the game will feel familiar.
Online keno games use a Random Number Generator (RNG) to determine the outcome. This is a special algorithm that selects a number at random.
It is 100% fair, independently tested, and designed to mimic true randomness.
The odds determine the probability of winning and this can vary slightly depending on the particular rules of the keno game you choose to play.
In a standard game, the chance of choosing all 10 numbers is 1 in 1 in 8,911,712. But the chance of nailing five numbers is far greater at 1 in 10.
Without any game mechanics that you, the player, can control – other than the numbers – Keno is almost entirely about luck.
The outcome is entirely random and not skill-based, unlike many casino table games such as Blackjack or Poker.
The physical processes are really the only real difference between playing keno online or live, in-person.
When playing online, the outcomes are entirely determined by a Random Number Generator, you’ll be paid out instantly if you win, and you can quickly select your numbers on a virtual display.
Whereas, when playing live, you pick numbers on a physical ticket which must be present at a kiosk.
The results are determined by an RNG or by a physical machine, and if you win, you must present your winning ticket to a kiosk to verify the win.
We don’t like randomness. Our brains seem to be wired to find meaning, even in the absolutely random.
People will often assign significance to something random so that it now has an explanation or reasoning because we simply don’t like randomness.
Now couple these feelings with a little superstition and belief, and you’ll understand why patterns fascinate so many keno players.
This is the basis for assigning meaning to lucky numbers and superstitions.
Players will often seek out specific patterns that they like because they have assigned some special meaning to them.
So, it’s only human nature for players to seek out patterns when playing online keno.
Numbers are always drawn entirely at random. This means patterns are merely a myth.
However, there are certainly ways some patterns can be used advantageously to leverage the Random Number Generators’ ability to produce genuinely random outcomes.
Keno players are like any other player of casino games. Speak to a blackjack player and they’ll likely have a few secret techniques up their sleeves. Online keno players are no different.
You’ll find useful details about a few of the most closely guarded keno patterns that serious players swear by below.
This is a strategy that doesn’t really hold up when you apply mathematics.
It is the concept that drawn numbers are likely to be drawn in clusters. That is numbers that are nearby.
For example, 20,21,22,23 or 61,62,63. Of course, since we know the RNG gives every number an equal chance of being drawn, clusters are hardly a predictable pattern.
Some players care less about the actual numbers and look for patterns on the grid instead.
Image if you drew a line directly through the middle of the selection grid.
Mirror image patterns would see the numbers selected on one side of the grid mirrored on the other – when done correctly, your chosen numbers will form a symmetrical pattern.
However, some players recommend the mirror image pattern when playing Multi-Card Keno.
You can use the advanced technique to form some crossovers which can result in some large payouts.
This is the observation that some numbers have appeared more frequently over a determined period than other numbers.
For example, if the number 20 appears in 20 of the last 50 game rounds, it may be considered “hot”.
However, if the number 30 is drawn twice in 50 game rounds, it would be considered “cold”.
Since RNG technology replicates actual randomness, some numbers will appear more frequently than others at some point.
The generator gives every possible outcome a chance, but sometimes, consistency is random.
So, a number, say three or five, may simply not appear in hundreds of game rounds. Equally, those same numbers could also be drawn in every single game round.
This is a tough pattern to incorporate.
On one hand, a hot number could remain hot for a while because the RNG algorithm happens to be swinging that way, but hot numbers could equally be ice cold in an instant.
Some players simply like straight lines.
This could be a sequential set of numbers going horizontally across the grid, it could be a diagonal line from one corner to the next, or a line going straight up and down.
Other players even go for a linear pattern. That is where the difference between each selected number is the same – for example, 2, 4, 6, 8.
Now this is a strategy that puts your entire faith in the RNG’s ability to mimic true randomness and, frankly, is just as effective as any other strategy.
Since each possible number has an equal chance of being drawn, your random pattern has an equal chance of being a winner.
Statistically speaking, there is no reason why completely random selections would be any more likely or less likely to be successful than the last random selection.
You’ll need to put all superstitions aside to be comfortable using randomized patterns.
Even if patterns won’t boost your odds, people have been using them forever. Here are a few that pop up all the time:
Some folks even pick numbers that look good together. Does it work? No. Is it fun? Definitely.
Even when we know Keno is random, our brains can’t help but look for patterns. It’s just how we’re wired. You might find yourself sticking to your birthday numbers, filling in an “X” on the grid, or picking the exact same combo every round.
You’re not alone. There’s actually some psychology behind it:
Patterns can be fun, and they feel meaningful, but remember—they don’t change the odds. Still, no harm in having a favorite, right?
Remember, keno is still a game of chance. This means no matter how good your strategy is and no matter how lucky you are, a win is never guaranteed.
The following keno tips should help you boost your chances though.
First and foremost, start playing a demo version of a keno game that you wish to play. For example, you can play Caipirinha Keno for free at Gamesville.
This will afford you the privilege of trying out different bet sizes, strategies, and techniques, to see which suits you and the game style best.
We’ve also got Ultimate Keno on Gamesville, less of an island theme and more of a serious version.
Consider betting strategies like the Martingale. Try to learn how to cover more numbers with efficient multi-card betting – this is a form of risk spreading.
Crunch the numbers and look for hot streaks. And trust your gut – you’d be surprised how often your first thought is the better run.
Yes, there are a lot of superstitions and feelings around the idea of “lucky numbers”. However, numbers are just that – numbers. No single number is more lucky or unlucky than any other.
The RNG treats every number equally, after all.
However, there are still a couple of mythical numbers that some keno players think are inherently lucky or unlucky.
Number seven is recognized throughout numerous cultures around the world as a lucky number.
You’ve probably noticed “7” as a common slot symbol and the lucky “777” is a winning combination on classic steppers.
However, there is absolutely no mathematical or statistical basis for 7 being a successful number when playing keno.
The number four is considered very unlucky amongst East Asian cultures and this idea has found its way into the psyches of many casino players too.
However, the basis for this “bad luck” is that the word for “4” sounds a lot like the word for “death” in those cultures.
So, once again, there is no mathematical or statistical reason to think of the number four as unlucky.
Both mathematics and superstition have their place when playing keno.
The mathematical element of the RNG is irrefutable – each possible number has a genuine equal chance of being drawn.
Some players will still argue that superstition has a place. If their so-called “lucky number” happens to hit quite often, who are we to judge?
However, we think superstition’s only role when playing keno is to increase the excitement of the game and to bring a little more meaning to those big wins.
You can play Keno on Gamesville for free. These games won’t require any real money, so you can without any risk.
It’s the perfect way to test your strategies, experience the game as a newbie, or just as a fun way to enjoy online keno.
Here’s a short list of Keno terms so you don’t have to fake it when someone asks what a “spot” is:
Keno is incredible fun and there are so many different ways to approach choosing your potentially winning numbers.
Most strategies have merit but, thanks to the basic statistical principles of the RNG, strategies are very much a personal choice.
We recommend having fun while playing keno. Don’t stress how you pick numbers too much. Make your selection and enjoy the ride.
Once you’re ready to move on to real money games, head over to Stake.us where you can claim bonuses to keep playing for free, but have a chance to win big.
