It may not often be seen as the funnest game in the world of wagering, but keno has loads of passionate players. And why not? It’s a consistently entertaining lottery-esque game that’s a breeze to master, readily available in loads of alternate variations, and one that can yield millions for gamblers who master its many subtle intricacies. But let’s start with the basic facts for now.
When describing keno to beginners, some wagering experts compare it to lotto. This is at least in some ways correct, in that both games are essentially numerical. However, to take that comparison too far would be to underestimate the many unique characteristics that make keno so entertaining. Unlike bingo, keno gamblers have the freedom to pick the numbers for each card.
Keno cards have a grand total of 80 numbers, but the player is granted an additional degree of personal responsibility by being able to decide on as many (or as few) numbers as he or she feels they need. And it doesn’t take a genius to come up with 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 used back in school.
Now that you’ve picked your numbers, take your card back to the clerk at the keno booth. The person will record your numbers and then give you a receipt. Make sure no to lose this (potentially) lucrative bit of paper! Even if the clerk remembers your pretty face and wants help out, without a winning slip in hand, you will win exactly $.00 for your time spent.
OK, so there you have strategy numero uno: always be sure to keep your keno ticket. Let’s move to something a tiny bit more complicated, shall we?
Once you’ve picked out your numbers, get into a nice keno booth and observe the action unfold on the screen. That’s where the winning numbers show up for all to see. If you picked winning numbers, mark your card appropriately. Be sure not to dilly dally, or sit there congratulating yourself for too great a length of time. You are required to get up to the keno booth to redeem your winnings, and a new round of keno will certainly get going within five minutes.
Strategy #2: always make it back to the keno booth on time!
Assuming you can’t trust yourself to make that five-minute margin each time, you always have the option of using a "multi-race" card. These include the very same set of your picked numbers on anywhere from 2 to twenty cards. When the max amount of games (the same as the number of tickets) is completed, you should then get off your numb rump and go retrieve your winnings.
Yet another opportunity is known as a "stray and play" keno card, which normally lets you make number picks for thirty keno games or more. Gosh, you can take a Swedish massage and not have to worry about getting back in time to retrieve your numbers. Most "stray and play" game tickets are good for up to a whole year after purchase!
And now you have learned several required strategies for winning keno. If you are an advanced player, they may seem to be incredibly obvious. Still, it won’t hurt to brush up on the fundamentals, and if you are a novice player, every tiny bit of information will help make your keno playing more entertaining.