It may not commonly be thought of as the best game in the arena of wagering, but keno has millions and millions of steadfast admirers. As well it should! It’s a routinely entertaining lottery-esque game that’s a breeze to pickup, abundantly available in tons of assorted styles, and one that might return mega-dollars for those who master its numerous subtle rules. But let’s start with the basic rules here.
When explaining keno to beginners, some gambling connoisseurs compare it to bingo. This is at least in part correct, in that both games are generally numerical. Yet to carry that comparison too far might be to belittle the innumerable unique aspect that make keno so exciting. Unlike bingo, keno enthusiasts have the freedom to pick the numbers for each card.
Keno cards have a total of eighty numbers, but the user is furnished with an increased level of personal responsibility by being able to decide on as many (or as few) numbers as she desires. And it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to determine how to fill out a card: all you do is circle or otherwise mark all of your picked numbers with a good oldball point pen like you used back in school.
Now that you have selected your numbers, carry your card back to the nice person at the keno booth. The clerk will record your numbers and then give you a receipt. Don’t misplace this (potentially) expensive piece of paper! Even if the keno pit manager remembers your pretty face and would like to help out, without a winning receipt in hand, you will collect precisely $.00 for your efforts.
And there you have strategy numero uno: always be sure to keep your keno receipt. Let’s move to something a bit more complex, yes?
After you’ve picked your numbers, get into a nice keno booth and see the action happen on the monitor. That is where the winning numbers appear for us. If you selected winners, mark your card appropriately. Make sure not to take your time, or sit there praising yourself for too great a length of time. You must get up to the keno booth to get your winnings, since a new round of keno will almost certainly get going within five minutes.
Strategy number two: always make sure to get back to the keno stand on time!
Since you can not trust yourself to beat that 5 minute deadline each time, you always have the option of buying a "multi-race" ticket. These include the self same set of your selected numbers on anywhere from 2 to twenty tickets. When the maximum amount of keno games (matching the number of tickets) is played, you can then get off your lazy rump and go redeem your winnings.
Yet another option is referred to as a "stray and play" keno ticket, which usually allows you make number choices for 30 keno games or more. Heck, you can take vacation to Italy and not have to fret about getting back in time to collect your winnings. Most "stray and play" game cards are good for up to a whole year after it’s bought!
And now you are aware of a handful of necessary strategies for winning keno. If you are an experienced gambler, they might appear to be very obvious. However, it will not hurt to bone up on the basic strategies, and if you are a beginner user, every bit of information will help make your keno playing time more captivating.