Keno Rules

Short presentation

Keno is a Chinese game that became popular in Canada in the 19th century as Chinese immigrant workers settled here, many of them building the railways or working in mines.

Keno is a lottery-style game, and the exact format can vary by Canadian province or territory. It’s very easy to play and understanding the rules takes just a matter of seconds. Keno, as a pure game of chance, does not produce frequent winners, but it is not really expensive. The winning frequency is relatively low in Keno, but when you win, you can generate significant payouts. Keno is very practical online as you can easily have another game in progress while you play it. Each Keno game is called a “draw” and there are often short breaks between each draw. However, some casinos and provincial lottery operators provide players with a continuous series of draws: the player therefore has the possibility to bet only once and no longer needs to wait.

Where to play Keno?

In Canada, Keno is available in casinos, dedicated lounges, and through provincial lottery retailers. After you pay to play, you can watch results on in-venue monitors or check them online or in official lottery apps. Staff can collect tickets and pay eligible prizes; larger prizes are claimed through the provincial lottery. It is therefore important to keep track of your draws, even if you're not in the Keno area anymore. You can also play Keno online through many licensed casino sites and official provincial lottery platforms, with free-to-try demo versions often available.

Machines especially built for Keno

Some video terminals and online games are particularly dedicated to Keno in many Canadian casinos and platforms. Their main advantage is that they allow players not to wait much. The results are revealed instantly or at very short intervals. In addition, players no longer have to carry paper results as they can view outcomes on a digital screen or in their account history. In this type of casino, Keno is an instant or rapid-draw game, no longer a collective one.

How to play Keno?

Keno rules are quite simple. All you have to do is choose from one to ten numbers (“spots”) in a list. In Canada, the numbers you choose usually range from 1 to 70 or 1 to 80, depending on the province. In general, selecting more spots increases potential payouts but changes your odds; when you choose 10 numbers, you often have the opportunity to compete for the top prize.

In casinos or at lottery retailers, you will mark sheets quite similar to lottery tickets and receive a printed ticket. When you play online Keno, the numbers you selected will appear on the screen and in your account. Keno lounges often use the same process encountered on TV during lottery draws, similar to those used by provincial lotteries across Canada. The machine chooses twenty numbers. If your selection matches the displayed draw, you can earn more or less money depending on the paytable.

Bets and redistributions

The price you need to pay depends on the casino or lottery you’re playing with, but you will need at least CAD 1 to begin playing. If you play online or at kiosks, you can consult the paytable and payout rate on the screen. The payout varies depending on the numbers you have chosen. For example, if you choose four numbers, you may need at least two numbers to win. If you choose 10 numbers, you'll often need at least five of them to win. However, if you choose the maximum number of spots, your potential payout will be higher, with greater variance.

Percentage rate

Playing Keno presents a few disadvantages: the house edge is often around 25% to 30%, so it is not the best way to make money. However, it is not expensive to play Keno and the top prize can sometimes be enormous. So if you think luck is on your side, take your best shot at Keno.