Product
Keno
Keno: the 80-number draw game
Definition
Keno is a draw-based numbers game in which players choose a set of numbers, called spots, from a field of 1 to 80, the operator draws 20 numbers at random, and the payout depends on how many of the player's numbers are among those drawn, according to a published prize table. In Pennsylvania's lottery version, for example, players pick up to 10 spots and draws take place every four minutes.
Keno is sold in three main settings: by state and national lotteries through retail terminals in bars, clubs and shops, and increasingly online; in land-based casinos, where it is a house-banked game; and in online casinos as a random-number-generated game. Because draws are frequent and most prizes are fixed by the paytable rather than shared from a pool, keno plays more like a fast casino game than a weekly lotto, and lotteries use it to reach hospitality venues.
Key takeaways
- Keno players pick numbers from 1 to 80; the operator draws 20, and prizes depend on how many picks match under a fixed paytable.
- Lottery keno draws run every few minutes, which makes it one of the fastest lottery products and a staple of bars and clubs.
- Keno is sold by lotteries, by land-based casinos as a house-banked game, and online through iLottery and online casinos.
- Australia's 2018 lottery betting ban expressly covered betting on keno draws, protecting the licensed keno operators.
Why it matters
For lotteries, keno is the product that takes the brand into hospitality venues and keeps it in front of players between big draws. High draw frequency produces far more transactions than a weekly draw-based game, and the venue earns commission on sales, which makes keno valuable to retailers as well as to the lottery. That also makes it more like casino gaming in risk terms, so frequency, stake limits and venue placement attract responsible-gambling attention.
The B2B angle is in systems and channels. Keno needs a certified random draw system, real-time results to monitors in venues, and a central system to settle many draws a day; as lotteries move online, keno becomes one of the core games on iLottery platforms, sold by the same suppliers. Its value is also why governments protect it. When Australia legislated in 2018 against online betting on lottery outcomes, the minister's speech said the bill would prohibit both lottery and keno betting services to customers in Australia, noting that keno in clubs and hotels helps support community services. Licensed keno is a revenue stream that states guard against offshore betting on the same draws.
The bingo, lottery and instant games course places keno alongside the other lottery verticals.
Keno vs Online bingo vs Draw-Based Game
| Keno | Online bingo |
|---|---|
| In keno each player bets against a fixed paytable. Many players can win in the same draw, and prizes depend only on how many of the player's own numbers match. | In bingo players compete for prizes in a game: numbers are called until someone completes a pattern, and the prize pool is shared among winners. |
Keno is closer to a house-banked or lottery product, while bingo is player-versus-player. That changes how each is licensed, taxed and, for operators, how much revenue risk each carries.
| Keno | Draw-Based Game |
|---|---|
| Keno is a draw game run every few minutes with mostly fixed prizes, played in venues and online throughout the day. | A traditional lotto draw happens once or twice a week, with a large jackpot that grows from sales and rolls over when unwon. |
Keno's frequency makes it behave commercially like a casino game, generating steady daily revenue rather than jackpot-driven peaks.
The bottom line
Keno is the fast lottery game: 20 numbers from 80, drawn every few minutes, paid from a fixed table. For lotteries it is the venue and online product that fills the gaps between big draws, and that frequency is also why it is regulated with care.
Sources
- Keno FAQs - Pennsylvania Lottery
- Second reading speech: Interactive Gambling Amendment (Lottery Betting) Bill 2018 - Paul Fletcher MP
Frequently asked questions
What is keno?
Keno is a numbers game in which players choose numbers between 1 and 80 and the operator draws 20 at random. The more of a player's chosen numbers are drawn, the more the ticket pays, according to a published prize table. It is offered by lotteries in shops, bars and clubs, by land-based casinos and by online operators where permitted.
How does keno work?
A player chooses how many numbers, or spots, to play and picks them from 1 to 80, or takes a random selection. The system then draws 20 numbers. Prizes are paid according to how many of the player's spots match, with the paytable depending on the number of spots chosen. Lottery keno draws are frequent; in Pennsylvania they take place every four minutes.
Is keno a lottery or a casino game?
It can be either, depending on who runs it. Lottery keno is a lottery product sold by a state or national lottery, with results from a central draw system. Casino keno is a house-banked game run by the casino. Australian law treats keno as a type of lottery, which is why its 2018 lottery betting ban expressly covered keno draws.
Can you play keno online?
In some places. Several US lotteries offer keno through their iLottery platforms, Pennsylvania among them, and licensed online casinos in some markets offer keno-style games. Elsewhere it is restricted to venues. Availability depends on each jurisdiction's lottery and gambling law, and in Australia online betting on the outcome of keno draws is prohibited.