It won’t generally be considered the funnest game in the world of wagering, but keno has millions of devoted enthusiasts. As well it should! It’s a regularly thrilling lotto-ish game that’s a snap to pickup, abundantly available in many alternate variations, and one that might yield mega-dollars for people who master its numerous subtle nuances. But let’s deal with the basic rules here.
When explaining keno to novices, some betting pros compare it to bingo. This is at least nearly correct, in that both games are fundamentally numerical. However, to take that comparison too far can be to miscalculate the endless unique aspect that make keno so compelling. Not like bingo, keno enthusiasts have the power to select the numbers for every card.
Keno cards have a grand total of 80 numbers, but the gambler is accord an additional level of personal responsibility by being able to determine as many (or as few) numbers as he wants. And it doesn’t take a super genius to come up with how to fill out a card: all you do is circle or otherwise mark all your picked numbers with a good oldball point pen like you used back in the day.
After you’ve marked your numbers, take your card back to the girl at the keno stand. The nice person will record your numbers and then hand you a receipt. Make sure no to drop this (potentially) valuable bit of paper! Even if the clerk remembers your pretty face and wants help out, without a winning ticket in hand, you will collect precisely $.00 for your winning card.
And there you have strategy number one: always take care to keep your keno ticket. Let’s move on to something a bit more advanced, shall we?
Once you’ve marked your numbers, get yourself into a comfortable keno booth and watch the action happen on the video monitor. That is where the winning numbers appear in lights. If you marked winning numbers, mark your card aptly. Make sure not to dilly dally, or sit there congratulating yourself for too great a length of time. You want to get back to the keno booth to get your winnings, and then a new round of keno will almost certainly start within a few minutes.
Strategy number two: always be sure to get back to the keno stand on time!
Assuming you do not trust yourself to beat that five-minute deadline each time, you always retain the option of using a "multi-race" ticket. These include the same set of your picked numbers on anywhere from two to 20 slips. When the maximum amount of rounds (fitting the number of tickets) is finished, you may then get off your numb rump and go retrieve your winnings.
Still another option is known as a "stray and play" keno slip, which normally lets you make number picks for thirty games or more. Gosh, you can take all the time in the world and not have to worry about getting back in time to collect your winnings. Most "stray and play" cards are good for up to a whole year after you purchase it!
And now you are aware of a handful of indispensable strategies for winning keno. If you are an advanced player, they may seem to be stupidly obvious. But it won’t hurt to study up on the basic strategies, and if you are a beginner gambler, every little bit of information will help make your keno experience more entertaining.
