Keno is a game of numbers. This means that keno probabilities and odds are a regular and unchangeable part of the game.
But keno math doesn’t have to give you headaches. When you understand the numbers, figuring your odds of winning can actually be quite simple. For example, assuming that a standard keno game has eighty numbers and you get to choose five, there is a 27% chance of all five numbers being drawn. Conversely, there is a 22.7% chance that none of the five numbers will be drawn.
Because different hit combinations offer different payouts, the odds of keno and winning keno are closely related.
It is important to remember that five number of bets have a slightly higher chance of winning than losing. Over the long run, a five number bet with standard keno odds will be the most profitable way for you to use keno probabilities to your advantage. Ultimately winning keno is all about understanding keno math.
Some keno players want to play for the big jackpots offered at most casinos. In order to be eligible to hit the largest jackpots, you have to play a higher stakes game. In general, this means competing against the poorest of keno probabilities. You may be required by casino rules to match as many as fourteen numbers.
With so many numbers selected, there is a decent chance that a few of the numbers will be drawn. However, the odds that you will hit the highest combination are extremely low. That’s why the payout is so high. In fact, as a general rule of keno math, the worse your odds of hitting a combination are, the better the payout is.
The odds of keno on fourteen number bets provide for a 2% chance of matching seven of the numbers selected. Often, matching only a few numbers will yield a payout, even if the payout is not as large as the major jackpot. Yet again this makes playing the bets backed by the best keno probabilities your safest strategy.
But if you’ve still got your eyes on the jackpot, beware. The probability of successfully matching 14 numbers to the casino is around 1 in 389 million. In other words, winning keno jackpots is close to impossible.
When we talk about “keno probabilities” we are talking about the numbers players should consider. When you hear “probability” think “probably.” If the probability is good, then you will probably win. When the probability is bad, you probably will not. When it comes to hitting the jackpot combination on your keno card, you’re almost as likely to hit none of your numbers, which is why that combination also pays so well.
Because the keno odds against hitting the highest jackpot are so poor, players would be wise to focus on smaller goals. Walking away from the game with some money in your pocket doesn’t always require matching every number drawn. Five number bets, though not as exciting as fourteen number bets, have significantly better keno odds. You still get to play keno and experience its tension and anticipation. The only thing you’ll miss out on are big losses.
Many gamblers choose casino games like keno because they enjoy the luck aspect. For them figuring the odds is just an unnecessary distraction, but remember that playing conservatively will ensure that you can spend more time playing, without losing all of your money.