Keno is one of the oldest number games in the casino. You pick a few numbers, the game draws a batch at random, and you get paid for how many of yours came up. Online, keno sits with the instant games and the provably fair “originals” next to Mines and Plinko.
It looks like pure luck, and it is. But the odds behind it are exact, and once you know them you can see how much any keno paytable gives back. This guide shows how.
How keno works
- Pick your numbers. You choose some numbers (“spots”) on the grid. Each game sets how many you can pick; this guide covers 1 to 10.
- The draw. The game draws a set of numbers at random.
- Count your catches. Each of your numbers that was drawn is a “catch”.
- Get paid. The paytable says what each number of catches pays, and it is different for each pick count.
The classic format is a grid of 1 to 80 with 20 numbers drawn. That is the format we use below. Some online games use smaller grids or draw fewer numbers, so check your game’s rules. The method at the end of this guide works for any grid.
How the numbers were worked out
All chances in this guide are our own calculation for the 80/20 format. None are taken from a game provider.
For any pick count, the chance of catching exactly c of your k numbers is:
(ways to choose c of the 20 drawn numbers) × (ways to choose the other k − c from the 60 not drawn) ÷ (ways to choose k from 80)
In maths notation, C(20, c) × C(60, k − c) ÷ C(80, k). It is the same counting as drawing cards from a deck.
A quick check: with one pick, 20 of the 80 numbers are drawn, so the chance of a catch is 20/80 = 25%, or 1 in 4.
On average a quarter of your picks will be caught: 1 of 4 picks, 2.5 of 10 picks. Catching most or all of your numbers is far rarer than that suggests.
Catch odds for 1 to 10 picks
Chances of catching exactly this many numbers (80 numbers, 20 drawn):
| Picks | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 75.0% | 25.0% | ||||
| 2 | 56.0% | 38.0% | 6.01% | |||
| 3 | 41.6% | 43.1% | 13.9% | 1.39% | ||
| 4 | 30.8% | 43.3% | 21.3% | 4.33% | 0.306% | |
| 5 | 22.7% | 40.6% | 27.1% | 8.39% | 1.21% | 0.0645% |
| 6 | 16.7% | 36.4% | 30.8% | 13.0% | 2.85% | 0.310% |
| 7 | 12.2% | 31.5% | 32.7% | 17.5% | 5.22% | 0.864% |
| 8 | 8.83% | 26.6% | 32.8% | 21.5% | 8.15% | 1.83% |
| 9 | 6.38% | 22.1% | 31.6% | 24.6% | 11.4% | 3.26% |
| 10 | 4.58% | 18.0% | 29.5% | 26.7% | 14.7% | 5.14% |
And for the higher catches:
| Picks | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 1 in 7,753 | ||||
| 7 | 1 in 1,366 | 1 in 40,979 | |||
| 8 | 1 in 423 | 1 in 6,232 | 1 in 230,115 | ||
| 9 | 1 in 175 | 1 in 1,690 | 1 in 30,682 | 1 in 1,380,688 | |
| 10 | 1 in 87 | 1 in 621 | 1 in 7,384 | 1 in 163,381 | 1 in 8,911,711 |
Three things stand out:
- Catching nothing is common. With 10 picks you catch none about 1 time in 22.
- The top prize gets rare very fast. Catching all 5 of 5 is about 1 in 1,551. All 10 of 10 is about 1 in 8.9 million.
- The middle is where most results land. With 10 picks, catching 2 or 3 happens more than half the time (56%). Whether those pay anything decides how often you see a win.
How to work out a paytable’s return
Keno paytables differ a lot from game to game, so we don’t quote one. Instead, here is how to check the one in front of you:
- Find the paytable for your pick count. Note what each number of catches pays, as a multiple of your stake (total return, including the stake).
- Multiply each payout by its chance from the tables above.
- Add them up. That is the game’s return (RTP) for that pick count. One minus that figure is the house edge.
Example only, an invented paytable for 3 picks: 3 catches pay 40× your stake and 2 catches pay 2×, anything else pays nothing.
- 3 catches: 1.39% × 40 = 0.555
- 2 catches: 13.9% × 2 = 0.278
- Return: about 0.83, or 83%. House edge about 17%.
Do the same for each pick count you are thinking about. The payouts for the same number of catches differ from one pick count to the next, so the return can change too. If a game shows its RTP in the help or info screen, this sum lets you see where that return comes from. Our RTP and volatility explainer covers what RTP does and doesn’t tell you.
Picks, risk and how wins feel
- Few picks (1 to 4): small prizes, winning rounds come more often. Your balance moves slowly.
- Many picks (8 to 10): most rounds pay little or nothing, and big results are very rare. Your balance moves in long losing runs with occasional jumps.
Neither is “better”. They are different volatility at whatever return the paytable gives. If you play with a fixed budget, fewer picks usually last longer; more picks give a small chance of a large hit.
Hot numbers, patterns and quick picks
- No number is hot or cold. A fair draw has no memory, so every number has the same chance each round.
- Patterns don’t help. Picking a row, a corner or a birthday doesn’t change the odds. Every set of k numbers has exactly the same chance of being caught.
- Quick pick is just as good. A random selection by the game has the same odds as numbers you chose by hand.
- Provably fair keno (common in casino “originals”) lets you check after each round that the draw wasn’t changed. It proves fairness, not better odds.
Where to find keno
Keno is mostly found in instant-win or “originals” sections. When we checked our casino data on 31 October 2026, these casinos listed keno by name:
| Casino | INR | UPI | From our data |
|---|---|---|---|
| BC.Game | Yes | Yes | Keno in the BC Originals section |
| BlueChip | Yes | Yes | Keno, bingo and lottery among game categories |
| Winz.io | Yes | No | Keno and bingo among game types |
| BetFury | No | No | Keno among its provably fair Originals |
| Grailbet | No | No | Keno among its provably fair Originals |
| TheOnlineCasino | No | No | Keno on its “Other Games” page |
Lobbies change, so search for “Keno” before you deposit. Bonus money may not count in full on these games: read our wagering requirements guide first.
Play within limits
Keno rounds are fast, and many quick draws add up to a lot of money staked. Pick your stake knowing how rarely the top prizes land, set a session budget and a time limit, and stop when you reach either. Our responsible gambling page has tools and support.
Frequently asked questions
How does keno work?
You pick some numbers from a grid, the game draws a set of numbers at random, and you are paid according to how many of your picks were drawn (your 'catches') and how many numbers you picked. Classic keno uses a grid of 1 to 80 with 20 numbers drawn, but online games vary, so check the grid and draw size in your game.
What are the odds of catching all my numbers in keno?
With 20 of 80 numbers drawn: 1 in 4 for one pick, about 1 in 72 for three of three, 1 in 1,551 for five of five and about 1 in 8.9 million for ten of ten. These are our calculations from the 80/20 format.
How many numbers should I pick in keno?
No count is 'best' in itself. Fewer picks give smaller, more frequent wins; more picks make the top prize huge but very rare. What matters is the paytable for that pick count, so compare the return of each using the method in this guide.
Is keno like the lottery?
It works in a similar way: numbers are drawn at random and you win by matching them. The difference is that online keno rounds are quick and can be replayed straight away, so you can play far more draws in a session.
Can I spot hot or cold numbers in keno?
No. In a fair draw every number has the same chance each round. A number that came up five times in a row is no more or less likely to be drawn next time.