Free keno simulator
Pick your numbers, press Draw, and see how a keno game pays – no sign-up, no money, just the real math.
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How to play keno in four steps
- Pick one to ten numbers on the board of eighty, or press Quick pick.
- Choose a chip for your bet.
- Press Draw. The game draws twenty numbers.
- Check the matches. Your hits light up, and the pay table shows what they pay.
Start with an eight-spot ticket so you can compare your results with the pay table below.
Full rules: how to play keno.
The pay table and its return
| Numbers picked | Best prize (for 1) | Chance to catch all | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | 1 in 4 | 75.00% |
| 2 | 12 | 1 in 17 | 72.15% |
| 3 | 40 | 1 in 72 | 69.38% |
| 4 | 120 | 1 in 326 | 75.32% |
| 5 | 750 | 1 in 1,551 | 79.67% |
| 6 | 1500 | 1 in 7,753 | 65.41% |
| 7 | 5000 | 1 in 40,979 | 77.65% |
| 8 | 10000 | 1 in 230,115 | 87.98% |
| 9 | 10000 | 1 in 1,380,688 | 82.10% |
| 10 | 10000 | 1 in 8,911,711 | 83.59% |
Our example video keno pay table. Casinos set their own pay tables; the return changes with them.
This pay table is an example for learning. Each casino sets its own table, so payouts and return change from place to place.
Example: an eight-spot ticket on our table has a return of 87.98%. Over many draws, the share of your total bet that you get back tends to get closer to that number, and the rest stays with the house. More detail: keno payouts.
Real keno returns
- Live keno in Las Vegas: about 65% to 80% return (survey from the early two-thousands, Wizard of Odds).
- Video keno in San Diego: about 84% to 95% return (survey from the late two-thousands, Wizard of Odds).
These are older surveys from two places, so today's pay tables may differ. Both ranges are lower than most table games, and the missing part of each bet is the house edge.
Odds of a big catch
| Catch | Chance | Pays (for 1) |
|---|---|---|
| 8 of 8 | 1 in 230,115 | 10000 |
| 7 of 8 | 0.02% | 1500 |
| 6 of 8 | 0.24% | 90 |
| 5 of 8 | 1.83% | 12 |
| 4 of 8 | 8.15% | 2 |
| 3 of 8 | 21.48% | – |
| 2 of 8 | 32.81% | – |
| 1 of 8 | 26.65% | – |
| 0 of 8 | 8.83% | – |
Pick 8: exact chance of each catch when 20 of 80 numbers are drawn. Return 87.98%.
A "catch" is a number you picked that gets drawn. Catching all eight out of eight happens about one time in 230,115 tickets.
Most tickets catch only a few numbers, or none, and pay nothing.
No skill, no system
- Every draw is random – past draws do not change the next one.
- Quick pick and your own numbers have the same odds.
- "Hot" and "cold" numbers mean nothing. See the gambler's fallacy.
Treat each ticket as a lottery ticket: the fun is the draw, not a plan to win.
Why no method helps: keno strategy.
Questions
Can I play keno free on this site?
Yes. The simulator uses play chips only, with no money and no sign-up. It is built to show how keno pays and how often numbers hit.
What are the odds of catching all eight numbers in keno?
On an eight-spot ticket, catching all eight happens about one time in 230,115 tickets. Most tickets catch far fewer numbers.
What return does keno have?
It depends on the casino's pay table. A Wizard of Odds survey from the early two-thousands found live keno in Las Vegas returns about 65% to 80%, and a later survey of video keno in San Diego from the late two-thousands found about 84% to 95%. Our example eight-spot table returns 87.98%.
Does Quick pick change my chances?
No. Quick pick numbers and numbers you choose yourself have exactly the same odds, because every draw is random.
Is there a keno strategy that wins?
No. Keno is a lottery-style game with no skill, and the house edge wins over time no matter which numbers or how many you pick.