Keno payouts and odds
Exact keno odds for every catch, what each pay table returns, and why the house keeps more in keno than at most other casino games.
Keno odds chart: every spot count at a glance
| 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.
Each row is one spot count – how many numbers you mark. The columns show how many you catch, the exact chance of that catch, and what this pay table pays for it.
The draw is always the same: twenty numbers out of eighty. New to the game? Start with how to play keno.
One spot: the simplest ticket
| Catch | Chance | Pays (for 1) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 of 1 | 25.00% | 3 |
| 0 of 1 | 75.00% | – |
Pick 1: exact chance of each catch when 20 of 80 numbers are drawn. Return 75.00%.
You mark one number and win if it is among the twenty drawn. On our learning pay table, a one-spot ticket returns 75.00% of what you bet over time.
Four spots: more catches, same idea
| Catch | Chance | Pays (for 1) |
|---|---|---|
| 4 of 4 | 0.31% | 120 |
| 3 of 4 | 4.32% | 4 |
| 2 of 4 | 21.26% | 1 |
| 1 of 4 | 43.27% | – |
| 0 of 4 | 30.83% | – |
Pick 4: exact chance of each catch when 20 of 80 numbers are drawn. Return 75.32%.
With four spots, you can catch zero to four numbers, and only the top catches pay. This pay table returns 75.32%; an eight-spot ticket returns 87.98%.
Ten spots: the odds of catching all your numbers
| Catch | Chance | Pays (for 1) |
|---|---|---|
| 10 of 10 | 1 in 8,911,711 | 10000 |
| 9 of 10 | 1 in 163,381 | 5000 |
| 8 of 10 | 0.01% | 1000 |
| 7 of 10 | 0.16% | 120 |
| 6 of 10 | 1.15% | 20 |
| 5 of 10 | 5.14% | 3 |
| 4 of 10 | 14.73% | – |
| 3 of 10 | 26.74% | – |
| 2 of 10 | 29.53% | – |
| 1 of 10 | 17.96% | – |
| 0 of 10 | 4.58% | 2 |
Pick 10: exact chance of each catch when 20 of 80 numbers are drawn. Return 83.59%.
Catching all ten is about one in 8,911,711. Catching eight out of eight is about one in 230,115.
The ten-spot pay table returns 83.59%, and most of that return comes from small catches, not the top prize.
Why keno payouts are low and pay tables differ
- Same draw, different pay: each casino sets its own pay table, so the same catch can pay more or less from place to place.
- Live keno: a Wizard of Odds survey of live keno in Las Vegas from two thousand one found returns of 65% to 80%.
- Video keno: a Wizard of Odds survey of video keno in San Diego from two thousand eight found returns of 84% to 95%.
- Compare: European roulette keeps 2.70% of every bet, and the baccarat banker bet keeps 1.06%.
Before you pick a spot count, check what the pay table pays for each catch, since that sets the return.
No number choice changes the odds – see keno strategy and the gambler's fallacy.
Questions
What are the odds of hitting all ten numbers in keno?
About one in 8,911,711. That is why a ten-spot ticket gets most of its return from smaller catches.
What is the return on a keno ticket?
It depends on the pay table. Our learning table returns 75.00% on one spot and 83.59% on ten spots, and a Wizard of Odds survey from two thousand one found live keno in Las Vegas returned 65% to 80%.
Why do keno payouts differ between places?
The draw is the same everywhere, but each casino chooses how much to pay for each catch. A lower pay for the same catch means a lower return for you.
Is keno worse than roulette?
In terms of house edge, yes. European roulette keeps 2.70% of each bet, while keno pay tables usually keep a much larger share.
Can picking certain numbers improve keno odds?
No. Every number has the same chance in every draw, so only the pay table changes what you get back over time.