It won’t commonly be considered the best game in the arena of betting, but keno has loads of devout players. And it should! It’s a regularly thrilling lotto-type game that’s simple to play, abundantly available in several different formats, and one that can yield millions of dollars for gamblers who master its uncounted subtle nuances. But let’s deal with the beginner’s rules here.
When explaining keno to newbies, some gaming connoisseurs compare it to bingo. This is at least in some measure apt, in that both games are fundamentally numerical. Yet to carry that comparison too far will be to devalue the countless unique aspect that make keno so compelling. Unlike bingo, keno players have the freedom to choose the numbers for every card.
Keno cards have a total of 80 numbers, but the gambler is given an increased level of personal responsibility by being able to choose as many (or as few) numbers as she desires. And it doesn’t take a nuclear physicist to figure out how to fill out a card: all you do is circle or otherwise mark each of your selected numbers with a standardpen like you used back in the day.
Once you have checked your numbers, take your game card back to the nice person at the keno booth. The person will record those numbers and then hand you a receipt. Don’t misplace this (potentially) expensive bit of paper! Even if the keno pit manager remembers your mug and would like to help out, without a winning slip with you, you will get exactly $.00 for your winning card.
And there you have strategy #1: always take care to keep your keno receipt. Let’s go on to something a tiny bit more useful, yes?
Now that you’ve picked out your numbers, get into a comfortable keno booth and watch the action take place on the video monitor. This is where the winning numbers are shown for all to see. If you picked winners, mark your card accordingly. Make sure not to dilly dally, or sit there congratulating yourself for too great a length of time. You want to get up to the keno stand to get your winnings, since a new round of keno will almost certainly start within not too many minutes.
Strategy #2: always get back to the keno booth on time!
Since you can not trust yourself to beat that 5 minute deadline each time, you always have the option of buying a "multi-race" ticket. These include the very same set of your picked numbers on anywhere from 2 to twenty slips. When the maximum amount of rounds (matching the amount of tickets) is played out, you will then be able to get off your numb rump and go get your winnings.
Yet an additional option is known as a "stray and play" keno card, which generally lets you make number selection for 30 rounds or more. Golly, you can take all the time in the world and not have to worry about getting back in time to retrieve your numbers. Most "stray and play" game cards are good for up to a whole year after purchase!
And now you have learned a couple indispensable schemes for winning keno. If you are a skillful gambler, they might seem stupidly obvious. However, it won’t hurt to bone up on the basic methods, and if you are a newbie player, every bit of advice will help make your keno playing more exciting.
