Playing Keno.

If superstition, luck, premonitions or numerology is your thing, then keno is the casino game for you. The game is just like a lottery draw although there are 80 numbers to choose from. In brick and mortar casinos, the numbers are drawn from numbered ping-pong balls in a cage and there are twenty numbers drawn for each round.

All you have to do is select which numbers you think are going to be drawn and make a bet. The big difference between keno and a regular lottery is that you get to choose how many numbers to predict. You can place your bet on anything from just one number all the way up to fifteen. Depending on how many of your numbers come up you will make your winnings.

For each round you will be betting on the special keno card that shows all of the numbers from one to eighty. You also need to mark your name and the total amount that you are betting, and mark if you want to bet on more than one game.

The different bets have different odds on them, depending on how many numbers you have bet on, or other factors such as corner and side numbers. Not all casinos give the same odds so it is worth shopping around.

Keno is a real gambler's game in that there is no real skill involved on the one hand, but on the other the winnings can be huge. If all of your numbers come up on a $2 bet for ten numbers you could be looking at $50,000 in prize money or in some cases even more.

While there is no strategy involved unless you believe you have extra-sensory powers that enable you to see into the future, there are some details you should be aware of. Firstly, you must cash in your winning card before the next game starts. If you have winnings then get over to the keno counter and claim it pronto. Most casinos will not hold your winnings for you from one game to the next, and once a new game starts all unclaimed winnings are forfeited.

Another important point to keep an eye out for are specials. Sometimes casinos run special promotions that although cost more have correspondingly larger payouts. If you want to make a special promotion bet you must mark it on your card by ticking the 'special' box.

No matter how you play it, the house advantage in keno is about 20-30%. It is a good idea to play additional games while you are waiting for the keno draw. Each game takes a while until all the tickets are in, and if you are already in the casino you might as well try your hand at something that has better odds for winning, like roulette or blackjack.