In recent years, keno has become a very popular game both online and in real-world settings. However, as it’s all about picking patterns and combinations of numbers, players always want to know if there are any good strategies for selecting them.

Of course, right from the off, it’s important to point out that keno uses random number generators (RNGs) to select the numbers. This means that there is no way that the keno game can cheat or fix the results. As such, wins can occur but these may be completely unconnected to each other, but of course, popular patterns will be seen over the long term.

We’re going to have a look at how keno works as well as which potential patterns might be better than others. So, read on to find out more about playing keno.

Introduction to Keno

Keno probably needs no introduction, but if it does, then it’s a popular casino game originally from China. Similar, in a way, to bingo, this game has a grid with numbers on it, usually from 1 to 80. As the player, you are required to select up to 20 numbers, and then to see if the numbers you pick match those that are drawn in the game. The draw happens in a similar way to a lottery.

Depending on how many numbers you have chosen, the payout you get will vary. Picking more numbers and getting them all right, will mean that you get a bigger payout than simply picking one or two numbers.

At this point, you may be wondering what the difference is between keno and bingo. And this simply lies in the fact that you play against the house in keno. The aim is to match as many numbers as possible that you’ve picked to those that are drawn by the house. You don’t even have to match all the numbers you’ve picked in order to score a win.

And this is where players start to look at patterns to see if they actually can help you win. Let’s take a look at how that could potentially work.

How do Keno patterns work?

First, let’s be clear. As keno is a game ruled by chance (and operating using random number generators), there really isn’t a pattern involved. However, regular players obviously have their favorites and are convinced that some patterns do come up more than others. But is this actually the case or is it just coincidence? Keno patterns just serve to give a sense of stability in the game. They can also help you keep track of the numbers you’re playing, but that’s about it.

Best keno numbers combinations

Despite everything operating randomly, it does appear that there are still some numbers that come up more often than others. But, again, bear in mind that this is a game of luck, and, overall, numbers popping up more commonly doesn’t actually mean much.

Of course, as a statistical game, it is possible for some numbers to appear more often than others even though all numbers have the same odds of landing in the lottery draw. But, this simply means that players can differ in the way they make decisions, which keeps it entertaining when playing.

Hot and cold numbers

One of the more common terms associated with keno and other number-based casino games like roulette, is hot and cold numbers. These terms relate to the numbers drawn on the board.

“Cold numbers” are the ones that have yet to be drawn. Commonly, these numbers only appear in a few keno rounds or don’t even show up at all. Subsequently, these are numbers that players should be avoiding.

Conversely, “hot numbers” are those that appear to be landing more often. The technique of picking up on hot numbers is commonly used to win keno. Depending on the keno game and which provider is offering it, the keno game itself may keep track of these numbers for you. This makes it very easy for players to use these to make their decisions when picking their final numbers.

Secret keno patterns you could use

While some believe that there are secret patterns available to use, this couldn’t be further from the truth. There are no secret patterns that will give you a leg up against the game.

Winning keno patterns

Choosing which pattern to play on a keno card is probably the most fun part of the entire gaming process. It does mean you need to take time in looking at the numbers and selecting how exactly you want to play. As mentioned, you can look for numbers that keep repeating and play those, but there’s no real guarantee this will work for you in the long run. Here though, we’ll look at some of the more common patterns found across different keno games.

4-card keno patterns

This game is all about playing 2 to 10 numbers but these will be chosen across four different tables or cards at the same time. As you’re playing more cards, there are increased chances of you actually winning. Essentially, you need to get seven numbers right on half of the cards to get a good jackpot. If you’re aiming for better chances at a win, it’s best to overlap numbers across the cards rather than picking entirely new numbers for each one.

For instance, you can split numbers that come in quick succession to see if you can boost the chance of getting some right on the different cards. Or, you can choose to simply play a single horizontal row of numbers. It’s also a good idea to play two 10-number rows one after the other. Alternatively, you can opt to select two columns for two cards and then random numbers with overlaps for the other two.

Patterns for 20-card keno

As you might imagine, this is actually very similar to 4-card keno. However, it has better statistics than other keno games, though it is a little harder to build a strategy in this version of the game. There are still some popular patterns you can use though.

First, you can mix your bets across different cards. This means you can choose to play hot numbers on some cards, while you play cold numbers on others. Alternatively, you could opt to do line betting such as picking 1 to 15 for one card, but then go to 16 to 30 on the second. You can repeat this pattern for all the cards. Finally, you should stick to the strategy you have chosen even if you lose a couple of games. By frequently changing things up, you actually will impact any long-term game plan you have in place.

Clusters

Using cluster patterns can be handy for multi-card keno rather than single-card games. Some of the best cluster patterns that can elicit a win include making a cluster on the sixth spot such as betting on 1 to 6 for the first card and then 21 to 26 for the second and so on.

Line clusters are another option. With this pattern, you place a bet on two full lines on each of the cards. This means that you then have a set of ten numbers on each card. Finally, you can also opt for corner clusters, which means betting on five numbers in one of the four card corners. It’s good to play this if you’re only using one card in a game.

RTP of (online) Keno

This game has some of the worst odds in the industry. Despite that, it’s fun to play. However, it does have odds of around 70% to 90%, which means that it’s got the lowest return to player rates out of all casino games on offer.

Things you should know about playing keno

Playing keno is a lot of fun, but there are some things you should keep in mind when you begin to play. And that’s especially when you decide to employ various strategies in your gaming. If you understand the points listed below, then you’re less likely to be disappointed in the long run when things inevitably don’t quite go the way you wanted them to.

1. No tricks to winning

At the end of the day, there’s no way you can actually use any strategies or patterns to improve your winning chances. The game is always random and won’t actually respond to any strategies. Of course, strategies can give you more stability in your betting, but they’re not going to improve your chance of winning. Any winning patterns you see are simply coincidental. There’s actually no real chance that you’d have increased your probability of winning on that pattern. Essentially, your odds will always be the same no matter what strategy you implement.

2. Poor odds

Overall, keno actually has some of the worst odds of any online casino game out there. This is because your odds depend on how many numbers you choose to pick for each game. The more numbers you pick the less likely it is that all of them will land. But, if they do you can get some pretty big wins.

3. Leave when you’re ahead

Just as it is with any online betting or gambling, once you’re ahead, just stop. There’s no point in trying to keep increasing that win as this is when you run the risk of losing it all. It’s especially important not to chase any losses too. Doing so could really impact your game and in fact cause you to lose even more.

Keno strategies that can help

Okay, so we’ve outlined how it’s not really possible to win by using different patterns. But there are a variety of different strategies you can employ so that you might give yourself a better chance at success.

Again though, these strategies aren’t going to improve the odds of you winning, so you may wonder why bother. But, these strategies do help to bring meaning to a game, rather than continuing to play without having any goal. These strategies will help you make the most of your money though. And they will also give you a really good chance at boosting how much fun you have when you do play this game.

1. Get multiple game cards

For almost all keno games, it’s possible to purchase more than one card at a time. As you might imagine, by purchasing more than one card, you will boost your winning chances. Of course, if you buy more cards, you will be spending more money, but the chances of winning are increased, which is a good option to think about. Always stick to your budget though, and make sure that you don’t overspend.

2. Pick lucky numbers

As choosing the numbers on a keno card is essentially all done at random, it’s a good idea to pick numbers that are interesting to you. Many people pick lucky numbers, birthdays, or other numbers that hold some meaning. In that way, you’ll have some fun or even security with the numbers you’ve picked. It might even give you an extra boost of fun to keep playing to see if your lucky numbers do actually come through for you. You can also use this strategy to see if regular numbers keep popping up, and if they do, you can swap to them instead.

3. Stay consistent

Another option to consider is to simply be consistent. As you’re not going to actually be able to pick a set of numbers that are guaranteed to win, you might want to simply stick to the same ones. In this way, at some point during the game, the numbers will have to come up. Of course, when using this strategy, you will have to be careful about managing your bankroll so that you can last as long as it takes for your numbers to pop up.

4. Random v consecutive numbers

Another common game plan from keno players is that you shouldn’t bet on consecutive numbers. Now, we’ve already outlined options and times when you can do exactly that. While many may think that getting consecutive numbers is unlikely, this is not true. Each number has the exact same probability of landing as any other number. This means it doesn’t matter where the numbers are placed as you’re still just as likely to get it landing.

Really, for this strategy, it comes down to your own preference. If you like choosing random numbers, then go for it. But if you like picking those numbers in a single line, then opt for that. It’s all down to you in the end.

5. Martingale betting strategy

If you want a better way of managing your bankroll, then a gambling strategy such as the Martingale system could be a good option. This isn’t a way of increasing the chances of you actually winning, but it does help to protect your bankroll over time. The way it works is that every time you lose, you then double your bet. This means that you give yourself a double chance of getting back what you lost if you win the very next time round. However, this is typically used when playing roulette, and using this strategy on keno actually carries a much greater risk of losing your bankroll entirely.

6. Spread risk

Finally, you can also opt to spread the risk out by actually choosing to place bets on multiple cards. This means that you’re less likely to lose on all the cards and can spread the risk out. You may lose on a few cards, but then there are also cards that you could win on as well. It’s actually the best way to play and is the most recommended option to use if you don’t want to lose everything on just one round.

Conclusion about Keno patterns

At the end of the day, there’s absolutely no pattern or strategy that’s going to give you a better chance at actually winning this game. However, strategies are a great way to make the game more fun. They also give you a little bit more purpose and can even prevent you from losing interest in the game entirely. That being said, it’s still important to use these strategies carefully and not rely on them to bring you a win.

FAQ