Keno Guide
Keno is a casino lottery game: you pick a handful of numbers (called spots), the game draws 20 numbers from a pool of 80, and you are paid by how many of your spots are drawn. It is quick, simple and needs no skill — but it carries one of the highest house edges in the casino, often 25-30% or more. There is no strategy that turns keno into a value play, and no number is ever "due". Treat it as light entertainment, set a budget you are happy to lose, and play within your limits. The guides below explain the rules, the odds and the honest truth about strategy.
Keno guides
- How to PlayLearn to play keno step by step: pick your spots from 80 numbers, set your stake in rand, watch 20 numbers drawn and get paid by how many spots hit.
- Odds & PayoutsUnderstand keno odds and payouts: why hitting many spots is so unlikely, how the paytable scales, and why a 25 to 30% edge makes keno poor value.
- StrategyThe honest truth about keno strategy: it is pure chance, no number is due and no system beats the edge. Your only choices are spots and budget.
What keno is
Keno started as a lottery and has been a casino fixture for decades. Each round you choose how many spots to mark — typically anywhere from 1 to 10 numbers out of 80. After you set your stake in rand and lock in, the game randomly draws 20 numbers. The more of your chosen spots that appear among those 20, the more you are paid, according to a fixed paytable.
It is pure chance. Every draw is independent and random, so past results tell you nothing about the next round. There is no decision after you place your bet that changes your odds — which is part of what makes keno so simple, and also why no system can beat it.
Read these next
Start with How to Play Keno for the step-by-step round. Then see Keno Odds & Payouts to understand the long odds and the high house edge, and Keno Strategy for the honest truth about what you can and cannot control.
You can browse our full set of casino game guides or the wider guides library. If you enjoy number-draw games, you may also like our lotto section.
Frequently asked questions
Is keno a good game to win money at?
No. Keno is a game of pure luck with a high house edge, commonly 25-30% or more — mathematically one of the worst-value games in the casino. Play it for fun and entertainment, never as a way to make money, and only with money you are comfortable losing.
Can I improve my chances at keno?
Not really. Once you choose how many spots to play and your stake, the result is entirely random. You cannot influence which numbers are drawn, and no number is ever "due" to come up. The only choices in your control are how many spots to play, which paytable you use and your budget.
How old do I need to be to play keno at CasinOnline?
You must be 18 or older to gamble at a licensed South African casino. Please play responsibly and within your limits. If gambling stops being fun, take a break or use the available support tools.