How To Play Keno

Keno not bust

It can be fairly stated that gamblers come in two broad categories. First, there are the individuals who make a serious practice of playing games of chance. These folks generally tend to focus on what are called "skill games" such as poker, craps, blackjack, and others. Obviously, in order to be successful in this field, a tremendous amount of time and effort is required, no to mention a little luck.

The second category consists of the gamblers who only set foot in a casino as a means of diversion and entertainment. These folks would find the idea of attempting a career as a professional gambler totally ridiculous. They are much more apt to play games like slots, roulette or keno.

All of this is not to suggest that keno, for instance, is game which cannot be played seriously. Far from it. In fact, the game of keno has gotten an unduly harsh rap from most of the gambling community. Sure, it's basically luck, but there are some consistently successful keno players who are able to play in a much smarter manner than the rest of the pack. Let's review the basics of the game:

Similar in some ways to a lottery, a player chooses from one to 20 numbers and marks them on a ticket containing a total of 80 numbers. The casino then chooses 20 numbers at random. The player is paid against the original bet based on how many numbers match the ones marked on the ticket.

Casino employees known as "keno runners" circulate the gaming floor with number selection cards to anyone who wants to play. After selecting numbers and recording them at the booth, players watch the winning keno numbers light up on a video monitor. It's a heck of an exciting thing to be a part of. (Sorry for the dangling participle.)

As the winning numbers flash, the player marks them on his or her keno card. A winning ticket must to be taken to the booth promptly because the next drawing will usually start within five minutes. If the player tries to redeem a winning ticket after the next drawing has begun, it's void and no winning are paid.

Obviously, the casino always enjoys a healthy advantage against the player in keno, more so than in almost any other game. (This is why most serious gamblers shun keno like a social disease.) On certain bets, the edge can be as high as 66%, but that's rare. The normal house edge for a casino game is between 1percent and 5 percent.

Minimum bets can be as low as a nickel for all you tightwads out there. Most casinos only accept wagers of a one dollar or more. When you look at these figures, how much can you really lose? Obviously, if you are the kind of gambler who needs high-stakes action in order to stay awake at the table, this might not be the ideal game. But for the vast majority of Americans who are in search of a little casino-related adrenaline rush that won't destroy their savings account, this is a good option for consistent fun. So go ahead, give keno a shot.