What are the Main Variations of Keno?

Keno has become a hugely popular game ay online casinos for several reasons. It is simple to play, it caters to a wide variety of budgets, and depending on the variation, it can payout up to 10,000x. Similar in many ways to lottery or bingo games, keno involves buying cards and/or picking numbers and hoping to get lucky when the numbers pill out the tombola.

The numbers on keno balls range from 1-80. While the core game is simple, ‌it might surprise you to know that there are many variations that you can enjoy and that some software providers make subtle changes to create a unique keno experience. Below are the most common keno games you can play at online casinos.

• The more numbers you picked rolling out, the larger the multiplier you win.

Power Keno

While power keno shares similarities with the standard variations of this casino game, there is an interesting change to the game rules. An Australian version of the game, Power Keno uses the same regular Keno rules, but puts a lot of focus on the 20th ball; whilst most other Keno games put the focus on the first ball instead. The best thing about this variant is that you do not have to pay for a side bet to qualify for that multiplier. 

• If the 20th ball matches one of your numbers, your winnings increase 4x

Mini Keno

The name provides a clue as to what you can expect from mini keno. There are 10 balls drawn from 40 rather than 20 balls drawn from 80. While the payout structure will differ, all the other rules are the same. However, some of you might not want to wait for so many balls to draw each time and would prefer to enjoy more bets for the time spent; therefore it all depends on your preferences. 

• The biggest benefit for players of mini keno is that you get quicker rounds, which ‌allows for more games per hour.

Way Ticket Keno

As the name suggests, this variant uses the Way Ticket multiple-set bet. A way ticket in keno is a type of ticket that allows you to play multiple bets at the same time by combining a set of numbers in different ways.

This variation of keno often confuses people, but in reality, it’s quite simple. Essentially, you’re paying for multiple games on a single ticket. As a real-world example, it is like buying additional lines when purchasing tickets for lotteries. Each separate way (picked numbers but in separate bets) is independent of each other. So you might win from one ‘way’ but get nothing back from another.

Straight Ticket Keno

Straight ticket keno is the most simple and common way to play keno. It involves betting on only one set of numbers on your ticket. You can choose and mark your own numbers, usually between four and 20, from a pool of 80, and you must hit a certain amount of those numbers to receive a payout. For instance, pick one number, and that number must land for you to win a multiplier of your stake. Pick three numbers, and at least two must land. 

• Usually you will be allowed to choose up to 15 spots, but some casinos may even allow you to choose up to 40 numbers!

Progressive Jackpot Keno

If you have played progressive jackpot slots from software companies such as Microgaming and Playtech, you will understand how these network jackpots work. When playing progressive jackpots you can land up to six-figure sums, and the same goes for keno progressive jackpots. Of course, the odds of winning such a jackpot are rare, and you may pay more per card, or place a qualifying side bet; but if you win the jackpot, then this extra expense will prove well worth it. 

Bonus Spot Keno

In addition to selecting their regular keno numbers, players in bonus spot keno can also choose to play bonus numbers. These bonus numbers are typically marked separately on the keno ticket and are drawn separately from the regular numbers.

• If any of the bonus numbers drawn match the numbers selected by the player, they win additional prizes on top of any regular keno winnings. The size of the bonus prize often depends on how many bonus numbers are matched and how much was wagered on the game.

While many variations of keno like to leave it to the final ball to award multipliers, bonus spot keno does it the other way around. The first ball of the 20 balls drawn from a basket of 80 is the ‘bonus spot’, which, depending on the online casino, will award a multiplier of between 4x and 10x.

Of course, this makes no difference to the odds as it is still the same 80 to 1 of you picking that number; whether it’s the first ball drawn or the last. 

Live Dealer Keno

In live dealer keno, there is a real person acting as the dealer, or host of the game. This dealer conducts the game in real-time, drawing the keno numbers and interacting with the players through live chat or audio. Players participate in the game by selecting their keno numbers using the online interface. The dealer then draws the winning numbers using a physical ball machine or a random number generator, just like in a traditional casino!

• One of the key features of live dealer keno is the ability for players to interact with the dealer and other players in real-time. Players can chat with the dealer and fellow players, adding a social element to the online gaming experience.

Super Keno

Super keno is a variation of keno that is usually found at online casinos rather than brick-and-mortar casinos. This variation delivers a multiplier when you pick the first number drawn. Generally, that multiplier is usually 4x, but we have seen some online casinos offer multipliers of up to 10x. 

Final Thoughts 

The above list includes the most common variants of keno that you will find at online casinos, but don’t be surprised if you bump into many others along the way. Popular online software providers are always striving to add new twists to classic games, and keno is just one of many where this has happened.

Additional multipliers seem to be the current trend, and that appears to be the most common twist that you will find in modern variations of this Asian classic. So why not check out each of the different variants of keno listed above to find the one that fits your preferences?