Keno is a lottery-style casino game in which you pick numbers from 1 to 80, the game draws 20, and you're paid according to how many of your picks are caught. It's simple and quick, but land-based keno carries one of the highest house edges in the casino, so the pay table in an app's help screen is worth reading before you play.
Pick numbers from 1 to 80; the game draws 20 and pays by how many you catch.
The draw is fair; the high house edge comes from pay tables set below the true odds.
Wizard of Odds puts keno's house edge at 25% to 29%; online RTP is set per game.
UK rules for non-slot casino games apply, including a 5-second minimum per game and no autoplay.
Number pool
1 to 80
Numbers drawn
20 per game
Typical picks
Up to 10 or 15
House edge (Wizard of Odds summary)
25% to 29%
UK speed rule
At least 5 seconds per game cycle
Keno meaning and how a game works
Keno looks like a lottery played every few seconds. You choose your numbers, the game draws 20 balls from 80, and each of your numbers that comes up is a catch. The pay table then tells you what your combination of picks and catches pays.
Choose how many numbers to play, often anywhere from 1 up to 10 or 15 depending on the game.
Mark your numbers on the 1–80 grid.
Set your stake and start the draw. In the UK, each game has to be started individually.
The game draws 20 numbers and highlights your catches.
You're paid according to the pay table for your number of picks and catches.
Which numbers you choose makes no difference to the odds. No number is hot, cold or due, because every draw is independent. The RNG entry explains how online draws are produced.
Keno odds: the chance of catching every number you pick
Because 20 of the 80 numbers are drawn, the chance of catching a single pick is 20 ÷ 80, or 25%. Catching all of several picks gets much harder very quickly. The figures below are standard combinations maths: the number of ways to choose your picks from the 20 drawn, divided by the ways to choose them from all 80.
Chance of catching all your picks in one keno game
Numbers picked
Chance of catching all of them
Roughly 1 in
1
25%
4
2
6.01%
17
3
1.39%
72
4
0.31%
326
5
0.064%
1,551
10
0.0000112%
8.9 million
That last line is why ten-spot top prizes can look huge: they're paid on an event you'd expect about once in nine million games. Wizard of Odds' keno analysis (opens in a new tab) explains that the draw itself is fair, and that the high house edge comes from pay tables set well below what these true odds would justify.
Keno house edge and what it costs in pounds
Keno has one of the steepest edges of any casino game in land-based surveys. Wizard of Odds' house edge summary (opens in a new tab) lists keno at 25% to 29%, and surveys it cites found these returns:
Keno returns found in published surveys (US, land-based)
Survey
Return to player
House edge
Las Vegas live keno, 2001
65% to 80%
20% to 35%
Laughlin live keno, 2012
50% to 74%
26% to 50%
San Diego video keno, 2008
84% to 95%
5% to 16%
Online RNG keno sets its own RTP per game, and we haven't found a reliable range for UK-licensed versions, so read the figure in the help screen of the game in your app. The usual place to look is covered in finding a game's RTP in an app.
To see why it matters, compare two games at £1 a go, 60 games an hour. At a 25% house edge, the expected cost is £15 an hour. On European roulette's 2.70% edge, the same play costs about £1.62 an hour. Even video keno at a 5% edge would cost about £3 an hour. Our list of house edge by game compares more games.
UK rules for keno in casino apps
Online keno is a casino game other than a slot, so these Gambling Commission rules apply:
5-second minimum. At least 5 seconds from the start of one game cycle to the start of the next, as explained in our game speed rules page.
No autoplay. Since 17 January 2025, each game must be started individually on all online casino games.
No multi-game play. Running two or more casino games side by side isn't allowed.
Spend and time shown. Your net position and time played must be displayed in real time.
Rules before play. Pay tables and the RTP or likelihood of winning must be available before you commit to play.
The £5 and £2 stake limits apply only to online slots, so they don't cap keno stakes. That makes your own deposit limit the main brake on spending, and it's worth setting one before you open a fast game like this.
Finding keno in a casino app
Keno usually appears in the table games or instant-win part of a casino lobby. Our partners' published app details don't name keno, so check the app's game lobby. How the 80-number grid fits a phone screen is covered in keno on mobile.
Keno sits close to bingo, which also draws numbers, but there's a key difference: in bingo you play against other players for a shared prize, while in keno you play against the game's pay table. Live game shows such as Mega Ball mix the two ideas. More number-game words are in our casino app glossary.
Partner casino apps and their slot offers
None of the offers below can be used on keno: they're spins on selected slots. 18+, new customers only; terms apply.
Coral Casino: 100 free spins for betting £10 on slots after a qualifying deposit, each spin worth 10p on selected games. Accept within 48 hours and use within 7 days; no wagering on winnings. Neteller, PayPal, Paysafe, Skrill, prepaid cards and certain debit cards don't qualify. Available 1 October 2026 to 1 February 2027.
Ladbrokes Casino: up to 500 free spins, as 50 a day for your first 10 days, for depositing and spending £10 on slots. Spins are 10p each on selected games, must be claimed before 23:59 each day and last 7 days, with no wagering. Deposits made with prepaid cards, PayPal, Paysafe, Neteller, Skrill or Moneybookers won't qualify.
PlayOJO: 80 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza, 10p each, for a first deposit of £10 or more, with winnings paid in cash. New UK customers outside Northern Ireland; through the designated offer link only; not combinable with other offers.
Coral and Ladbrokes are both run by LC International Limited (Entain). If you already hold an account with one Entain brand, you may not be able to open another; check the terms first.
Significant terms: 18+. New players only. Offer runs 01/10/2026 to 01/02/2027. Deposit (certain types excluded) and bet £10+ on slot games to get 100 free spins (selected games, £0.10 each, 48 hrs to accept, valid 7 days). No wagering on free spin winnings. Deposits by Neteller, PayPal, Paysafe, Skrill, prepaid cards and certain debit cards do not qualify. Restrictions and T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read our Coral app reviewLicence: LC International Limited, Gambling Commission account 54743. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
Time limitClaim daily for 10 days; each batch valid 7 days
Worked valueUp to 500 spins at £0.10 (up to £50 in spins)
Significant terms: 18+. New customers only, from 14/11/25 until further notice. Certain deposit methods excluded. Deposit and spend £10+ on slots for 50 free spins a day during the first 10 days after first deposit and registration (max 500, £0.10 each, selected games, claim before 23:59 each day, valid 7 days). No wagering. Prepaid cards, PayPal, Paysafe, Neteller, Skrill and Moneybookers deposits do not qualify. Restrictions and T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read our Ladbrokes app reviewLicence: LC International Limited, Gambling Commission account 54743. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
Significant terms: 18+. New UK customers (excluding Northern Ireland). First deposit only. Minimum deposit £10. 80 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza, £0.10 each. No wagering requirements; winnings paid in cash. Cannot be used with any other offer. Only available to players who arrive through the designated offer link. Full T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read our PlayOJO app reviewLicence: Skill On Net Limited, Gambling Commission account 39326. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
18+. Every casino game has a built-in house edge, so over time you should expect to lose what you stake. Set a budget before you play and stop when it’s gone: safer gambling tools and support. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.
Frequently asked questions
What is keno and how do you play it?
Keno is a numbers game where you pick from 1 to 80, the game draws 20 numbers, and you're paid according to how many of your picks match. You choose how many numbers to play, set a stake and start each draw. The pay table shows what each combination of picks and catches pays. Our guide to keno on mobile explains how it looks in an app.
What are the odds of winning at keno?
It depends on how many numbers you pick. A single pick is caught 25% of the time, because 20 of 80 numbers are drawn. Catching all four of four picks happens about once in 326 games, and all ten of ten about once in 8.9 million. The pay table, not the draw, sets the house edge. Our house edge entry explains how to turn that into a cost.
Why is the keno house edge so high?
Because pay tables pay well below the true odds. The draw itself is fair, but in land-based surveys keno has returned as little as 50% to 80% for live games, and Wizard of Odds' summary lists a 25% to 29% house edge. Video keno has been found to return more. Online versions set their own RTP, so compare the figure in the help screen. See our house edge by game list.
Is keno like the lottery?
It's similar in style, because you pick numbers and wait for a draw, but keno is a casino game played against a pay table, and a new game can start every few seconds. A lottery draw happens at set times and prizes come from ticket sales. In UK apps, keno follows the rules for online casino games, including the 5-second minimum. Our game speed rules page explains that limit.
Can you use free spins on keno?
No. Free spins offers are for slots, and keno isn't a slot. Our partners' spins work only on selected slots, or on Big Bass Bonanza at PlayOJO. Some casinos run promotions for other games, but those have their own terms, and table and number games are often excluded from bonuses or count for less. Our guide to reading casino app bonus terms shows where to check.
We use no tracking cookies. We store one item in your browser to remember this notice. Casino sites may set their own cookies after you follow an advert link. Cookie policy
