Keno on mobile is a number game: you pick numbers from 1 to 80, the game draws 20, and you are paid according to how many of your picks are ‘caught’. It is simple to play on a phone, but it has one of the highest house edges in the casino. Here are the rules, the exact odds, the costs in pounds and the UK rules that apply in apps.
Keno draws 20 numbers from 80; the more you pick, the longer the odds of catching them all.
Catching all 10 of 10 picks is a 1 in 8,911,711 chance.
Wizard of Odds lists keno’s house edge at 25% to 29%; online RNG versions set their own RTP.
UK slot stake limits don’t apply to keno, but the 5-second game cycle and autoplay ban do.
Numbers
Pick from 1–80; 20 are drawn
Typical picks
Up to 10 or 15
House edge (land-based)
25%–29% (Wizard of Odds)
Minimum game cycle (UK online)
5 seconds
Autoplay
Banned since 17 January 2025
How keno on mobile works
Keno comes from lottery-style draws. You choose a set of numbers, usually called ‘spots’, from a board of 80. The game then draws 20 numbers at random. Each of your picks that appears in the draw is a ‘catch’, and the pay table tells you what you win for that number of catches.
Most games let you choose up to 10 or 15 numbers, and each ‘pick count’ has its own pay table. Picking one number and catching it pays a small amount; picking ten and catching all ten pays the top prize. In an app, the result comes from the game’s random number generator, as with other RNG casino games.
It feels close to bingo on mobile, but there is a key difference. In bingo you play against other players for shared prizes. In casino keno you play against the house, and the pay table is fixed in the casino’s favour. Our keno glossary entry has the short version.
Keno odds: your chances of catching numbers
Because 20 of 80 numbers are drawn, any single pick has a 20 in 80, or 1 in 4, chance of being caught. For more picks, the odds come from counting the possible draws: we multiplied out the combinations of drawn and undrawn numbers for each case. The table shows the chance of catching every number you pick.
Chance of catching all your picks in a 20-from-80 keno draw
Numbers picked
Catch all of them
As a percentage
1
1 in 4
25%
2
1 in 17
6.01%
3
1 in 72
1.39%
4
1 in 326
0.31%
5
1 in 1,551
0.065%
8
1 in 230,115
0.0004%
10
1 in 8,911,711
0.00001%
What usually happens on a 10-spot ticket
The top prize is not what drives most results. On a 10-pick ticket, the most likely outcomes are catching two (29.5% of draws) or three (26.7%). Catching none happens 4.6% of the time, catching five about 5.1%, and catching seven about one draw in 621.
Chance of each result when you pick 10 numbers
Catches
Chance
Roughly
0
4.58%
1 in 22
1
17.96%
1 in 5.6
2
29.53%
1 in 3.4
3
26.74%
1 in 3.7
4
14.73%
1 in 6.8
5
5.14%
1 in 19
6
1.15%
1 in 87
7
0.16%
1 in 621
8
0.0135%
1 in 7,384
9
0.0006%
1 in 163,381
10
0.00001%
1 in 8,911,711
Why keno’s house edge is so high
The draw itself is fair. The edge comes from the pay table, which pays well below what the true odds would justify. Wizard of Odds’ house edge table (opens in a new tab) lists keno at 25% to 29%, compared with 2.70% for single-zero roulette and 1.06% on the Banker bet at baccarat.
A one-spot ticket shows how it works. Your number is caught one time in four, so a fair game would return £4 for a £1 stake when it wins. If the pay table returns £3 instead, you get back £3 for every £4 staked on average: an RTP of 75% and a house edge of 25%.
Figures from real casinos back this up. Wizard of Odds’ keno guide (opens in a new tab) cites a 2001 survey of Las Vegas live keno with returns of 65% to 80%, a 2012 survey in Laughlin with 50% to 74%, and a 2008 survey of video keno in San Diego with 84% to 95%. These are US land-based figures.
Online RNG keno in a UK app has its own RTP, set by the game’s developer, and it must be shown before you play. Check the game’s help screen rather than assuming any of the figures above.
What keno costs in pounds on a phone
Expected loss is stake × house edge. Because keno’s edge can be several times that of a slot or table game, the same stake costs more per hour. UK rules require at least 5 seconds per game cycle for non-slot casino games, which still allows up to 720 draws an hour; the table assumes a gentler 60 draws an hour.
Expected loss at £1 per draw, 60 draws an hour (£60 staked)
RTP shown in the game
House edge
Expected loss per hour
75% (land-based style)
25%
£15
85% (example)
15%
£9
95% (example)
5%
£3
97.3% (single-zero roulette for comparison)
2.70%
£1.62
The middle rows are examples to show the range; plug in the RTP from your game. Lowering your stake per draw is the simplest way to reduce the hourly cost, and picking fewer numbers gives smaller but more frequent returns. Neither changes the edge. Our house edge by game page puts keno alongside every other format.
Hot numbers, patterns and other keno myths
Some keno games display recent results, which makes it tempting to look for ‘hot’ or ‘cold’ numbers. They do not help. Each draw is independent, so a number that has not appeared for 30 games is no more likely to come up next than any other.
Patterns on the board: picking a row, a corner or a diagonal makes no difference; every set of the same size has identical odds.
Raising stakes after losses: systems such as Martingale don’t change the edge. They raise your stakes quickly and can hit the game’s maximum bet. Wizard of Odds on betting systems (opens in a new tab) explains the maths.
Playing more spots for value: more picks bring bigger top prizes, but the pay table still sets the return.
UK rules support this: games must use acceptably random outcomes that follow their published probabilities. See do casino apps rig games for how that is tested.
Playing keno on an iPhone or Android phone
An 80-number board is the main challenge on a phone. Numbers are small, so it is easy to tap the wrong one. Check your selection before you confirm the draw, and use any clear or random-selection option the game provides if it makes picking easier.
Keno suits portrait play in many games because the board and the draw display stack neatly. Data use is light compared with live casino, since there is no video stream. If your connection drops mid-draw, see what happens if your app crashes mid-game.
UK rules for keno in casino apps
Keno in a UK casino app is a non-slot casino game, so the rules that came in on 17 January 2025 apply. Under RTS 14 on responsible product design (opens in a new tab), non-slot casino games need at least 5 seconds per game cycle, and players can’t play multiple games at the same time.
Keno is not named in our partners’ store listings, so check the app’s game lobby before signing up. The Casumo app is a combined casino and sports app on iPhone (52.5 MB, iOS 15.0 or later), and Casumo’s website lists 6,000+ games. The 10bet Casino app is one sportsbook and casino app (112.3 MB, iOS 16.0 or later), with 3,000+ casino games in its Google Play description.
Be realistic about bonuses if keno is your game. Casino bonuses often exclude games like keno or count them for less, and 10bet’s bonus must be wagered on slots, so check the terms before you opt in. All offers are for new customers aged 18 or over; terms apply.
Casumo: opt in and make a first deposit of at least £20 to get a 50% bonus up to £100. Wager the bonus 10 times within 7 days, with a £5 maximum bet while it is active. A £20 deposit gives a £10 bonus and £100 of wagering; the full £100 bonus needs a £200 deposit and £1,000 of wagering. Game, play and payment restrictions apply.
10bet Casino: choose the casino welcome bonus at sign-up and make your first deposit within 7 days for a 100% match up to £25. Wager the bonus 10 times on slots within 3 days (£250 for the full bonus). Bonus winnings are capped at £1,000, and Skrill and Neteller deposits are excluded.
Coral Casino: deposit and bet £10+ on slots for 100 free spins at 10p on selected games. Accept within 48 hours; spins last 7 days, with no wagering on winnings. Runs to 1 February 2027; PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, Paysafe, prepaid and certain debit cards don’t qualify.
Wagering still costs money: £250 of slot play at a 96% RTP has an expected cost of £10, which is part of the bonus’s real value. Our guide to how wagering works in casino apps explains the 10x cap.
Significant terms: 18+. New customers only. Opt-in required. 50% deposit bonus up to £100 on first deposit. Minimum deposit £20. 10x wagering on the bonus amount. Maximum bet or spin £5. Bonus valid for 7 days. Game, play and payment method restrictions apply. Full T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Significant terms: 18+. New UK customers only. Select the casino welcome bonus at sign-up and make your first deposit within 7 days. 100% bonus up to £25. Wager the bonus 10x on slots within 3 days. Maximum bonus winnings £1,000. Skrill and Neteller deposits do not qualify. Bonus is not redeemable. Full T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read our 10bet app reviewLicence: Blue Star Planet Limited, Gambling Commission account 43173. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
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.
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
How does keno work on a phone?
You pick numbers from a board of 80, the game draws 20 at random, and you are paid by a pay table based on how many of your picks are caught. On a phone you tap numbers to select them and start each draw yourself, because autoplay is banned in Great Britain. Each pick count has its own pay table. See our guide to RNG games on mobile for how results are generated.
What are the odds of winning at keno?
It depends on how many numbers you pick. A single pick is caught one time in four. Catching all five of five picks is about 1 in 1,551, and all ten of ten is 1 in 8,911,711. Smaller wins are much more common, but the pay table sets the return. Compare keno with other formats on our house edge by game page.
What is the house edge on keno?
Wizard of Odds lists keno’s house edge at 25% to 29%, one of the highest in a casino. US surveys of land-based live keno found returns of 50% to 80%, and video keno 84% to 95%. Online RNG keno sets its own RTP, which must be shown before you play, so check the game’s help screen. Our house edge glossary entry explains the term.
How many numbers should I pick in keno?
There is no number that improves your expected return, because each pick count has its own pay table and the house edge applies to all of them. Fewer picks give smaller, more frequent returns; more picks give rarer, larger ones. Choose based on how you like a session to feel, and set your stake to suit your budget. See low stakes games on mobile for cheaper ways to play.
Do hot and cold numbers work in keno?
No. Each keno draw is random and independent, so a number that has come up often, or not at all, is no more or less likely in the next draw. Picking patterns on the board makes no difference either; every set of the same size has the same odds. UK rules require outcomes to follow the game’s published probabilities. More in do casino apps rig games.
Do UK slot stake limits apply to keno?
No. The £5 and £2 stake limits cover online slots, which the Gambling Commission defines as reel-based casino games, so they don’t apply to keno. Keno does fall under the non-slot casino game rules from 17 January 2025, including a 5-second minimum game cycle and no autoplay. Set your own deposit limit instead. See our game speed rules page.
Can I use a casino bonus on keno?
Often not, or not fully. Bonuses commonly exclude games such as keno or count them for less towards wagering, and some, like 10bet’s, must be wagered on slots. Casumo’s offer carries game restrictions. Always read the terms before you opt in, and never assume keno play clears a bonus. Our guide to reading casino app bonus terms shows what to look for.
Is keno the same as the lottery?
They look alike, since both involve picking numbers and a draw, but casino keno is played against the house. It draws 20 numbers from 80 and pays fixed prizes from a pay table the casino sets, with a house edge built in. In an app, keno is an RNG casino game run by a UK-licensed casino operator, not a lottery operator. Compare it with bingo on mobile.
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