Online keno: rules, odds and costs

What is online keno?

Online keno is a number-draw game descended from lottery-style keno halls. You choose a set of numbers, called spots, from a board. The game then draws 20 numbers at random and pays you according to how many of your spots were drawn, which players call catches. It sits with the specialty titles in our online casino games section rather than with slots or table games.

The version at most RTG-powered offshore casinos is RealTime Gaming's Keno. Third-party catalog data lists it as released on April 15, 2018. GamesHub notes a quick-pick option that chooses numbers for you. Nobody publishes an RTP for it in the sources we use, and the top prize is reported two ways: 250 times the stake by SlotCatalog and $50,000 by GamesHub.

Keno takes seconds per game and has no skill element beyond choosing how many spots to play and how much to stake. That makes it easy to learn and easy to over-play, so the odds and costs below matter. For a plain walk-through of the format in general, see our how to play keno guide.

How to play RTG Keno online

Standard keno uses a board of 80 numbers with 20 drawn per game. The figures on this page assume that standard format; check the game's help screen to confirm the board and draw size before you play.

1. Set your stake per game, and decide in advance how many games you'll play.
2. Choose how many spots to play. Fewer spots means smaller prizes that land more often; more spots means bigger prizes that rarely land.
3. Pick your numbers on the board, or use quick pick to let the game choose. The odds are identical either way.
4. Open the pay table for your spot count and note what each number of catches pays.
5. Start the draw. The game draws 20 numbers and highlights your catches.
6. Collect any payout from the pay table, then check your balance against your limit before the next game.

Online keno odds: how often you catch every spot

Keno odds aren't a casino secret. With 80 numbers and 20 drawn, the chance of any result follows directly from counting combinations. The table below is computed for standard 80-number, 20-draw keno and shows the chance of catching all of your spots.

Each extra spot makes a full catch several times harder. A 10-spot full catch is roughly a one-in-nine-million event, so even someone playing thousands of games a year will very likely never see one.

Partial catches on 4-spot and 6-spot tickets

On a 6-spot ticket, more than half of all games end with zero or one catch. Whether two or three catches pay anything depends on the pay table, which is why the next section matters.

Online keno RTP: why it isn't published and how to work it out

RTG doesn't publish a return for Keno in any source we can verify, and neither do the casinos featured here. You can still calculate it, because keno's odds are fixed. The return for a spot count is the sum of each payout multiplied by its probability.

1. Pick one spot count, for example 4 spots.
2. From the pay table, note the total amount paid back on a $1 bet for each number of catches.
3. Multiply each payout by its probability from the table above.
4. Add the results. That total is the return per $1; take it from $1 to get the house edge.

A quick sanity check uses the 1-spot ticket. You catch your number 25% of the time, so a fair game would pay back $4 in total on a $1 winning bet. Any pay table that returns less than $4 on a 1-spot hit is keeping the difference. Our house edge guide and the entry on what RTP means explain the idea in more depth.

Keno pay tables can differ between spot counts in the same game, so the return on 4 spots may not match the return on 8. Do the calculation for the spot count you actually play.

Keno max win: two conflicting figures

SlotCatalog lists RTG Keno's top payout as 250 times the stake, while GamesHub gives a $50,000 maximum. Those can't both describe the same limit in the same way, and neither source explains the difference. At a $1 stake, 250x would be $250.

Treat the pay table in the game as the only reliable figure. Also remember that the casino's own terms can cap what you withdraw, especially if you're playing with bonus money; see max cashout rules.

Keno and casino bonuses: one of the few non-slot exceptions

Most welcome bonuses are slot-only, but keno is sometimes allowed. That's the main reason the casinos on this page were chosen for keno players. Here's what the published terms say.

A worked example at SlotoCash: deposit $50 and take a 200% match on the first deposit (the first-deposit match on SlotoCash's welcome bonus terms (opens in a new tab)), giving a $100 bonus. At 25x deposit plus bonus, you must wager $150 × 25 = $3,750. Because keno's edge isn't published, you can't price that exactly, but every 1% of house edge costs about $37.50 over that much play. If your calculation shows a 10% edge on your chosen spot count, the expected cost is around $375, well over the $100 bonus.

At Silver Oak, the casino's terms and conditions (opens in a new tab) apply 40x to keno. On a $100 bonus that's $4,000 of play if the rollover counts the bonus alone, or $8,000 on deposit plus bonus. Check which applies at sign-up. Our wagering requirements guide walks through the method.

Keno winnings and taxes: the W-2G rule

Keno has its own tax reporting rule. According to the IRS instructions for Form W-2G (opens in a new tab), for payments made in 2026, keno winnings of $2,000 or more, after subtracting the wager, are reportable. Regular gambling withholding doesn't apply to keno, though backup withholding of 24% can apply if you don't give a correct taxpayer ID.

All gambling winnings are taxable federal income, reported or not, including winnings from offshore casinos. From the 2026 tax year, the 2025 tax law reportedly limits the loss deduction to 90% of losses; check IRS guidance. Keep a record of each session's stakes and results. See gambling taxes and what a W-2G is.

Keno myths: hot numbers, patterns and quick pick

Every draw is independent. The game doesn't remember previous draws, so a number that has come up often isn't "hot" and one that hasn't appeared isn't "due". The random number generator picks each set of 20 fresh.

• Quick pick and your own numbers have exactly the same odds.
• Patterns on the board, such as rows or corners, don't change anything.
• Playing more spots doesn't improve value by itself; it only changes the shape of the payouts.
• Raising stakes after a loss doesn't make a win more likely. It only increases what you can lose.

Is online keno legal in the US?

Your state's law decides, not the game. Only seven states license real-money online casinos: New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, West Virginia, Delaware, Connecticut and Rhode Island. Everywhere else, no state licenses online casino games, keno included. Our guide to states with legal online casinos covers each one.

The casinos featured here are offshore. No US state licenses or regulates them, so there's no state regulator to complain to and no state protection for your balance. The Michigan Gaming Control Board has named all three in cease-and-desist actions, calling them illegal offshore operators: Silver Oak on April 9, 2025, Slot Madness on August 14, 2025, and SlotoCash in its October 8, 2026 release (opens in a new tab). Read are offshore casinos safe before you deposit.

Setting limits for fast keno games

Online keno can run a game every few seconds, which makes it easy to lose track. Decide on a number of games and a budget before you start, and stop when you reach either. The gambling budget guide helps you set one.

If keno or any gambling stops feeling like entertainment, help is free and confidential. Call or text the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738), or use chat through NCPG's helpline page (opens in a new tab). Our responsible gambling hub lists blocking tools and state programs.

Where to play online keno for real money

These casinos were chosen because the published facts link them to keno. They are offshore casinos, not licensed by any US state, so check your state's law first. You must be 21+ (18+ where allowed), and terms apply.

• SlotoCash Casino: $6,000 Welcome Bonus + 60 Free Spins, via our link (new players, 21+ or 18+ where allowed, terms apply). SlotoCash's own site advertises a different package, $7,777 + 300 spins over five deposits, with 25x (deposit + bonus) wagering, a $20 minimum per bonus and no max cashout; keno is an eligible game (casino's own terms). The terms shown at sign-up apply.
• Silver Oak Casino: $2,500 Welcome Bonus + 50 Free Spins, via our link (new players, 21+ or 18+ where allowed, terms apply). Its own site advertises a 100% match on each of the first ten deposits with 'no max withdrawal', deposits from $30, and 40x wagering on keno in its terms (30x on the offer page).
• Slot Madness Casino: $2,500 Welcome Bonus + 50 Free Spins, via our link (new players, 21+ or 18+ where allowed, terms apply). Third-party reviews report a 275% match for slots and keno, a $30 minimum, 30x (bonus + deposit) wagering and no max cashout, and list Keno in its lobby (esports.gg's Slot Madness review (opens in a new tab)).

Free spins are for slots only. We earn a commission from these links and list the casinos in a commercial order. See the full comparison on our best keno casinos list.

21+ (18+ where allowed). 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: responsible gambling tools and free help. Gambling problem? Call or text 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738).