People have been playing Keno for about 2,000 years. Although the game originated in China, it has become popular in many other countries, too. Would you like to play Keno online at one of the best Canadian Keno casinos? Learn more about how to play Keno and where to play Keno casino games below.
Canada’s Best Keno Online Casino Sites in 2024
Top Online Keno Casinos For (December 2024)
- About Keno
- How to Play Keno at an Online Casino
- Online Keno Rules
- Keno Online Game Variations
- Keno Bets Explained
- Keno Game Terminology
- Keno Tips and Strategies
- Free Keno vs. Real Money Keno
- How to Choose the Right Online Keno Casino
- Keno Bonuses and Promotions
- Keno Banking
- Playing Keno on Mobile
- Keno Software Providers
- Conclusion
- FAQs
About Keno
Canadian online casinos provide players with the chance to play a variety of online casino games that are easy to learn, including online blackjack and online roulette. But you could argue that playing Keno online is the easiest way to get in on the action that goes on in real money casinos.
People love the simplicity of playing Keno online. It’s a lottery-style game that calls for players to select up to 20 numbers from the sheets used for Keno games that typically feature 80 numbers total. Players then decide how much to wager on each of their online Keno numbers and how many drawings they’d like to take part in during a Keno casino game. From there, they can simply sit back and wait to see if their numbers are called to make them winners at Keno casinos!
The best part about playing Keno online is that it’s simple to learn how to do it and very exciting once you get the hang of live Keno games. The average Keno online game also moves quickly so you won’t have to wait too long at all to see if the bets you place at a Keno casino are successful. You won’t have to sit around waiting for action like you do when playing slower-moving games like online poker.
Origins and History
Long before people started playing Keno online through the best Keno casinos, the Han dynasty that ruled China from 206 B.C. through 220 A.D. used the game for a more practical purpose. It was reportedly introduced to the Chinese people and utilized to raise money to pay for the construction of the Great Wall.
Keno fell off the map for quite a few years once the Great Wall was completed, but it never completely went away in China. Those living in remote villages played the game by employing carrier pigeons to carry tickets around and distribute the results of Keno games. Keno also got its big break in the 1800s when some Chinese people started heading to the United States of America to help build the Transcontinental Railroad. This led to the birth of the Keno casino game in the Western world — and it wasn’t long before it spread to cities throughout it and eventually made its way to online casinos and casino apps in the 2000s.
Once upon a time, it took a lot of patience to play Keno casino games. But now that people can play Keno online, it’s one of the faster-paced online casino games and appeals to both beginners and long-time online casino players alike.
How to Play Keno at an Online Casino
Are you preparing to play Keno online for the first time? It’s always a little intimidating playing a new casino game, even when you’re playing it online, but you’ll be happy to hear that Keno casinos make it so easy to play. Here are simple step-by-step instructions to help you get started.
- Choose a Reputable Keno Casino: Start by searching for the right online Keno casino from the Keno casinos listed here.
- Register for an Account and Deposit Funds: Sign up for an account with a Keno casino and make your first deposit.
- Select the Keno Online Game: Look for the Keno online game on your preferred Keno casino website.
- Choose Your Online Keno Numbers: Get your hands on a Keno online card, which usually includes 80 numbers, and pick up to 20 numbers to bet on.
- Place Your Bets on Keno Online: Check out the payout table for Keno online numbers and decide what your bet size will be. You can also opt to keep these same numbers for multiple online Keno draws.
- Watch the Live Keno Draw: Relax and enjoy the live Keno draw that takes place while keeping an eye on your online Keno numbers to see how many matches you get.
- Collect Your Online Keno Winnings: Find out how much money you’ve won while playing Keno online and gather your winnings before choosing whether you’d like to start the game over again.
There is almost no learning curve associated with playing Keno online. From the second you sit down to start playing at a Keno casino, you’ll appreciate the simplicity of the game.
Online Keno Rules
Although playing Keno online is easier than playing most other online casino games, you will need to keep some simple rules in mind as you play. Let’s take a look at several of the rules you’ll need to remember before depositing funds at a Keno casino using one of the many casino payment options available to you.
Securing a Keno card: To play Keno online, you’ll need to begin by acquiring a Keno card, which is also sometimes referred to as a Keno board at some Keno casinos. It has numbers displayed from 1 to 80, and your goal will be to pick the right numbers, also known as “spots,” on an online Keno card to match the numbers selected by a random number generator.
Choosing numbers on a Keno card: Once you have a Keno card at a Keno casino, you can choose anywhere from 1 to 20 numbers on it. The total number of spots that you pick on a Keno board will have a direct impact on the potential payouts you can receive if you match the numbers chosen by a random number generator. The fewer numbers you select, the higher your payouts will be while playing Keno online.
Paying attention to the pay table: As you start selecting online Keno numbers from your Keno board, a paytable that will showcase the odds for your Keno online bets will appear. Don’t forget to sneak a peek at this pay table every time you add another number to the mix to see what impact it’ll have on your possible payouts. Different Keno casinos also take different approaches to how much they pay out during their live Keno games, so make sure you know how a specific Keno casino handles payout percentages before playing.
Landing on the right bet amount: Just before a live Keno draw occurs at live casinos, you can decide how much to bet on Keno online. The more you wager on Keno numbers, the more you’ll win if your numbers match the numbers selected by the random number generator. Increasing your bet size will also increase your risk, though, so be sure to bet responsibly.
Hitting winning combinations during a live Keno draw: While a live Keno draw is taking place, check to see how many of the numbers that a random number generator selects match the numbers you chose to bet on. The more of these numbers that come out, the more money you stand to win while playing Keno online.
Keno rules
To sum up how the rules work while playing Keno online, this is how the average game will play out at a Keno casino:
- You figure out how many Keno numbers you want to select on a Keno card (20 is the maximum at most Keno casinos).
- You look at the payout table to see how much you can win if a random number generator picks each of your Keno casino game numbers.
- You choose the bet size for your online Keno wagers.
- You let a random number generator pick numbers and see how many of them match with the numbers you chose while playing Keno online.
- You collect your winnings and decide if you would like to play Keno online again with the same numbers or different ones.
Many Keno casinos will also now allow you to automatically pick numbers instead of manually doing it. It can make playing Keno online even more fast-paced than it already is and add some extra excitement to it.
Keno Online Game Variations
If you fall in love with traditional Keno from the start, you’re welcome to continue playing it while taking part in Keno online. However, those playing at Canadian online casinos can also spice things up and keep Keno fresh and engaging by playing one of the many Keno online game variations that have emerged over the years. They manage to make Keno casinos even more fun while still keeping online Keno simple regardless of whether you’re playing free Keno at no-deposit casinos or real money Keno online.
Keno Online Game Variations Based on Ticket Structure: Straight ticket Keno is the most common Keno online game variation that falls into this category, but it’s only one of the options you’ll have. Others include split ticket Keno, combination ticket Keno, way ticket Keno, and king ticket Keno.
Keno Online Game Variations Based on Special Features: If you’d like to take online Keno to the next level, several Keno online game variations offer the opportunity to win larger jackpots than usual. Progressive Keno, which operates under the same basic guidelines as progressive slots, can put you in a position to win six figures in some cases. Power Keno and Super Keno are two other Keno online game variations that can extend the chance to win more money than normal while playing at Keno casinos.
Keno Online Game Variations Based on Gameplay Experience: Just because you’re playing Keno online doesn’t mean you can’t make it feel like you’re playing at a real casino in person. Live Keno is one of the best Keno online game variations for those who want to enhance their gameplay experiences. Daily Keno is another Keno online option that belongs in this category.
One thing we should mention is that not all Canadian online casinos will have all of these Keno online game variations available. Some have chosen to stick with just traditional Keno, while others mix and match some of the Keno online game variations we just mentioned based on which options are most popular with their online casino players. Check out which variations a Keno casino offers before registering for an account with it and beginning to play Keno online to make the most of your initial experience.
Keno Bets Explained
The simplest way to play Keno online is by placing straight bets. When you do this, you’ll pick up to 20 numbers per live Keno draw and see which spots you’re able to match with the numbers that a random number generator selects. This is, however, just one of the types of Keno bets you can place.
Other options include:
- Way bets: Just like with straight bets, Keno online players will select a group of numbers when placing way bets. But they will also break this group down into smaller subgroups called “ways.” Every number you choose must appear in just one way.
- Split bets: Similar to way bets, split bets involve you picking a group of numbers and breaking it down into different ways. You can then bet on different number groups while playing Keno online.
- Combo bets: Combo bets allow Keno online players to place straight and way bets on the same Keno boards to maximize their online Keno experiences.
Another thing we should mention is that players at Keno casinos can change their numbers after each game or keep the same numbers for all the Keno games they play. You’re welcome to implement whichever strategy you would like based on your personal Keno betting preferences.
Odds and Payouts
While playing Keno online at one of the many Keno casinos isn’t complicated in and of itself, calculating the odds and payouts for Keno can create some confusion if you’re not careful. Keno is a game of chance just like other online casino games, so ultimately, its odds are calculated based on how likely certain numbers and/or groups of numbers are expected to come out.
The more numbers you choose at the beginning of Keno games, the lower your payouts will be since you’ll have better chances to win. At the same time, online Keno games will reward players who can match multiple numbers with larger payouts. If, for example, you pick 10 numbers and match all 10, you’ll win significantly more money than you would by matching just 2 or 3 of them.
The good news is that you won’t have to worry about calculating any odds or payouts on your own. Online Keno casinos have payout tables set up for players so that you can get a glimpse of what you can expect to win if you match your numbers before a live Keno drawing is held. The chances of you matching all your numbers is low, but even if you match just some of them, you can still earn respectable payouts while playing Keno online.
Payouts:
The pay tables that online Keno casinos provide for players might begin to fade into the background at times when you’re playing Keno. However, you should make it your mission to check these pay tables early and often, especially as you try out Keno online casinos and the Keno online game variations they offer. These pay tables can highlight the different odds you’ll receive while playing game variations at different Keno casinos. But no matter which online casino you choose to play Keno online at, you’ll find that payouts will increase as the number of matches increases, though this is balanced out by the reduced chances you have of racking up multiple matching numbers.
Relationship Between Odds and Payouts
If you play just one number while taking part in Keno online, the payout you receive for it if you’re lucky enough to match this number will be on the higher side. If you play 20 numbers while participating in Keno online and match all 20, you’ll also walk away with an astronomical payout. But in each of these instances, you’ll collect more winnings than usual because your Keno bets will come with long odds and a low chance of you seeing your chosen numbers come out.
If you’d like to get better odds, you’ll need to either choose more than 1 number to give yourself an increased chance to win or hope that you land a decent number of the 20 numbers you’ve selected. You won’t collect the huge payouts that you would while betting on longer odds, but you also won’t assume as much risk when you take this approach to playing Keno online.
Experiment with different Keno online game variations, too, since they have different payout structures than traditional Keno. They also sometimes include bonus payouts that can further impact the overall odds you’ll receive the potential returns on your wagers. It’s all about finding the Keno casinos with the Keno online game variations that have the best odds and payouts in the business.
House Edge and RTP
For as fun as Keno is, one of the only downsides of playing Keno online is that it doesn’t offer the best house edge to online casino players. While the house edge for a game like online blackjack is typically only about 2%, the house edge at a Keno casino usually comes in at anywhere from 20 to 35%. It averages at around 28% at most Keno casinos, but it changes depending on how many numbers you pick while playing Keno, what Keno online game variations you play, and which types of Keno bets you place.
You can also minimize the house edge as you play Keno online by steering clear of any Keno bets that offer longshot odds and sticking with those that extend better odds to you. These shorter odds won’t always lead to large payouts, but they will bring the house edge back down to earth and make it easier to manage your Keno betting bankroll.
Return to player, or RTP, is another factor to consider when you’re playing Keno online. This number calculates how much money you’ll get back as you place bets at a Keno casino. Unless you play free Keno games, you want this number to be as high as you can get it to increase your Keno betting profits.
At brick-and-mortar casinos, the RTP for Keno games is often only 60 to 70%, giving Keno one of the worst RTPs around. But playing Keno online can increase the RTP for Keno pretty dramatically in many cases. You might be able to find online Keno games that have RTPs of 85 to 95%. This number will change depending on which Keno online game variations you play and which online casino you choose to host you as you play Keno online.
Keno Game Terminology
When you begin playing Keno online, you’ll hear a bunch of different terms used to explain what’s happening during a game. Understanding what these terms mean can improve your chances of winning while playing at Keno casinos. Get the definitions of some of the most commonly used terms at a Keno casino below.
Blank: A Keno card that hasn’t yet been used. You’ll need to secure a blank to start selecting numbers before a live Keno draw takes place.
Call: An announcement made as each Keno number is selected by a random number generator. A person known as a caller will make calls as you play Keno online.
Catch-All: A Keno online game variation that requires all the numbers you select to be called in order for you to win.
Close: The moment when a Keno casino stops taking bets from players just before a live Keno draw occurs.
Deuce: Two numbers or “spots” that a player marks off when selecting which numbers to choose during a Keno casino game.
Enhanced Payout: A large payout that a player can collect when they place combination bets on a single Keno ticket while playing Keno online.
Group: A collection of numbers that are chosen on one ticket for a live Keno draw.
Hit: A number that is marked on a Keno ticket after it matches a number from a random number generator.
Pattern: A group of numbers chosen on a Keno that takes on a certain formation, such as a box pattern or a bottom row pattern.
Race: Another name for a game of Keno. At times, Keno has been referred to as Race Horse Keno with the numbers on Keno boards called horses to get around gambling-related laws forbidding lottery-style games like Keno.
You can play Keno online with more confidence and possibly even see better results when it comes to winning as you play at a Keno casino when you know these terms and their respective meanings.
Keno Tips and Strategies
While all online casino games require some luck, Keno is one of the biggest luck-based games found in Canadian online casinos. Even if you utilize all the right Keno tips and strategies, you might find that you won’t be able to hit many numbers on certain days. It’s just the luck of the draw!
However, you shouldn’t let that stop you from still using certain Keno tips and strategies that can improve your chances of winning as you play Keno online ever so slightly. Here are just a few that can help you make more informed decisions as you play at a Keno casino,
- Choose between four to seven numbers as you play Keno casino games online to get the best odds.
- Avoid playing more than 10 numbers while playing at Keno casinos if you can help it.
- Play Keno online rather than in person to make it more exciting and to ensure you’re able to keep up with the potential payouts through the use of digital pay tables.
- Test your luck on multiple Keno cards at once to make playing Keno online more fun and increase your chances of winning.
We would also recommend that you choose to play Keno online through the right Keno casino. This online casino should extend great casino bonuses that you can use to familiarize yourself with Keno. It should also offer plenty of online Keno game variations so you can pick the one you like most.
Free Keno vs. Real Money Keno
Many Keno casinos will allow you to play either free Keno or real money Keno. Free Keno won’t require you to put any actual money up to play, while real money Keno will call for you to play with real money you’ve deposited into your new Keno casino account.
The benefits of playing free Keno include:
- Enables you to learn how to play Keno and its many Keno online game variations
- Eliminates the risk associated with playing Keno online
- Helps you get used to the fast-paced nature of live Keno games online
The drawbacks of playing free Keno include:
- Prevents you from winning real money as you play Keno online
- Causes you to develop bad habits since real money isn’t at stake
- Lacks all the excitement that real money Keno games provide
The benefits of playing real money include:
- Opens up more Keno online game variation options to you at many Keno casinos
- Gives you the chance to win real money while playing Keno online
- Produces an extra adrenaline rush during live Keno games
The drawbacks of playing real money Keno include:
- Forces you to put real money at risk as you play at a Keno casino
- Impacts your ability to have fun when you aren’t winning while playing Keno online
- Puts you in a position where you’ll have to be careful about losing too much money in short periods of time while playing Keno games.
Carefully consider each of the pros and cons listed here to determine whether playing free Keno or real money Keno is the better option for you.
How to Choose the Right Online Keno Casino
Choosing an online Keno casino can make or break your first online Keno experience. If you don’t go with the right one, you won’t find playing Keno online to be as fun as it might be otherwise. Take these steps to settle on one of the best Keno casinos of the bunch.
- Look for online casinos that offer Keno: While playing Keno online has become very popular, not every online casino offers it. Hone in on only the Keno casinos that you can find and rule out any online casinos that either don’t offer Keno or don’t seem to make online Keno a top priority.
- Make sure online casinos are properly licensed: In addition to looking for online casinos that offer Keno online, be sure the Keno casinos you’re considering have the proper licenses and adhere to Canadian online casino regulations.
- Browse through Keno online game variations available through online casinos: If you’d like to play something other than traditional Keno at a Keno casino, track down Keno casinos that have a handful of different Keno online game variations available.
- See which casino bonuses that Keno casinos offer: The very best Keno casinos will have amazing online casino bonuses that you can use to learn the ropes while you play Keno for the first time.
- Find out which payment methods Keno casinos accept: The top Keno casinos will also accept many casino payment options, including Interac, InstaDebit, PayPal, and iDebit, among others.
- Test out the customer service departments for Keno casinos: If you ever have questions or concerns while playing Keno online, it’ll help to have a reliable customer service team you can turn to for help.
- Check to see if a Keno casino is mobile compatible: Once you start playing Keno online, you won’t want to have to sit at a computer every time you want to get in a live Keno drawing. Search for a Keno casino that is fully mobile compatible so that you can play Keno anywhere you want.
Each of the Keno casinos that appears here will deliver a truly unique experience as you play Keno online and try to win real money while doing it.
Keno Bonuses and Promotions
With so many Keno casinos for Keno players to choose from, most online casinos extend Keno bonuses and promotions to try to entice people to sign up for accounts. A few of the Keno bonuses and promotions available to you through a Keno casino should include:
- Welcome bonuses: When you first create an account with a Keno casino, you should receive a welcome bonus. It might be a no-deposit bonus that you’ll get automatically, but more often than not, it’ll be a deposit bonus that requires you to fund your account. When you do, you’ll receive a certain percentage, usually 100% or more, of your initial deposit in the form of bonus funds.
- Reload bonuses: While welcome bonuses are exclusive to new Keno casino players, reload bonuses are for anyone who has an account with a Keno casino. Reload bonuses are also deposit bonuses and will entitle you to collect a certain percentage of a deposit that you make in bonus funds.
- Free games: Truly first-class Keno casinos go the extra mile for new and existing Keno players alike by offering free games to them from time to time. Keep your eyes peeled for these Keno-only promotions since they’re fairly common but don’t always last for a long time.
Each of these Keno online bonuses can put bonus funds into your pockets that you can use to play Keno casino games with little to no risk. They can also help you learn how to play Keno online and even assist you in developing stronger Keno strategies moving forward.
Don’t be afraid to sign up for several different Keno casinos so that you can take full advantage of each of their online casino bonuses.
Keno Banking
After you register for a new account with an online Keno casino, you’ll need to fund your account to receive a casino bonus and begin playing Keno. There are many different casino payment options available at the leading Keno casinos. This should include:
- Debit and credit cards: Accepted at almost all Canadian online casinos, debit and credit cards are the simplest payment methods for many online casino players.
- Apple Pay: With this payment option, you can utilize a debit or credit card or even make a deposit using your bank account with one push of a button.
- PayPal: PayPal is one of the many payment options for those wishing to play Keno online with funds deposited using an eWallet.
- Interac: You can use a debit card to deposit funds when you set up an Interac account and keep your banking information safe and secure while doing it.
- InstaDebit: InstaDebit is an ideal online casino payment method for those who want to complete secure bank transfers in a matter of just seconds.
- iDebit: iDebit provides one more option for anyone wishing to utilize their bank account to make a deposit into a Keno casino account.
And this is only the start. Some other payment options you might find when you create accounts with Keno casinos are Paysafecard, Neosurf, and MuchBetter.
Playing Keno on Mobile
Since Keno is such a fast-paced game, you can play it just about anywhere you would like when you have a few free minutes. For this reason, you should choose a Keno casino that will offer you the opportunity to play Keno on a mobile device, such as your smartphone or tablet. Many Keno casinos have started to extend this option to their Keno players. Choose one of them to give yourself the option to play Keno when you’re on the go.
In some cases, Keno casinos have dedicated mobile apps designed for Keno players who want to play on their smartphones and tablets. However, others also have mobile-optimized websites that will deliver the same convenience to Keno players without requiring them to download apps. No matter which direction you decide to go in, select a Keno casino that works well on mobile to ensure you get the best experiences possible when you’re playing Keno while not at home.
Keno Software Providers
One of the things people don’t always realize when they’re considering which Keno casino to join so they can begin playing Keno online is that not all Keno casinos have the same Keno setups. Different Canadian online casinos rely on different casino software providers to set them up with the software they need to cater to Keno players.
If you’re registering for a Keno casino for the first time, you might not know the first thing about these software providers and what they bring to the table. Learn more about a few of the most prominent software providers in the online gambling industry that each specialize in creating great Keno software options.
- Microgaming: Originally founded in 1994, Microgaming does a little bit of everything within the online gambling industry, as it creates slot games, sports betting platforms, and more. It also has software that can extend a positive Keno online experience to you.
- Playtech: Although Playtech didn’t show up on the gambling scene until 1999, it has made a big impact on it just like Microgaming has. It’s one of the leading names you need to know when it comes to slot games, Keno setups, and other iGaming interfaces.
- NetEnt: NetEnt is a global online gambling brand that has provided the industry with software for more than 200 platforms. It has the experience and expertise necessary to create some of the best Keno online setups in the business.
- IGT: Gaming machines? Sports betting platforms? Lotteries? IGT does it all within the gambling industry, including making some of the top Keno online software in the world.
- Evolution Gaming: While Evolution Gaming might be one of the newer software providers on this list as it was only founded in 2006, it’s catching up to the big boys thanks to its creative and innovative iGaming interfaces. Look no further than its Keno casino setups for proof of that.
The casino software provider that a Keno casino counts on to create its Keno setup will have a huge impact on how your initial Keno experiences go. Select the casino that both offers Keno online and, more importantly, works with a software provider you know you can trust to deliver an easy-to-use interface as you get your feet wet within the world of Keno.
Conclusion
Keno has always been a fun-filled casino game for players who value simplicity and excitement. But it has become an even better game in recent years ever since playing Keno online was made possible. It’s even easier to understand how to play Keno online, and it’s also great to be able to keep tabs on how much real money you can win at a Keno casino thanks to the pay tables that exist at most Keno casinos.
Whether you’ve been playing Keno for years or you’re looking to play Keno online for the very first time in your life, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to see how enjoyable it is when you play it at one of the online casinos listed here. Register for a new account with one or more of them today to get your online Keno casino experiences off to a great start.
FAQs
Where can I play Keno online?
You can play Keno online through a number of different Canadian online casinos. Jackpot City, Spin Casino, Vegasino, JustCasino, and Starda are just a few fantastic options.
What are the advantages of playing Keno online versus in person?
There are many advantages of playing Keno online versus playing it in person. For starters, you can play Keno online at a much quicker pace than you can play it in person. You can also keep a closer eye on the payout table for Keno odds when you’re playing Keno online as opposed to in person. At the same time, live Keno games played online will make you feel like you’re playing in person and offer a truly great Keno-playing experience.
What is the best online Keno casino?
The best online Keno casino is the one that offers you a generous bonus for registering for a new account and a large number of available Keno online game variations. This online Keno casino should also accept a variety of payment options and extend fast withdrawal options to those who win money while playing Keno online.
Do all online Keno casinos provide the same Keno online game variations?
No, all online Keno casinos do not provide the same Keno online game variations. One great Keno casino might only have traditional Keno games, while another wonderful Keno casino might have a long list of variations not found at any other online casinos. You might want to test out a few variations by playing free Keno games online before selecting the online casino that has a real money version of the online Keno you want to play.
Can I play Keno online for real money on my smartphone?
Yes, you can play Keno online for real money on your smartphone as long as you sign up for an account with a Keno casino that has either a mobile app or a mobile-optimized website. An online casino like this can provide you with the opportunity to play Keno online even when you’re on the go.
Can I watch Keno live online at a Keno casino?
Yes, you can watch Keno live online at certain Keno casinos. If this is something that interests you, make sure you sign up for an account with a Keno casino that can allow you to watch other people play Keno online so you can get the hang of it.
Julian is an expert writer with years of experience in the iGaming sector, and an in-depth knowledge of the online casino industry. He has worked as a writer and researcher for several top publications in the world of online gambling, and he is passionate about helping consumers navigate this complicated and rapidly evolving industry. He is based in Canada.