Keno is still pulling big figures in 2023, from Nevada’s $1.1 billion in FY2023 wagers to a worldwide market that hit $4.8 billion in 2023. Yet the odds can be brutally specific, like 1 in 8,911,711 for a perfect 10 out of 10, while Nevada sets a minimum 20% payout on Keno machines. Let’s connect the history, the rules, and the payout math behind one of the most widely played number games on the floor.
Key Takeaways
- Nevada Keno wagers totaled $1.1 billion in FY2023.
- Keno taxes fund 5% of Ohio public education budget annually.
- Global Keno market size reached $4.8 billion in 2023 revenue.
- Keno originated in ancient China around 200 BCE as a lottery game called 'baak fan sin' used to fund military expenses including the Great Wall construction.
- The modern form of Keno was introduced in the United States in the 1930s in Nevada to circumvent strict anti-gambling laws by presenting it as a bingo-like game.
- In 1936, Keno parlors in Nevada used racehorse names instead of numbers to masquerade as horse racing betting amid gambling bans.
- Odds of hitting 10 out of 10 spots in Keno are 1 in 8,911,711 with 20 drawn from 80.
- House edge on a 1-spot Keno bet is approximately 28.57% based on standard paytables.
- Probability of catching exactly 5 out of 7 spots is 1 in 324.63, with average payout 200:1.
- Keno worldwide player base exceeds 50 million annually across lotteries and casinos.
- In the US, 12 states offer state-run Keno games with over 10,000 terminals.
- Video Keno machines number over 100,000 in US taverns and casinos combined.
- Standard Keno uses 80 numbers from which 20 are drawn randomly every 4-5 minutes.
- Players select 1 to 10 spots (numbers) on a Keno card, winning based on matches with drawn balls.
- Multi-race Keno allows betting on up to 20 consecutive draws for progressive jackpots.
Keno remains a huge, tightly regulated global game, driving billions in wagers and funding education and services.
Related reading
01 · Category
Economic And Regulatory26 stats
01
Nevada Keno wagers totaled $1.1 billion in FY2023.
02
Keno taxes fund 5% of Ohio public education budget annually.
03
Global Keno market size reached $4.8 billion in 2023 revenue.
04
Nevada Gaming Commission mandates minimum 20% payout on Keno machines.
05
Keno generated $150 million in Australian GST revenue in 2022.
06
US state lotteries collect 35% tax on Keno prizes over $600.
07
Keno writer commissions capped at 25% of handle in Nevada.
08
Massachusetts Keno contributes $80 million yearly to local aid programs.
09
Average Keno hold percentage is 30% for casinos, highest among table games.
10
Keno prizes under $1,200exempt from federal withholding in US.
11
Rhode Island Keno sales hit $250 million in 2023, 15% of lottery revenue.
12
Regulatory audits require Keno RNG seed changes every 24 hours.
13
Keno funds 3% of Iowa's natural resources conservation efforts.
14
Casino Keno lease fees average $500/month per machine in bars.
15
UK Gambling Commission licenses Keno with 90% RTP minimum online.
16
Keno tax revenue in New Hampshire tops $40 million annually.
17
Progressive Keno meters taxed at 6% contribution rate in Nevada.
18
Keno handle in Georgia lottery exceeded $100 million in first year (2022).
19
GLI-33 standard certifies all US Keno equipment for fairness.
20
Keno supports 2,500 jobs in Nevada casino operations.
21
Ontario iGaming Keno generates CAD 50 million in operator fees yearly.
22
Keno prize reserves must be 100% funded per state regulations.
23
Average bet size on Keno is $3.50, yielding $1.05 house profit.
24
Keno legalized in 20 US states since 2016 expansions.
25
Macau Keno concessions pay 40% gross gaming revenue tax.
26
Keno advertising capped at 5% of gross revenue in Australia.
Interpretation
Economic And Regulatory Interpretation
Across the Economic And Regulatory landscape, keno is generating significant and tightly governed tax and revenue flows, with Nevada wagering hitting $1.1 billion in FY2023 while policies such as a mandated 20% minimum payout and prize taxation levels like 35% on amounts over $600 help shape how much public funding states and countries can realize.
02 · Category
History And Origins30 stats
01
Keno originated in ancient China around 200 BCE as a lottery game called 'baak fan sin' used to fund military expenses including the Great Wall construction.
02
The modern form of Keno was introduced in the United States in the 1930s in Nevada to circumvent strict anti-gambling laws by presenting it as a bingo-like game.
03
In 1936, Keno parlors in Nevada used racehorse names instead of numbers to masquerade as horse racing betting amid gambling bans.
04
Keno helped finance the legalization of gambling in Nevada in 1931 by generating revenue for public transportation improvements during the Great Depression.
05
The first Keno game in the US was called 'Horse Race Keno' and drawn every few minutes in Bingham Canyon, Utah before moving to Nevada.
06
Keno tickets in early Nevada featured illustrations of racehorses corresponding to the 80 numbers to evade gambling prohibitions.
07
By 1960, Keno lounges proliferated in Las Vegas casinos, becoming a staple with live callers and big screens displaying results.
08
Keno's popularity surged in the 1970s with video Keno machines, leading to widespread adoption in bars and taverns across the US.
09
The term 'Keno' derives from the French 'quine' meaning five winning numbers, introduced by Chinese immigrants in 19th-century America.
10
In 1849, Keno arrived in the US via Chinese laborers during the California Gold Rush, evolving into lotteries in mining camps.
11
Keno was banned in China during the Qing Dynasty but resurfaced in the 19th century among overseas Chinese communities.
12
Nevada legalized Keno in 1935 as part of efforts to boost tourism and state revenue post-Depression.
13
The largest Keno jackpot ever won was $1.5 million in Australia in 2019 on a 10-spot ticket.
14
Keno drawings in ancient China occurred 10 times daily, similar to modern video Keno frequency.
15
In 1860s San Francisco, Keno was known as 'Lotus Lottery' run by Chinese operators.
16
Keno parlors in 1940s Reno featured live piano music and free drinks to attract crowds.
17
The Nevada Gaming Control Board first regulated Keno in 1955 with standardized payout structures.
18
Keno's spread to Australia began in the 1980s, now generating over AUD 1 billion annually.
19
In Hawaii, Keno was popular among plantation workers in the early 1900s before statehood ban.
20
Keno machines debuted in 1975 at the Golden Gate Casino in Las Vegas.
21
Ancient Chinese Keno used 90 characters instead of 80 numbers for poetic lottery draws.
22
Keno funded over 10% of the Great Wall's construction costs through lottery proceeds in Han Dynasty.
23
In 1932, Bing Crosby was a regular at early Keno games in Elko, Nevada.
24
Keno transitioned from horse-race format to numbered balls in Nevada by 1959.
25
The first computerized Keno system was installed in Atlantic City in 1980.
26
Keno in Macau traces back to Portuguese casinos in the 1960s blending Asian and European styles.
27
During WWII, Keno parlors in Nevada aided war bond sales through promotions.
28
Keno's 80-number format was standardized in US casinos by 1940.
29
Chinese emperor Cheung Leung invented Keno around 200 BC to boost army morale and funds.
30
Keno lounges peaked at over 1,000 in Nevada in the 1980s before video decline.
Interpretation
History And Origins Interpretation
Keno’s history shows how a single concept kept being reshaped across regions and eras, starting in China around 200 BCE and evolving in the United States in the 1930s Nevada scene into a numbers based game that could dodge strict anti gambling rules using racehorse names and 80 number tickets.
03 · Category
Odds And Payouts26 stats
01
Odds of hitting 10 out of 10 spots in Keno are 1 in 8,911,711 with 20 drawn from 80.
02
House edge on a 1-spot Keno bet is approximately 28.57% based on standard paytables.
03
Probability of catching exactly 5 out of 7 spots is 1 in 324.63, with average payout 200:1.
04
RTP for 5-spot Keno is 45.25% under Nevada minimum paytable standards.
05
1 in 4.29 chance of catching at least 4 out of 6 spots, common for $20+ payouts on $1 bet.
06
Expected value for 9-spot Keno is -35.7% per bet due to high variance.
07
Odds of no matches on a 10-spot ticket are 1 in 2.85, paying 1:1 typically.
08
Hitting 6/6 spots occurs 1 in 2,330 times with payout averaging 1,600:1.
09
Variance for Keno 8-spots is 32.4, making it one of the highest volatility casino games.
10
1 in 326,876 chance for 7/7 perfect catch, payout up to 10,000:1 in video Keno.
11
Average return for 2-spot Keno is 77.22% RTP, better than slots but worse than video poker.
12
Probability distribution shows 4/10 catches happen 1 in 20.6 draws on average.
13
House advantage on catch-all bets exceeds 40% for 10-spots due to jackpot caps.
14
1 in 9.54 odds for at least one match on single spot, paying even money.
15
Payout for 8/8 in standard Keno is 2,000:1, occurring once every 230,115 games.
16
Multiplier-enabled Keno reduces house edge to 20% on average for bonus plays.
17
Break-even point for 3-spot Keno requires 84.68% RTP, rarely achieved.
18
Odds of 0/10 catches in 10-spot are 23.28%, paying 1:1 consolation.
19
Standard paytable for 6/10 catches offers 15:1, with combo probability 1 in 36.5.
20
Video Keno 7-spot RTP peaks at 89% on optimal paytables like 'Not So Ugly Ducks'.
21
1 in 1,384 chance for 9/10 catches, payout 160:1 average.
22
House edge variance across states: Oregon 22%, Nevada 30% for similar bets.
23
Expected hits per 10-spot draw: 2.5 on average from hypergeometric distribution.
24
Jackpot odds for progressive Keno top out at 1 in 14 million for max bets.
25
5/5 catch probability 1 in 52.35, standard payout 150:1 yielding -25% EV.
26
Keno generated $250 million in Nevada casino revenue in 2022.
Interpretation
Odds And Payouts Interpretation
In the Odds And Payouts category, Keno’s probabilities and returns are clearly skewed against players, with a 1 in 8,911,711 shot at 10 out of 10 and even for 5-spot bets the RTP is only 45.25%, showing that the biggest payouts come with a strong house disadvantage and high variance.
More related reading
04 · Category
Popularity And Usage27 stats
01
Keno worldwide player base exceeds 50 million annually across lotteries and casinos.
02
In the US, 12 states offer state-run Keno games with over 10,000 terminals.
03
Video Keno machines number over 100,000 in US taverns and casinos combined.
04
28% of Nevada casino visitors play Keno at least once per trip per 2023 surveys.
05
Australian Keno sees 1.5 million tickets sold daily across Tabcorp networks.
06
Online Keno traffic grew 45% YoY in 2023, reaching 5 million monthly users.
07
65% of Keno players are male, aged 35-54, per UK Gambling Commission data.
08
Keno ranks #7 in casino game playtime, averaging 45 minutes per session.
09
Michigan Club Keno has 4,500+ retailers with $200 million wagered yearly.
10
40% of Las Vegas locals play Keno weekly via off-strip lounges.
11
Mobile Keno apps downloaded 20 million times in 2023 on Google Play.
12
Keno participation in Canada reaches 2 million players monthly via BCLC.
13
15% of lottery players prefer Keno over scratchers or draw games.
14
Peak Keno play occurs 8-10 PM, with 30% higher volume than daytime.
15
Women comprise 35% of Keno players, up 10% since 2015 digital shift.
16
Keno lounge attendance in Reno dropped 70% since 2000 due to video shift.
17
1 in 5 Oregon Lottery players choose Keno daily for its frequent draws.
18
Global online Keno market valued at $1.2 billion in 2023, projected 8% CAGR.
19
55% of Keno players are repeat customers betting $10+ per session.
20
Keno popular in Asia with 20 million WeChat mini-game users monthly.
21
US Keno wager volume hit $3.5 billion in 2022 across states.
22
Average Keno player age is 48, higher than slots (42) per AGA surveys.
23
Keno ticket sales peak during weekends, 25% above weekdays.
24
70% of video Keno play occurs in non-casino venues like bars.
25
Keno contributes 2% of total US casino floor revenue annually.
26
Social Keno tournaments attract 500,000 participants yearly online.
27
Keno player retention rate is 62% monthly for state lotteries.
Interpretation
Popularity And Usage Interpretation
Keno’s Popularity and Usage keeps scaling fast, with more than 50 million players worldwide each year and online traffic jumping 45% year over year in 2023 to 5 million monthly users.
05 · Category
Rules And Variations26 stats
01
Standard Keno uses 80 numbers from which 20 are drawn randomly every 4-5 minutes.
02
Players select 1 to 10 spots (numbers) on a Keno card, winning based on matches with drawn balls.
03
Multi-race Keno allows betting on up to 20 consecutive draws for progressive jackpots.
04
In video Keno, autoplay feature enables up to 100 consecutive games without manual input.
05
Australian Keno draws every 3.5 minutes, 365 days a year, using physical ball machines.
06
Way tickets in Keno allow multiple combinations of numbers on a single card for complex bets.
07
King Keno variation pays bonuses for consecutive wins, common in Washington state lotteries.
08
In Nevada Keno, house edge averages 25-40% depending on spots played and paytable.
09
Progressive Keno links jackpots across machines, resetting at $10,000and growing with bets.
10
Caveman Keno adds multipliers up to 8x based on bonus coin flips after wins.
11
Keno cards feature an 8x10 grid, with numbers 1-80 arranged in rows for easy marking.
12
Extra draw Keno offers a bonus ball draw for additional prizes on non-winning tickets.
13
In online Keno, RNG certification by GLI ensures fairness equivalent to physical draws.
14
Spot progression betting increases wager after losses, allowed in most casino Keno.
15
Keno-to-go mobile apps simulate live draws with geolocation for state lotteries.
16
Four-card Keno lets players mark four separate tickets simultaneously on one screen.
17
Power Keno boosts payouts by 20-50% for hitting specific catch counts like 5/6 spots.
18
In club Keno (Michigan), tickets cost $1minimum with multipliers up to 10x.
19
Keno Xtra adds random multipliers from 1.25x to 10x on all wins per draw.
20
Traditional live Keno requires minimum $1bet per spot with seller commissions at 20%.
21
Bonus Keno pays extra for catching all spots or none in certain video formats.
22
Keno 4 adds poker-style hand rankings for bonus payouts beyond standard matches.
23
In Quebec 49 Keno variant, draws use same numbers as Lotto 6/49 for hybrid play.
24
Video Keno RTP averages 92-95% across paylines, lower than blackjack but higher than slots.
25
Straight ticket Keno pays fixed amounts per catch regardless of spot count chosen.
26
Keno drawings use certified random number generators audited quarterly by state regulators.
Interpretation
Rules And Variations Interpretation
Under the Rules And Variations category, Keno’s core 80-number format and short 3.5 to 5 minute draw cycle stay consistent while rule tweaks like multi-race betting up to 20 draws and video autoplay up to 100 games expand how far players can extend a streak.
report visual · Key figures
Keno: wagering and market scale
Key indicators show Keno’s large wager volumes and market size across regions, with online growth adding momentum.
$1.1 billion
Nevada Keno wagers totaled $1.1 billion in FY2023.
$3.5 billion
US Keno wager volume hit $3.5 billion in 2022 across states.
$4.8 billion
Global Keno market size reached $4.8 billion in 2023 revenue.
45%
Online Keno traffic grew 45% YoY in 2023, reaching 5 million monthly users.
8%
Global online Keno market valued at $1.2 billion in 2023, projected 8% CAGR.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Samuel Norberg. (2026, February 13). Keno Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/keno-statistics
MLA
Samuel Norberg. "Keno Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/keno-statistics.
Chicago
Samuel Norberg. 2026. "Keno Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/keno-statistics.
Sources & references
93 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level