It won’t often be considered the sexiest game in the universe of gambling, but keno has loads of dedicated enthusiasts. And why not? It’s a routinely entertaining lotto-ish game that’s simple to pickup, abundantly available in lots of different variations, and one that might yield millions of dollars for those who learn its endless subtle nuances. But let’s start with the basic rules for now.

When explaining keno to newbies, some betting pros compare it to bingo. This is at least to a certain extent correct, in that both games are generally numerical. But to take that comparison too far would be to miscalculate the endless unique traits that make keno so compelling. Unlike bingo, keno players have the power to pick the numbers for each and every card.

Keno cards have a grand total of eighty numbers, but the player is furnished with an increased level of personal responsibility by being able to pick as many (or as few) numbers as he wants. And it doesn’t take a genius to figure out how to fill out a card: all you do is circle or otherwise mark all of your chosen numbers with a normalball point pen like you had when you were in school.

Once you’ve checked your numbers, take the card back to the person at the keno booth. The person will record those numbers and then hand you a receipt. Don’t lose this (potentially) expensive bit of paper! Even if the keno pit manager remembers your face and wants help out, without a winning ticket with you, you will collect exactly $.00 for your efforts.

Now there you have strategy #1: always make sure to keep your keno receipt. Let us advance to something a bit more advanced, what do you think?

Now that you’ve picked out your numbers, get into a comfortable keno booth and watch the action unfold on a monitor. That’s where the winning numbers appear in lights. If you selected winning numbers, mark your card aptly. Sake care not to drag your feet, or sit there congratulating yourself for an obnoxious length of time. You must get up to the keno stand to collect your winnings, and then a new round of keno will likely start within a few minutes.

Strategy number two: always be sure to get back to the keno booth on time!

Since you can not trust yourself to meet that 5 minute margin each time, you always retain the option of using a "multi-race" ticket. These include the self same set of your picked numbers on anywhere from two to 20 cards. When the maximum number of games (matching the number of tickets) is finished, you are then able to get off your lazy bum and go retrieve your winnings.

Yet another alternative is known as a "stray and play" keno ticket, which commonly lets you make number picks for 30 keno rounds or more. Gosh, you can take a world tour and not have to fret about getting back in time to redeem your winnings. Most "stray and play" cards are good for up to a whole year after purchase!

And now you are aware of a couple needed strategies for winning keno. If you are a discerning keno player, they might appear to be stupidly obvious. Still, it will not hurt to study up on the basic tactics, and if you are a newbie keno player, every little bit of advice will help make your keno playing more captivating.