Lottery, Bingo & Number Games
Keno odds
Keno odds are the probabilities or payout ratios for matching a given number of spots on a keno ticket, typically expressed as odds-to-1.
Key points
- The probability of hitting exactly r spots on an n-spot ticket uses the formula
P = (C(n,r) × C(80-n,20-r)) / C(80,20).1 - Keno's house edge can be as high as 25%, far worse than most casino games, making it one of the hardest games to win consistently.2
Common questions
Where this term is used
Related terms
Lottery & bingo
Keno
The game itself, where players pick numbers and a draw selects 20 winners.
Lottery & bingo
Club keno
A variant often played in bars and social clubs with its own prize tables.
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Scratchcard odds
The probabilities and payout structures for instant-win scratchcards.
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Lottery jackpot odds
The chances of winning the top prize in a standard lottery draw.
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Bingo
A number-matching game where players mark cards as numbers are called.
Lottery & bingo
Bingo card
The grid of numbers a player uses to track draws in a bingo game.
Sources
- Keno en.wikipedia.org Provides the standard keno odds formula, the 80-number/20-draw setup, and the 20-spot probability.
- Gambling mathematics en.wikipedia.org Supports the 25% house edge figure for keno.
Sources are drawn from regulators, universities and published research, and each one is labelled with what it actually is — a preprint is not called a paper. Bookmaker and affiliate pages are never cited here, because a page that sells betting is not a neutral authority on it.