Keno Paytables Compared
The paytable is where keno games actually differ. Here are five common styles with their exact long-run returns, and one click puts any of them in the simulator.
Classic Demo
Our balanced demonstration table. Demo payouts are for simulation only. Real games use their own paytables.
| Spots | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Return | 75.0% | 72.2% | 72.2% | 69.2% | 63.9% | 72.7% | 61.9% | 58.6% | 57.0% | 62.5% |
Keno Royale (our app)
The actual paytable from our Keno Royale mobile app, including the half-bet consolation for catching 4 of 10.
| Spots | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Return | 75.0% | 92.1% | 65.2% | 65.9% | 50.6% | 52.8% | 61.6% | 64.7% | 62.2% | 69.9% |
Video Keno Style
Representative of common video keno machines: frequent small catches and steep multipliers up top. Not any specific machine's table.
| Spots | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Return | 75.0% | 90.2% | 91.6% | 70.8% | 91.9% | 76.8% | 74.9% | 76.0% | 80.6% | 92.6% |
Lottery Style
Representative of state lottery keno drawings: flatter prizes, capped jackpots, and the famous quirk of paying a 10-spot that catches nothing. Not any specific lottery's table.
| Spots | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Return | 62.5% | 66.1% | 65.2% | 64.9% | 65.0% | 64.8% | 33.0% | 32.0% | 33.7% | 52.3% |
Live Lounge Style
Representative of traditional live keno lounges: slow draws, simple prizes, and the leanest returns of the styles here. Not any specific casino's table.
| Spots | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Return | 75.0% | 72.2% | 69.4% | 67.9% | 69.7% | 66.6% | 65.3% | 67.4% | 66.6% | 66.7% |
Reading these numbers
Return is the share of every wager a table pays back over the long run, so 92 percent means an average of 8 cents kept per dollar across millions of draws. Short sessions swing far wider than these averages, which is exactly what the simulator makes visible. Style tables here are representative of their categories, not copies of any specific game; the Keno Royale table is our own app's real table.
Frequently asked questions
What is a keno paytable?
A paytable maps your pick count and hit count to a payout multiplier. Your payout equals your bet times that multiplier. Draw odds are the same everywhere; paytables are where keno games actually differ.
Which keno game style pays back the most?
Video keno style tables typically return the most over the long run, often around 90 percent, while lottery and live lounge styles commonly return less. Exact returns vary by game; the comparisons on this page use representative tables with exactly computed returns.
Is a bigger jackpot a better paytable?
Not by itself. A huge top prize on a 10-spot is hit about once in 8.9 million draws, so mid-tier catches drive most of a table's return. Compare the whole return figure, not the headline prize.
Are these real casino or lottery paytables?
The style tables are representative of their categories, not copies of any specific game. The Keno Royale table is the real table from our own app. Always check the paytable of any real game before playing it.