Finding the Best Strategy in Keno

The image of you playing keno may not be exactly as sexy as, let's say, a secret agent playing high stakes poker in a casino in an exotic country, the fate of the world resting on what hand he hands. But remember this: Keno is one of the highest yielding forms of gambling; for a very small bet, you can win ridiculous amounts of money, and nothing says sexy like a big fat payout.

With regards to strategy, Keno is a game filled with little intricacies very well known to masters of the game, but in this case, sticking to the basics is the best strategy for newbies and average level players.

Some background information (remember, being informed is one of the best strategies not only for keno, but in everything) on playing keno: Players are provided with keno cards where they choose 10 to 15 numbers (called sets) from a set of 1 to 80. The numbers are then shuffled, and 20 numbers from that set of 1 to 80 are drawn. Next, the card (or cards, if you buy many - this is possible in keno - and it is the best basic strategy) is brought to the clerk at the keno booth. He or she (the clerk), then records you spots and gives you the receipt which includes a list of your spots.

Best strategy number one: KEEP YOUR RECEIPT! While this may sound ridiculously simple to you, failure to keep you receipt entitles you to nothing. Zip, zilch, nada, kaput. Even if the clerk knows you, you have nothing to prove that you hit this number of spots, much less be entitled to that juicy jackpot if you were extremely lucky.

Best strategy number two is more complicated: BE ALERT! This strategy might sound simple again, but keeping concentration is essential in playing keno. Watch the big keno screen, preferably from a comfortable chair and keep a good record of the draw. If you win, don't sit around feeling lucky, get back to the booth as soon as possible to claim your payout.

This is where best strategy number three comes in: GET TO THE BOOTH PROMPTLY. After you last draw, another one is bound to start in about five minutes. Wasted time in getting to the booth might just cost you a draw that might just have your winning combination.

Best strategy number four is getting a multi-race ticket. This ticket is valid for a preset number of games, so you don't have to keep running to the booth. Related to this particular strategy is getting a "stray and play" ticket, allowing you to choose numbers for 30 games, or even more. What's good about a "stray and play" ticket is that it's valid for a long time, up to a year!

Remember that best strategy in keno is not a set rule. There are always external circumstances that might affect your game. So, it's best to always be vigilant, adjustable, and keep your wits about you. You might just get that big payout.