Keno Kelly's Advice

The most common question I am asked is " What is the best keno ticket to play?
That is a tough question. Almost like "What is the best automobile?". If you want to go fast buy a Porsche. If you want comfort buy a Rolls-Royce. If you want economy buy a Kia.

Your goals as a bettor are the most important factors in deciding what is the best ticket for you. In general, tickets of more than ten spots have slightly higher house %'s than tickets of less than ten spots. But the most important thing to consider is what size of win will please you. If you will be thrilled with a $100.00, play four spot tickets. If a $800.00-$1,800.00 will ring your bell play five or six spot tickets. If you want the limit, this is most often achieved via eight spot bets.

Naturally the larger the amount you want to win, the more difficult the odds you will be combating. These odds can be reduced using way tickets or playing a stack of straight tickets. For example, playing a ten way eight (or ten separate eights) will roughly (rule of thumb math) divide the odds against you by ten.

Also, you can get the best of both worlds by playing a way ticket, for example, an eight spot with twos. Your short term goal with the twos being to win enough to pay for your keno play and your long term goal with the eight spot being to hit a BIG ONE.

Lotto or Keno?

Based on my former job title (Keno Director), you have probably already guessed my answer to this question. First, let me tell you a story that I heard on the local TV news not long ago.

It is a true story although I might not have the money data exactly right. Seems this fellow in California bought some Lotto tickets and after checking the results found that he had caught four out of six numbers marked on one of his tickets. So, he called the nearest Lotto office and asked them what the pay for 4 out of 6 was for that particular week . He was told that the pay for 4 out of 6 was $687,000.00! This happened on a Friday and he couldn't collect until the following Monday.

He had quite a weekend. He bought a new car, made a down payment on a boat, and wined and dined like a king. Somewhere during the spree he ran into his employer and told him about "a place where the sun doesn't shine". On Monday morning he discovered the Lotto office left out a tidbit of information when he had called the prior Friday. That was that the $687,000.00 for 4 x 6 is divided among all the players who hit 4 x 6 for that week. There were about 9,000 people who hit 4 x 6 that week and he got a check for about $76.30. I repeat this is a true story. Funny to us, but not to the poor fellow.

Taxes

"The Tax man Cometh" and fairness is not his most famous attribute . The best first step is to talk to your favorite Keno Supervisor. Most Keno operations issue loss statements. If you visit different casinos and do not know any Keno employees, just walk up to a Keno counter and start asking some questions. By the way, there are advantages having your Keno play and all gaming action "tracked". Keno operators are required to complete a tax form, W2G, on all permanent residents of the United States (Aliens get a different form) on all net wins of $1500 or more. "Net" means you can subtract the price of the bet. On all permanent residents of the United States, Keno operators do not withhold any part of the win. If you hit a $10,000 keno winner the amount of tax you will end up paying at the end of the year depends on ; your income bracket, your gaming losses (documented), your tax shelters, etc.

Systems

A list of 8 Keno Betting Strategies

I am not a keno systems player because I do not believe there is a system that works consistently. However, I have spent many many hours watching keno players, so I will describe for you some keno systems I have observed. - Keno Kelly

System 1 : The Soupy Sales

Many ball calling areas are walled in Plexiglas. Press your face against the glass and stick out your tongue while the keno employee is calling the game. If Plexiglas is not available, cartwheel or moonwalk down the center isle of the keno lounge.

System 2 : The Bill Gates

Warning , you need a lot of money for this keno strategy . Bet at least $500 per game on a stack of 25-50 tickets. Make sure that no single ticket has the potential of winning more than $250. Each game make sure all other players have been serviced before you approach the keno counter. Then insist that only one writer handle your bets.

System 3 : The Ben Davidson

This is named for the former Oakland Raider who illegally speared a Kansas City Chief in a game in order to create some offsetting penalty fiasco that cost K.C. an important game. This keno system consists of one cheap shot after another. For example, take your favorite keno ticket and wad it up and wear it in your shoe for a week . When presenting it to the keno writer for play, dig into your pocket and pay for it in pennies. Explain to the writer that pennies are lucky for you.

System 4 : The Andy Rooney

Wine and moan about your luck as though it will cause the fall of Western Civilization. You can also use health items. Explain in intricate detail about your problems with your lower intestines . It is more effective if you talk to the same keno employee every game for the duration of their shift.

System 5 : The Oral Roberts

Tell everyone you know ( total strangers are okay too ) that you have had a dream. Tell them God wants you to find investors for your Keno Bankroll. Remember to mention Gods standard ten-fold repayment system. Do not predict a keno winner on a specific date. Be more vague with a phrase like " the season of the harvest ".

System 6 : The Foster Brooks

Carry a double scotch in each hand and your keno ticket in your mouth at all times. Protruding from one or more pockets should be at least two dozen keno drink coupons. Ask for a keno drink coupon every time you play your keno ticket. Play at least a $75 keno ticket so they won't refuse you. If you hit a winner of $10,000 or more ( which is quite possible with this keno system ), Ask for some keno drink coupons so you can celebrate.

System 7 : The Albert Einstein

Design a very mathematically complex keno ticket. Use a computer at home to calculate every possible payout so you will know the answer seconds after a game is called. Try to go to the most nervous or least experienced keno writer you can find. As the writer is calculating your payout, every 10 to 20 seconds, repeat aloud the correct payout in progressing decibel levels. Constantly smile when using this keno strategy.

System 8 : The P.T. Barnum

There's one born every minute. Used by direct mail guys. Make a list of things like "Ten Ways to Get Rich". If you get them to read one item, they are hooked and read the whole list.