Online keno is a simple lotto-style game that can now be played online.

The game works a little like the lottery: pick your numbers and hope that the randomly-drawn balls match your picks. The more numbers you match, the more you win.

But how can keno players get ahead of the game? Let's explore a few basic strategies to help you improve your chances.

How to play online keno

Playing online keno is fairly simple: pick one to 15 numbers from a grid of 80 (1-80). Once you've finished your selections, the draw will begin. Twenty numbers are chosen at random by the computer. The more numbers you match, the bigger your payout.

Of course, if you pick more numbers, your potential payout will be less for a single number as you are covering more outcomes. However, the prizes for hitting multiple numbers will be greater.

Here are some examples of the payouts in a standard microgaming keno game as found at Betway Casino. Our stake is one unit:

Numbers picked: One

Payout: 3x bet (one number matched)

Numbers picked: Three

Payouts: 2x bet (two numbers matched) to 16x bet (three numbers matched)

Numbers picked: Five

Payouts: 1x bet (two numbers matched) to 50x bet (five numbers matched)

Numbers picked: 10

Payouts: 1x bet (three numbers matched) to 800x bet (10 numbers matched)

Numbers picked: 15

Payouts: 1x bet (five numbers matched) to 10,000x bet (15 numbers matched)

Tip #1: Choosing the right numbers

As you can see from our list, the more numbers you pick, the higher the top payout is.

However, as you get higher you will also need to match more numbers in order to make your money back.

So, how many do you choose? It depends on your goals.

Do you want a shot at a large jackpot? If so, you might want to risk your stake to try and match as many numbers as possible.

If you like to play it safe, just pick one or two numbers to have a better chance of hitting.

A good strategy is to pick six numbers and increase the overall stake. This keeps the odds relatively low and still affords you a decent payout.

That said, picking 15 numbers is good if you want a shot at the big prizes. Plus, if you match just three or four numbers you will make half your stake back.

You only need five of your numbers to match to make your entire stake back. Six numbers matched - not even half the total numbers picked - will earn you 2x your original stake.

Tip #2: Understand the odds

Games like the National Lottery have some of the highest odds of around. In fact, the odds of matching all numbers on a standard Lotto ticket are in the billions.

Similarly, online keno has a high house edge - a statistical advantage over the player. In most online keno games, this can be around the 25 per cent mark, but can be as high as 40 per cent.

While we advocate covering as many numbers as possible, sticking to small stakes is a good strategy for long-term keno play.

Some keno games come with a progressive jackpot. This is a pooled jackpot made up of bets across multiple casinos and is won by matching the maximum amount of numbers.

A big progressive jackpot offers the player a slightly higher advantage compared to non-jackpot variants.

Tip #3: Don't get hung up on the history

Keno is a game of pure luck. It's also a game of random outcomes. Every game and every number draw is completely independent from the last.

While players love to find ‘patterns’ in results - be it keno, roulette, or slots - the truth is that each game is unique.

If the number 10 came up 20 games in a row, there's nothing to suggest that it will come up again on the next round.

Try online keno today

Keno is an easy-to-play game that is available to players of all wallets.

It's fun and quick, and if you use the multi-race card option you can select one set of numbers that repeat over multiple games.

*Image Credit: Photo by @dylan_nolte via Unsplashed