Page 14 - April 2015 • Southern California Gaming Guide

by Gail Anders
If you’ve never played Video Keno, this may be an interesting article. But know that a cionados of the game have schooled me about its nuances. As a recent Video Keno player, I’ve learned a thing or two from seatmates and Video Keno big winners. All I can say is there’s power, and sometimes big wins, in numbers.
Live casino games o er players some of the best odds and have a low house edge. However, when these games have been converted into slot machines in the past, the house edge is increased by several percentage points, turning, for instance, a good table game into a bad slot.
ere is one exception where
a notoriously bad casino game hasbeenconvertedintoagreat
slot machine. e game is Video Keno.
Live Keno, rarely available at any casino these days, has the distinction of being one of the worst games you can play. Keno is similar to the lottery. But Video Keno o ers much better returns because it is actually a slot machine, with a payback percentage.
Like Video Poker, Video Keno pay tables can vary from casino to casino. e number of winning spots needed to
Maria from Riverside won an $11,654 jackpot playing Pot o’ Gold Toucheasy Keno at Sycuan Casino
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collect may change as well. is is why it is important to check the pay tables of a Video Keno game before you play, just as you would in Video Poker.
Video Keno has been growing in popularity with players looking to hit a jackpot that is comparable to a Video Poker game. Unlike Video Poker,
Video Keno does not require learning basic playing strategies. But you still have decisions
regarding how many numbers you want to play per game and in choosing the best pay schedule game available.
Video Keno Progressives
Many casinos o er progressive Video Keno machines, and the jackpots can grow into the tens of thousands. When they reach those numbers, it’s not unusual to see
players lined up waiting for seats.
If you want to play for a progressive, play as many credits
and as few numbers as it takes to get a shot at the jackpot. For example, some machines won’t pay the progressive unless you play 4 or more credits per game and either 8, 9, or 10 numbers. If you don’t have to play 10 numbers to win the progressive, don’t, unless hitting 9 out of 10 will also win it. If 8 pays the progressive jackpot with just one more coin than is required on the 9 or 10 spot, it’s probably worth the extra money to improve your odds. Look at the payouts carefully to nd the most economical way to win a progressive jackpot.
Video Keno Basics
Ultimately, Video Keno is a game of great patience. e biggest, and somewhat justi ed complaint about the game is that it can be boring, particularly if you use the
“auto play” feature. But here are some hints I’ve learned that have certainly engaged me.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAMING GUIDE
Tony N. won a $72,161 jackpot playing 25¢ Pot o’ Gold Lightning Keno at Barona Resort & Casino
Pick the numbers you want to play and stick with them. Some people take pains choosing the “right” numbers. I see a lot of players use number patterns. You may see players change numbers when they don’t seem to work, and even change them again if they do win. e reality is, the numbers you choose don’t a ect your probability of winning. If you watch the numbers that are drawn when you lose, you’ll see that they seem to land on the cards in groups or patterns. However, those patterns cannot be predicted. I’ve won several times by playing the numbers in my family’s birthdays scattered all across the board. I’ve also won on numbers that were in a straight line or wrapped around a corner.
Unlike most slot machines, you don’t have to play maximum credits, unless you’re playing for a progressive jackpot.
Video Keno may or may not be for you. Some players I know love the game, but others tell me there is not enough excitement for them. e only way to know for sure is to give Video Keno a try.
Gail Anders writes for magazines and online journals and lives in Laguna Beach and New York.
APRIL 2015