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Keno Casino Game Guide

Rudie Venter
Rudie VenterOnline Slots & Casino Games Expert
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Ilse Lotz
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The Keno casino game is one that many South African players are curious about, but have never really been experimented with. So, what is keno? Well, Keno is actually a pretty simple game which is similar in many ways to lottery games such as Bingo, Mega Millions, Powerball, etc. If you’ve played any of these games before, you will find the concept of Keno is very much along the same lines. Those who are interested to play keno online for real money have the option of keno online in South Africa, which is offered by many SA-friendly online casinos.

If you are looking for the best South African online casinos to play Keno, you are at the right place. We will expand on everything you need to know about playing Keno casino game online and present you with the best online casino options for this purpose.

Keno is a game of chance or luck where players try to bet on the outcome without any evidence-based reasoning. They need to match as many numbers as they can with the numbers drawn, the more the matches, the more the winnings.

In order to play traditional Keno, you need to purchase a Keno ticket and mark between two to ten numbers from a range of one to eighty. The casino or the operator of the game then proceeds to draw 20 numbers also from the same range of one to eighty.

Depending on the paytable of the specific Keno  online game being played and also the amount of money you staked or wagered, you can expect to win money for matches. There are usually a minimum number of balls you need to match (usually 3 or more) in order to win. The higher the number of numbers you match and the higher the bet amount, the more money you stand to win. However, if you do have a high bet amount and fail to match numbers, then you will lose a higher amount of money as well.

How to Play Keno Casino Game: Online Gambling Guide

Playing Keno online is easy, you can play whenever you like and how many ever times as you wish. If you are new to Keno, this step-by-step guide on how to play Keno might come in handy.

  1. Find a Keno online game – The first step would be to find an online casino that offers Keno. Once you have registered and logged in, you can click on the game Keno game you are interested in playing to load up the game on your screen
  2. The Keno card or ticket – When you play online or at a Keno terminal, you don’t need to actually purchase a physical Keno ticket. The card is displayed on your screen. The card has numbers from 1 – 80 on it in a sequential order.
  3. Mark your numbers – Depending on the specifics of the Keno game you are playing, you will have to select your numbers. Usually, you need to select between 2 – 10 numbers. When you choose fewer numbers, your chances of matching them are higher but the reward is lower and vice versa. Most online keno games have a quick pick option where the console will randomly pick how many ever numbers you tell it to.
  4. Adjust your bet amount – Once you’ve picked numbers on the Keno card, you will need to determine the amount of money you want to bet. Depending on the specific game, there could be a minimum bet amount. The higher the value of your bet, the more money you win, if you win. Usually, the betting range allowed is between ZAR10 and ZAR300, but it may vary from one Keno game to the next.
  5. Hit Play – At this point, you are all set to hit the play button which means the keno game’s algorithm will randomly pick 20 numbers out of the 80 numbers. You either win or lose depending on how many numbers you matched. The house odds may vary from one Keno game to the other or from online casino to the other.
  6. Adjust and repeat – Whether you won or lost, you can have a go again. Once the results are displayed, you can change your numbers and bet amount or let it remain the same and hit play again. You can repeat this as many times as you wish as long as you have sufficient balance. If you are playing for real money, you will need to top up your balance using online payment methods as supported at the online casino.

Where to Play

You can play Keno  at either land-based casinos or online casinos. There are many online casinos that offer a good selection of Keno games and welcome South African players. When choosing an online casino, there are some important factors you ought to consider.

First, you need to ensure that the casino accepts players from South Africa, it is even better if the casino supports South African Rands as well. The second most important thing to check is whether or not the casino is licensed and operates lawfully. This is crucial to ensure you are playing at a safe and fair casino that will not scam you.

Other factors to consider include their game collection, payment methods available, promotions and bonuses, responsiveness and availability of customer support, etc.

There are literally hundreds of online casino choices for South African players looking to play Keno and other casino games online. Due to sheer abundance, players could feel a little overwhelmed when it comes to picking the right casino.

If you find yourself in a similar predicament, worry not. We have some high-quality, South African-friendly online casino recommendations for you, specifically for Keno games. These online casinos are fully licensed and regulated, and we have tested them first hand for integrity, flexibility, user-friendliness, customer support, game selection, payment options and more.

These casinos specifically target South African players so you don’t need to worry about currency exchange or international online payment methods. We recommend Springbok casino, Punt Casino and Yebo Casino to our South African players with positive confidence.

How to Play Keno online for free

Most high-quality online casinos, including our recommendations above, will let you play super ball Keno games free. Casinos will have a ‘demo mode’ or ‘free/fun play’ option to play free games at online casinos like slots and keno where you don’t have to bet any real money in order to play. You are given dummy casino credits which can be used to play for fun. Since you are playing with dummy credits, your winnings or losses will also be in dummy credits. So, if you are looking to play Keno for fun without risking real money, free Keno games are a great option for you.

How to play Keno Online for Real Money

If you are new to the game of Keno, we would highly recommend playing in fun play or practice mode before you move on to placing real money bets. Playing in practice mode or demo is a great way to pick up the nuances of the game and get comfortable with how the game works.

Like other Real Money Games, once you are ready to play for real money, you will need to sign up for an account with a reputed South African-friendly online casino that offers Keno games. Once you’ve successfully opened an account, you need to add real money funds to your account so that you can play Keno for real money.

Below are some standard payment methods for Keno online which you can use to fund your online casino cashier account. All of the below-mentioned payment methods are tried and tested and encrypted with SSL encryption for added security.

Payment Methods for Keno Online

Online Keno: Credit and Debit Cards

Virtually all online casinos will accept online credit and debit card payments. Visa and Mastercard are the most commonly used payment methods at online casinos. Online card transactions are highly secure and usually protected with some sort of second-factor authentication. When you use a bank card at an online casino, please ensure that the card is registered in the same name as the name provided on the online casino account since most casinos will verify this during their proof of payment procedure.

Keno betting online: EasyEFT

South African players looking to play real money Keno at an online casino should consider choosing an online casino that supports EasyEFT. This is a South African online payment method where no credit cards or registration is required and no fees are charged for payment transactions.

Online casinos such as Yebo Casino, Springbok casino and Punt casino support EasyEFT. This payment method allows members to deposit and also withdraw directly in South African Rands. Your personal details and banking details are completely secure and protected during an EasyEFT transaction.

Online Keno: E-wallets

An E-wallet is a digital wallet that you can use as an intermediary between your bank account and your casino cashier account. One of the most widely used and popular examples of an e-wallet would be PayPal. You can fund your e-wallet using your credit card or debit card and then use the E-wallet for various online payments since they are easy to use and quick.

Some E-wallets that are trusted and widely used in South Africa and also other parts of the world are PayPal, Skrill and Neteller. E-wallets are especially useful in cases where a player’s bank declines credit card or debit card authorizations that are requested from a merchant classified as an online gambling service. In such a case, you can fund your e-wallet and then, in turn, your casino account without any interference from the middle party financial institution.

Online Keno: Cryptocurrency 

Cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin and many more are being touted as the currency of the future. These decentralized currencies are generally peer-to-peer transactions that eliminate the need for a middle party like a bank.

Crypto transactions are perfect for the purpose of online gambling because these transactions cannot be traced back to a person, just a public crypto address. Therefore, they provide anonymity and privacy in a way most online gamblers would appreciate.

Furthermore, crypto transactions are lightning-fast, be it a deposit or a withdrawal. They are highly secure and free of any processing fees since there is no middle party involved. To make a payment, you only need the casino’s crypto wallet public address and to receive a payment, you only need to disclose your crypto wallet public address.

Online Keno: Bank Wire Transfer 

A bank wire transfer is a much more traditionally used online payment method when compared to e-wallets or crypto payments. This is a digital money transfer where the banks of the payer and the recipient use systems or networks such as SWIFT to approve, debit and credit money from one account to the other using banking details of both accounts and authorization from the payer.

Bank wire transfers are great for international transactions but they do have the drawback of taking too long when compared to say a crypto transaction which is instant.

What is the Difference Between Keno Online Lottery & Keno Online Game?

We have already discussed the basics of keno and how it is played. It should be clear now that the game of Keno is much like a lottery game that you can play online or at a land-based casino, but some national lottery associations offer it as a lottery game as well.

In order to play a state-sanctioned Keno lottery game, you will have to purchase a Keno ticket at an approved land-based retailer, select or mark their numbers and hand it back to the retailer along with the payment for the ticket. Then, you need to wait for the draw to take place to see if you’ve won.

Pros and Cons of Playing Keno Online

Pros
  • Check IconPlay whenever you want
  • Check IconPlay as many times as you would like within a given time period
  • Check IconYou don’t have to wait for the draw, results are instant and generated at your demand
  • Check IconEasily adjust bet value and modify your marked numbers and play again
  • Check IconYou can play from the comfort of your own home
  • Check IconYou can play from your smartphone or tablet even when you are on the move
  • Check IconPlay for fun or free without risking any real money
Cons
  • Close IconHaving the ability to play repeatedly without having to wait for the draw can be more addictive and habit forming
  • Close IconThere is a lack of human-to-human social interaction when playing online Keno
  • Close IconThe draws are instant and there is no dramatization or exciting telecast of the draw

Everything you need to know about Keno Lotto

Playing Keno Lotto may not have the instant gratification of playing Keno online, but there is something about picking your Keno to draw numbers, entering your ticket for the next game and awaiting the draw which is exciting in its own right.

South African players looking to Play Keno Lotto will have to visit an authorized retailer that sells Keno tickets in order to participate. Keno Lotto games are offered by national lottery agencies and the pool money can be huge depending on how many tickets have entered the pool.

Keno Lottery: How to Play in South Africa

If you want to play Keno the old-fashioned way, then you can play the Keno Lottery game, which is offered and operated by the South African National Lottery. This state-run association currently offers a variety of lottery games such as Lotto, Lotto Plus 1, Lotto Plus 2, PowerBall, Daily Lotto, Powerball Plus, and a couple more.

In order to participate, simply visit a Keno lottery near you and purchase a ticket for the game of your choice. If this is all too much, you can always play Keno online from the comfort of your own home at your leisure. Always check with your favourite providers because they often roll out new games for South Africans, like DGRT who rolled out new games at South African Casinos.

Keno Results

Unlike Online Keno, where results are generated as soon as you hit play, Keno lottery games have a set schedule where results are announced in the form of the selected numbers on a weekly or daily basis. You can check the date and time of the draws at the lottery retailer when you purchase the ticket.

FAQs

Can I play online keno on my mobile or tablet?

Yes, the online casinos we recommend are all mobile-friendly so you can play on the go as long as you are connected to the internet.

How old do I have to be to play keno online?

The legal age for gambling in South Africa is 18. So, you need to be at least 18 or older.

What is the absolute best casino to play keno online?

Our top recommendations for South African players looking to play Keno online are Springbok Casino, Punt Casino and Yebo Casino.

What are my odds of winning at keno online?

The exact odds of winning Keno will depend on how many numbers you mark. As you mark more numbers the odds of matching all reduce. The odds of picking ten numbers and matching all ten are around 1 in nine million.

Is playing keno games safe?

Yes, so long as you play at a licensed and trustworthy online casino. Playing Keno online is safe. Always gamble responsibly and ensure you are of legal gambling age.

Will I have to pay taxes if I take part in Keno online betting?

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) will not levy a tax on bets which were made for entertainment or recreational purposes. Therefore, if you win at Keno online and it is not your standard means of income, you don’t have to worry about paying any taxes. However, if you are playing at an off-shore online casino, the tax policy of the jurisdiction where that online casino is hosted will come into play and taxes may or may not apply.

What payment method is accepted?

Most modern South African online casinos support the following payment methods as standard – Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, PayPal, Neteller, Skrill, EasyEFT, Bitcoin (in some cases).

Can I play keno online for real money?

Yes, in order to play Keno online for real money, you need to be of legal gambling age. You will have to register for an account with an online casino and then fund your online casino account with real money through one of the supported online payment methods.

Are online keno games fair?

Yes. When you play with trusted and licensed online casinos such as the ones we recommend, the game results are determined by a random number generator to ensure the games are fair.

Is there a Keno strategy that will increase my chances of winning?

There are some Keno strategies which can, theoretically, increase your odds of winning. One of the ways to minimize risk while playing Keno online is by using bonus money awarded by the casino. There are various other strategies that one can employ.

Can I play free Keno before wagering real cash?

Yes. Many online casinos will allow you to play Keno in free-play more or practice mode.

Professional Casino Player

Rudie Venter is a seasoned online casino games expert with 13 years of industry experience. Holding a degree in psychology, he combines academic insight with practical knowledge of casino game strategies. Rudie's talent lies in demystifying game mechanics, making them accessible and fun for everyone. On his time off, Rudie loves a good ol’ braai and watching the rugby with a naughty Klippies & Coke (in moderation, of course).

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FactCheckIcon Fact-checked by: Ilse Lotz
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