When you think of Las Vegas casinos, you probably picture dealers playing blackjack and poker and excited gamblers throwing dice during a game of craps. But have you ever heard of keno?
Keno was once a very popular game in Vegas, especially in the resort city’s earlier years. It was one of the first games to be introduced in Sin City. However, it’s a game that is slowly being overshadowed by other fun, modern games that require strategy and cunning.
This game was popular for years because it’s straightforward and easy to play, making it a favorite among people of all ages and walks of life. But with the rise of new games, there are only a handful of places where you can play live keno in Las Vegas today.
Want to learn more about how to play keno in Las Vegas? Keep reading to discover where and how to play this game in Sin City.
How to Play Keno Las Vegas
The game of keno is similar to the lottery. Essentially, you select a few numbers between 1-80. The keno system then draws 20 numbers at random.
If your numbers and the ones drawn match, you can claim winnings. The more numbers come out from the ones you selected, the higher your winnings will be.
People love playing keno because it’s straightforward and fast. Some lounges draw for a new game in as quickly as every 10 or so minutes.
And you don’t need to overthink or come up with a big strategy to play. You just need some luck and a silent prayer to the gambling gods to get your numbers drawn.
Here’s a quick how-to of how playing live keno usually goes:
- First, you buy your keno ticket and fill it up. It will ask you how many games you want to play, how much you want to bet per game, and how many numbers you want to select.
- The most important part of filling up your keno ticket is selecting your numbers. Choose numbers from 1-80 and shade or encircle them on the ticket. You can also tick “quick pick,” which gives you a random selection of numbers.
- Submit your ticket to the keno writer at the lounge or the self-service kiosk, if you’re playing from a terminal.
- Wait to get your keno ticket receipt. This receipt will show all the numbers you bet and what game number to watch out for. It also sometimes shows you how much your winnings will be depending on how many numbers you get right.
- Sit back and relax while waiting for the results to appear on the screen. When the draw is done, check the keno board to see if any of your numbers come up.
- If you have numbers on the screen, congratulations! Go to a keno writer or casino attendant and claim your winnings. Note that if you win a sizable amount, the casino will likely require identification from you.
There Are Many Ways to Play Keno
Keno games only used to be played live in lounges and casinos with a keno writer and someone who draws the numbers manually. But in this modern age, there are plenty of ways to play this game of chance. Here are three different ways to experience playing keno:
Live Keno at A Lounge
The most traditional—and arguably the most exciting—way to play keno is to do it live at a physical casino or lounge. Here, you can purchase tickets the old-fashioned way and hand it over to a keno writer to work your bet up for you.
Playing live keno gives you the full experience of gambling in a casino. You also get to socialize with other people playing the game you love. You check the screens with other people and have casual conversations about how they think the draw is going to go.
When you play live keno, you also get to enjoy the lively, vibrant ambiance of a casino, making the prospect of winning feel even more exciting and satisfying.
“Slot Machine” Keno Terminals
If you love slot machines, you might enjoy playing keno through digital video terminals. You can simply sit in front of these machines and play as many rounds of keno as your heart desires. This type of keno allows you to enjoy being in a casino while playing the game privately.
Some people win big and hit jackpots by simply sitting in front of a keno slot machine and playing the game all day.
Keno Websites and Apps
In this day and age, you don’t have to go to Vegas or step into a casino to play keno. With websites and apps that allow you to gamble and play keno, you can do it right in the comfort of your own home. You can even use apps to place your bets on your smartphone while you’re on the go!
All you have to do is create an account with the keno website or app that you prefer. Then, you’ll have to fund it through bank transfers or connecting an electronic wallet to your account. When you’re all set, you can start selecting your numbers and placing bets from home.
Where to Play Live Keno Las Vegas
Any keno aficionado will tell you that among the numerous ways to play the game, traditional live keno is still best. You get the full experience of picking out your numbers, writing down a ticket, and socializing with the staff and fellow players, all while being treated like royalty at a fancy casino.
And where better to gamble and try your luck at hitting the keno jackpot than in Las Vegas?
Sadly, live keno is a game that is slowly dying out in Vegas as it is replaced with more modern and exciting games. It’s also become less popular over the years because it’s difficult to win. Some say it’s one of the worst casino games to play because your chances of winning are so low.
Lucky for those who want to try it out, there is still a handful of keno lounges and casinos in Vegas. Here are some of the best places to play keno in Sin City:
The D
The D Casino has a keno lounge on its second floor. Apart from. Its top-notch service, it’s most well-known for having the largest keno board in the world, which is plastered on the building’s façade right along Fremont Street. You can play in this lounge from 7 AM to 1 AM every day.
The lounge is excellent if you want to play a tournament of games or just want to relax and watch others place their bets.
Red Rock Casino
Red Rock Casino is one of those classic places to play live keno. There are 16-20 seats, four keno writers, and automatic number drawing. You can also play Jumbo Keno here!
Too busy playing other games in the casino? You don’t have to keep moving around to play keno. Red Rock’s mobile keno writers can come to you instead.
The Plaza Hotel
The Plaza Hotel’s Casino has a keno lounge that runs new games every 5-8 minutes. It’s best for those who want to play as many games as possible in one sitting. Here, you can play regular keno and Mega 10 keno, with payouts that can reach millions if luck is on your side.
The casino has keno monitors placed all around the floor and even in some of the hotel’s restaurants and bars, and even in the bingo room. That way, you can see if you’ve won big no matter where you are in the resort.
The keno lounge is open at 11 AM daily. From Monday to Wednesday, they close at 6:45 PM, and from Thursday to Sunday, they close a bit later at 8:45 PM.
The Orleans
If you want to play keno all day, every day in Vegas, the “keno room” at The Orleans Casino is a great option. Note that this isn’t technically a separate room, but a corner of the casino dedicated to keno.
The keno area is open 24 hours a day, so they’re always ready to welcome you to a good game of live keno. They also have keno slot machines right by the lounge.
Harrah’s Casino
Harrah’s is a very popular hotel and casino along the Las Vegas Strip. They have over 60 table games and thousands of slot machines. So, it makes sense that they have keno here too.
You can play keno from Friday to Monday, 10 AM to 8 PM. Guests can also watch the draws for each game on their hotel room’s TV on channels 35 and 36.
The California
The California Hotel—also known as “The Cal”—offers Aloha Keno at their casino. Here, you can bet as low as 40 cents for a ticket of up to 10 numbers of your choice. They’re open from 7 AM to 10 PM. Guests can also watch the keno board from their hotel room (channel 6 on the TV).
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Play Live Keno in Vegas While You’ve Got the Chance!
Keno is a huge part of Las Vegas’ history as a gambling town. After being immensely popular for decades, it’s slowly dying out. Thankfully, there are still plenty of places where you can play live keno, such as the D, Red Rock Casino, and The Plaza Hotel.
We can’t tell you until when live keno will be around. So, next time you’re in Vegas, drop by one of the keno lounges listed above and see why it’s a fan favorite in Sin City. Good luck, and choose your numbers wisely!