Keno is a thrilling gambling game that closely resembles the lottery and is widely enjoyed in both land-based and online casinos across Canada. Many Canadian provincial lotteries also feature keno as a lottery-style game, offering players a chance to win big with relatively simple gameplay.
How to Play Keno in Canada
Players place bets by selecting numbers from 1 to 80. Once all wagers are placed, 20 numbers (or fewer, depending on the variation) are drawn at random, either through a random number generator (RNG) in online casinos or a ball machine similar to those used in lottery draws.
Keno winnings are determined by a paytable, which varies between casinos. The payout depends on:
- How many numbers the player selects
- How many of those numbers match the drawn numbers
- The amount of the wager
Canadian keno paytables differ by casino and game version. Typically, the house edge in keno is higher than in most other casino games, ranging from 4% to over 35% online, and 20–40% in physical casinos. By comparison, many table games like blackjack or roulette have a house edge under 5%.
The Fascinating History of Keno
While the word “keno” has French and Latin origins—quine (French) means “five winning numbers” and quini (Latin) means “five each”)—the game is believed to have originated in China. Legend credits Zhang Liang with creating keno during the Chu-Han Contention to raise funds for city defense. Its popularity later contributed to funding the construction of the Great Wall of China.
Before 1847, when the Macao Portuguese government began licensing lottery operators, Chinese lotteries were largely undocumented. Stories suggest that results from urban keno games were sent to rural villages by carrier pigeons. In Mandarin, this is known as báigē piào, literally “white dove tickets,” while in Cantonese it is pronounced baak6-gaap3-piu3, which Westerners adapted to spell as pakapoo.
Originally, winning numbers were chosen from sheets printed with Chinese characters, often from the Thousand Character Classic. When Chinese immigrants moved to North America in the 19th century to work on the First Transcontinental Railroad, they brought keno with them. The game was eventually adapted into Western versions, including puck-apu and boc hop bu, and later evolved into the modern keno played in casinos today.
Keno Winning Probabilities
Keno payouts are calculated by multiplying the number of “hits” a player achieves with the percentage of the wager on the paytable’s base rate. While some paytables reward fewer hits, the payout generally increases with more numbers selected and matched.
For example, in some Canadian casinos, a 20-spot ticket may pay $500 or $1,000 for hitting 0 numbers out of 20 with a $5 wager. Most casinos allow players to pick anywhere from 1 to 20 numbers, but some limit selections to 10, 12, or 15 “spots.”
The odds of hitting all 20 numbers on a 20-spot ticket are astronomical—approximately 1 in 3.5 quintillion (1 in 3,535,316,142,212,174,320). Fortunately, keno also rewards smaller “catches,” keeping gameplay exciting and frequent wins possible.
Probability Examples on a 20-spot Ticket:
| Hits | Probability |
| 0 | 1 in 843 (0.12%) |
| 1 | 1 in 86 (1.16%) |
| 2 | 1 in 20 (4.97%) |
| 3 | 1 in 8 (12.49%) |
| 4 | 1 in 4.88 (20.50%) |
| 5 | 1 in 4.29 (23.33%) |
| … | … |
| 20 | 1 in 3,535,316,142,212,173,800 |
Even if hitting all 20 numbers is nearly impossible, other combinations offer frequent, smaller payouts, keeping the game engaging.
Why Keno Is Popular in Canada
Keno blends the excitement of a lottery with the thrill of casino gaming. Its long history, tracing back to ancient China, and evolution into modern Canadian casinos highlight the game’s global appeal.
From a gambling perspective, keno is more about entertainment than strategy. The house edge is higher than most casino games, meaning players should approach it as a fun, high-risk pastime rather than a guaranteed way to win. Yet, the chance of striking a high-reward combination continues to attract players across Canada.
Whether you play in a land-based casino in Toronto, Vancouver, or Montreal, or through provincial lottery-style keno games, the simplicity and unpredictability of keno make it a timeless favourite.
Conclusion
Keno is a game of chance that delivers both excitement and unpredictability. While hitting all 20 numbers is nearly impossible, smaller wins provide consistent entertainment. Its adaptability across cultures—from “white dove tickets” in China to modern Canadian casinos—demonstrates its enduring appeal.
For Canadian players looking for a simple yet thrilling casino experience, keno remains a top choice, offering a unique combination of lottery-style gameplay and casino thrills.
