Keno is a popular game in New Zealand where players pick up to ten numbers between 1 and 80. The concept of the game is similar to bingo in many ways. However, it’s presented in a traditional lottery style with four draws happening every single day. Tickets can also be purchased with a minimum bet of 1.00, making the game accessible to almost everyone, regardless of their budget.
On this page, you can find everything related to Keno New Zealand, including the aim, basic rules, payouts, and strategies that people use to improve their chances of winning. We also take a look at exactly how you can play Keno online, too!
What is Keno NZ?
Keno is a lottery-style game that is popular across New Zealand, where players can pick numbers and hope they match the ones drawn. Anywhere from 1 to 10 numbers can be selected from 1 to 80, with different potential winnings for matching various numbers.
With traditional Keno NZ, there are four draws every day, which occur at 10 am, 1 pm, 3 pm, and 6 pm (NZST). A total of 20 balls from a total of 80 are drawn each time and players can participate with a minimum stake size of 1.00 per play. Keep in mind, however, that the numbers you pick will only be valid on one of the daily draws, so be sure to double-check which time slot you are betting on.
Another thing to keep in mind is that should players match one or more numbers, the winnings must be claimed within 12 months from the draw date.
How To Play Keno
If you want to play Keno NZ, below is a quick guide for getting started. It’s worth mentioning that the process is almost identical to online Keno, however, the need for a physical ticket is removed entirely, making the game more convenient and accessible!
1. Acquire a Ticket – First, you must get yourself a Keno ticket that showcases the different draws while also offering a space for you to make your number picks.
2. Select Your Numbers – The next step is to pick anywhere from 1 to 10 numbers from 1 to 80. You can do this manually or take a ‘dip’, which offers a random selection of numbers based on your preferences.
3. Place Your Bet – Once you’ve got your picks, it’s time to add your desired stake size to the ticket, with the minimum being 1.00 per play.
4. Wait for the Draw – You will be given a receipt to confirm your bet, which will feature the time of your selected draw.
5. Check your Numbers – Once the draw is underway, keep a eye out for your chosen numbers. The more that match, the greater the potential winnings!
6. Claim Your Winnings – If at least one of your numbers matches the ones drawn, you can take your receipt back to redeem your potential winnings. This had to be done within 365 days of the draw taking place, or else the ticket would become void.
Understanding Keno Payouts and Odds
As mentioned earlier, there are an assortment of different potential payouts in Keno, all of which will depend on how many numbers you have picked. Picking more numbers means that greater potential winnings can, however, this will also decrease the chance of the top payout being awarded when compared to the previous number of picks. Here’s a payout table that can help to make sense of the different Keno NZ payouts:
| Number of Picks | Payout (Based on Number of Matches) |
| 1 | 1 = 2x |
| 2 | 2 = 10x |
| 3 | 2, 3 = 2x, 20x |
| 4 | 3, 4 = 3x, 150x |
| 5 | 3, 4, 5 = 2x, 20x, 300x |
| 6 | 3, 4, 5, 6 = 2x, 3x, 40x, 1,000x |
| 7 | 4, 5, 6, 7 = 2x, 4x, 500x, 4,000x |
| 8 | 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 = 2x, 4x,100x, 500x, 10,000x |
| 9 | 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 = 2x, 3x, 10x, 200x, 2,000x, 50,000x |
| 10 | 0, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 = 3x, 2x, 5x, 50x, 500x, 20,000x, 250,000x |
Naturally, as the payouts change in Keno, the odds will too. Below is a table showcasing the odds of being awarded with some potential winnings (Any of the aforementioned payouts), based on the number of picks:
| Number of Picks | Odds of Being Awarded Any Prize |
| 1 | 1 in 4 |
| 2 | 1 in 16.6 |
| 3 | 1 in 6.6 |
| 4 | 1 in 21.6 |
| 5 | 1 in 10.3 |
| 6 | 1 in 6.2 |
| 7 | 1 in 16.2 |
| 8 | 1 in 9.8 |
| 9 | 1 in 6.5 |
| 10 | 1 in 9.1 |
By comparing the number of matches needed for a payout, alongside the potential winnings and odds of a prize being awarded, you can help to find a betting strategy that aligns with your preferences.
Strategies for Playing Keno
While there is no ‘right’ way to play Keno NZ, there are plenty of different strategies that can be implemented. The most common ones include the following:
- Pick One Number – As shown in the table above, picking just one number comes with the best odds of being awarded with a prize.
- Picking Six Numbers – Apart from covering a single number, making six picks offers the best odds of some potential winnings being awarded. Of course, this also comes with the potential of being awarded 1,000x, too, should all six numbers be drawn!
- Cover All Ten Numbers – This strategy is popular as it unlocks the highest tier of potential winnings, which sits at 250,000x the stake size. It also allows the player to be awarded with some potential winnings without matching a single number (3x for no matches).
Play Keno Online at BetVictor
If you’d prefer to play Keno online with draws occurring every minute, the BetVictor has got you covered. With our online Keno variation, you can enjoy all the fun of the game in a convenient and accessible manner. The rules remain the same when playing online, allowing you to select anywhere between 1 and 10 numbers per round.
In addition to regular online Keno, you can also find Lightning Box Keno in our online catalogue, which features slightly different rules. In this variation, you can pick a minimum of three numbers, with four fixed jackpots also being active throughout each round.
Before playing Keno online, however, why not check out the BetVictor offers page? We have a huge variety of bonuses to choose from, many of which can be used when playing games in our online casino catalogue, including Keno!
Frequently Asked Questions About Keno NZ
There are four Keno NZ draws held every day at 10 am, 1 pm, 3 pm, and 6 pm NZST. This occurs throughout the week, including on Sundays.
Yes, there are plenty of strategies for playing Keno, all of which revolve around the preferences of each player. Some of the most popular strategies involve picking 1, 6, or all 10 numbers, with each having their own associated advantages.
Yes, you can play Keno online right here at BetVictor. We offer traditional online Keno games alongside a variation that features 4 fixed jackpots!
The popularity of Keno across New Zealand can be attributed to many different factors, with the biggest being the simplicity of the game itself. It also offers more frequent draws when compared to the lottery, while also giving players the freedom to play with anywhere from 1 to 10 picks.
