Types of Keno and Game Variants

Keno looks like a single game, but “keno” is really a family of closely related games built on one shared idea: you choose a handful of numbers, a draw selects 20 numbers from a larger pool, and you are paid according to how many of your picks are caught. The differences between keno variants come down to four things — where you play, how big the number pool is, how fast the draws run, and whether the game bolts bonus features on top. This overview maps the main types of keno a Canadian player will actually meet: provincial lottery and daily keno, live and casino keno, video keno, feature variants such as power and multi-card keno, and online RNG keno. For the wider picture of odds, payouts and provincial games, see our overview of how keno works in Canada.

The core game every keno variant shares

Every keno variant is built on the same template, so once you understand one, you understand them all. You mark a set of numbers (called “spots”) on a grid, the operator draws 20 numbers at random, and your prize depends on how many of your spots match the 20 drawn. Classic keno uses an 80-number grid and lets you pick up to 10 numbers (some versions allow up to 15 or 20). The game is ancient: it originated in China around 2,000 years ago as a betting game nicknamed the “white pigeon ticket,” and it reached the western United States with Chinese immigrants in the 1840s, when the original Chinese characters were replaced by the numbers 1 to 80.

The practical consequence is simple. The variant you are playing changes the pace, the presentation and the bonus rules, but the underlying maths — 20 numbers drawn from a fixed pool — stays constant. That is why no variant is inherently “luckier” than another; they are different wrappers around the same odds.

What are the main types of keno?

There are five variant families most Canadian players encounter, and they differ mainly by where and how fast you play rather than by the rules of the draw. The quick comparison below sets them side by side before each is explained in detail.

Lottery and daily keno (provincial draw games)

Lottery or daily keno is the government-run version sold through provincial lottery retailers and apps, and it is the form most Canadians meet first. You fill in a slip or tap a screen, choose how many spots to play, pick a wager, and wait for a scheduled draw. Because these games are operated by provincial lottery corporations, they are regulated, the odds and prize tables are published, and many offer paid add-ons that boost potential payouts. The catch is that the exact rules vary by province.

How keno differs by province in Canada

The biggest difference between Canadian provincial keno games is the size of the number pool, which splits the country roughly in two:

• Ontario (OLG DAILY KENO): 20 numbers are drawn from a 1-to-70 pool. You play a “Pick” category of 2 to 10 numbers, wager $1, $2, $5 or $10, and there are two draws daily (a midday draw around 2:00 p.m. ET and an evening draw around 10:30 p.m. ET). The top prize can reach $2,500,000, and an ENCORE add-on is available.
• Atlantic Canada (ALC Keno Atlantic): a 1-to-70 pool with a selection of 2 to 10 numbers and a nightly draw.
• Quebec (Loto-Quebec Keno): also draws from a 1-to-70 pool.
• British Columbia (BCLC Keno on PlayNow): 20 numbers are drawn from the classic 1-to-80 pool, you pick up to 10 numbers, and a new draw runs roughly every 3.5 minutes. An optional Keno Bonus multiplies winnings by 1.5x, 2x, 5x, 7x or 10x.
• Western Canada (WCLC Keno — Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and the territories): a 1-to-80 pool with 1 to 10 numbers played, draws every few minutes throughout the day, and the option to enter up to 99 consecutive draws on one slip.

In short: Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada use a 70-number pool, while British Columbia and Western Canada use the international 80-number pool. That difference changes the published odds for each spot level, so a “10-spot” ticket is not identical from one province to the next.

Live and casino keno

Live keno is the traditional casino version, run from a physical ball-draw machine with a real host, either on a casino floor or streamed from a studio in a live-dealer format. It plays by the standard rules — pick up to 10 (sometimes 20) numbers from 80, with 20 drawn — but the pace is deliberately slow, with a new draw every few minutes. That relaxed rhythm is part of the appeal: in a land-based casino, keno was historically something you could play from the lounge or restaurant while a monitor showed the results. Live keno suits players who like watching a genuine draw unfold rather than an instant on-screen result.

Video keno

Video keno is the machine version, played on a dedicated terminal that looks much like a slot or video-poker cabinet. You choose your spots on a touchscreen, press a button, and the draw resolves in seconds, as often as you like. Because it is self-paced and solitary, video keno is far faster than live keno — there is no waiting for a scheduled draw and no shared room. It is also where most of the branded “feature” variants live, because the screen can layer bonus animations and extra rules on top of the basic game. The trade-off for that speed is that a fast game invites far more plays per hour, which matters for budgeting.

Feature variants: power, super, multi-card and friends

Feature variants are standard keno with an extra bonus rule attached, and they are most common on video terminals and online. They change payouts and presentation, not the odds of the core draw, so it is worth knowing exactly what each one adds.

Power Keno and Super Keno

Power Keno pays extra for catching the last ball drawn: if the 20th number drawn is one of your spots and it completes a win, that win is multiplied (commonly by four). Super Keno is the mirror image — it boosts your payout if you catch the very first number drawn. In both cases the bonus only applies when that specific ball is part of a winning ticket, so it rewards timing of the draw rather than better odds overall.

Caveman Keno and Cleopatra Keno

Caveman Keno adds bonus “eggs” to a few numbers you did not pick; if drawn numbers land on those eggs and hatch them, your win is multiplied (typically 4x for two and 8x for three). Cleopatra Keno is themed differently: catching the last number drawn triggers 12 free games in which any winnings are doubled. Both are examples of how feature variants dress the same draw in different bonus mechanics.

Multi-card and way keno

Multi-card keno lets you play several tickets at once — commonly up to four, and up to 20 on some machines — against the same single draw of 20 numbers. Way keno (or “combination” keno) lets you group your chosen numbers into overlapping combinations, called “ways,” on one ticket, so a single slip covers many smaller bets. Both increase the number of outcomes you are staking on each draw, and both increase the amount wagered per draw accordingly.

Online RNG keno

Online RNG keno is the software version, where a random number generator (RNG) — a program that produces unpredictable results — stands in for the physical ball machine. You play on a casino website or app, draws resolve instantly, and many sites offer a free demo mode so you can learn the interface before wagering. Mechanically it matches video keno: an 80-number grid, up to 10 (sometimes 20) spots, 20 drawn. The practical differences are convenience and speed — you can play anywhere, at any time, as quickly as you can tap — which again makes pacing and budgeting the thing to watch. In Canada, play only through provincially regulated sites or your provincial lottery’s own platform.

Common mistakes players make across keno variants

The most common mistake is assuming a flashier variant has better odds. Power, super, caveman and multi-card keno change how and when you are paid, but the chance of matching the drawn numbers is set by the pool size and your spot count, not by the bonus wrapper. Other frequent errors include:

• Comparing spot levels across provinces as if they were identical — a 70-number game and an 80-number game have different odds for the same “pick.”
• Ignoring the add-on cost — Keno Bonus or ENCORE raise the price of the ticket, and multipliers only help when you already win.
• Letting speed drive spending — instant video and online keno can run dozens of draws in the time one live draw takes, so the same bankroll disappears far faster.
• Playing too many spots chasing a jackpot — higher spot counts advertise huge top prizes but pay nothing on most tickets.
• Using “systems” or hot/cold numbers — each draw is independent, so past results never change the next draw.

Which keno variant suits you?

The right keno variant depends on the pace and setting you want, not on any edge. If you like a regulated, slower game with published odds and the chance of a large top prize, provincial lottery or daily keno fits best. If you enjoy watching a genuine draw in a relaxed casino setting, live keno is the classic choice. If you want to control the speed yourself, video keno and online RNG keno deliver instant draws — ideal for quick sessions, but the easiest to overspend on. And if bonus features are what make the game fun for you, the power, caveman, Cleopatra and multi-card variants add that layer, as long as you remember they are entertainment rather than an advantage. Whichever you choose, set a budget first and treat any variant as a game of chance.

A note on responsible play

Keno in every form is a game of chance, and no variant, strategy, demo mode or bonus feature improves your odds of winning. Draw results are independent and random. In Canada you must be of legal gambling age to play — 19+ in most provinces, and 18+ in Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec — and you should only use provincially regulated lottery and casino services. Set a time and money limit before you start, and never bet money you cannot afford to lose. If gambling stops being fun or starts causing harm, free and confidential help is available in Canada through ConnexOntario and through BCLC’s GameSense program, among other provincial resources.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the difference between keno and video keno?

Keno is the general game — pick spots, 20 numbers are drawn, you are paid by matches. Video keno is simply keno played on an electronic machine or screen, where you choose numbers on a touchscreen and the draw resolves instantly instead of waiting for a scheduled or hosted draw. The rules of the draw are the same.

Which keno variant is most common in Canada?

Provincial lottery and daily keno is the most widely available, sold by each province’s lottery corporation. Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada run games on a 70-number pool, while British Columbia and Western Canada use the classic 80-number pool.

Do power keno or multi-card keno improve my chances of winning?

No. Feature variants such as power, super, caveman and multi-card keno change the payouts, bonuses or number of tickets in play, but they do not change the odds of matching the drawn numbers. Those odds are fixed by the pool size and how many spots you pick.

Is online RNG keno the same as keno at a casino?

The gameplay is the same, but the draw method differs. A land-based or live keno game uses a physical ball machine, while online RNG keno uses certified software (a random number generator) to pick the 20 numbers. Both produce random, independent results.

How many numbers are drawn in keno?

Twenty numbers are drawn in every standard keno game, regardless of variant. The difference between games is the size of the pool those 20 are drawn from (usually 70 or 80) and how many spots you are allowed to pick.