Keno comes with its own vocabulary, and a single unfamiliar word on a ticket or paytable can make an otherwise simple game feel confusing. This glossary defines the keno terms you will actually meet in Canada — from the spot you mark to the catch that pays, plus ticket types and the bonus features offered by provincial lottery games. Each term is explained in plain English, with the Canadian detail that matters, so you can use this page as a quick reference while you read the rest of our guides.
Key Terms at a Glance
Nine terms you will see most often:
- Spot — one number you pick; a “5-spot” plays five numbers.
- Catch — a spot of yours that is drawn (“Catch 3” = three matched).
- Catch-all — matching every spot you picked; the top prize tier.
- Way / way ticket — numbers split into groups for several bets on one ticket.
- Quick Pick — numbers chosen randomly for you; same odds as self-picking.
- Multiplier — paid add-on that multiplies a winning prize.
- Bonus — an optional feature or add-on game (Keno Bonus in BC/MB; Encore in Ontario).
- Pool — the full range of numbers available (1–70 in Ontario, 1–80 in BC).
- Draw — the round in which 20 winning numbers are selected.
The core keno terms every player should know
These are the words that appear on almost every keno ticket and results screen. If you understand this short list, the rest of the game follows easily. For the full step-by-step mechanics behind these terms, see our complete guide on how to play keno.
Spot
A spot is one number you choose on your keno ticket. The number of spots you play is the size of your bet: picking four numbers is a “4-spot” ticket, picking ten is a “10-spot” ticket. In Ontario’s OLG Daily Keno you can play from 2 to 10 spots, while BCLC Keno lets you play from 1 to 10. Each spot count has its own paytable, so a 4-spot and a 7-spot pay differently.
Catch
A catch is one of your chosen spots that also appears among the numbers drawn. If you play six spots and three of them are drawn, you have “caught” three — written on paytables as “Catch 3.” The number of catches, not just whether you matched anything, determines your prize. “Catch” is sometimes used loosely to mean the total number of matches in a draw.
Catch-all
Catch-all means matching every single spot you selected, which is normally the top prize for that ticket size. On a 10-spot ticket, a catch-all is all 10 of your numbers appearing in the draw. It is not a separate game option but a label for the best possible outcome; it is also the hardest to hit, because catching every number is far rarer than catching most of them.
Pool (number pool)
The pool is the full range of numbers you can choose from. The pool size differs by game in Canada: OLG Daily Keno uses a pool of 1 to 70, while BCLC Keno uses the more traditional 1 to 80. A larger pool changes the odds, which is why the same “5-spot” ticket does not pay identically across provinces. The provincial differences are covered in our overview of keno in Canada.
Draw
A draw is the single event in which 20 winning numbers are selected from the pool. Every keno game in Canada draws 20 numbers per round — that total never changes, no matter how many spots you played. Draw frequency does change: OLG Daily Keno holds two draws a day (around 2:00 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Eastern Time), while BCLC Keno runs a new draw roughly every three and a half minutes.
Quick Pick
Quick Pick is the option to let the terminal or app choose your numbers randomly instead of marking them yourself. It is offered by both OLG (also labelled “Auto Pick” online) and BCLC. Because keno draws are random, Quick Pick numbers have exactly the same chance of winning as numbers you choose by hand — the feature saves time, it does not improve odds.
Ticket types and how you bet
Beyond a simple selection, keno lets you structure a ticket in several ways. These terms describe those structures. Not every ticket type is available in every Canadian game, so check the specific product before you expect them.
Straight ticket
A straight ticket is the most basic bet: you pick one group of numbers and that group is your only wager. If you choose six numbers and play them as a single set, that is a straight 6-spot ticket. It is the default way most people play and the easiest to read.
Way ticket
A way ticket splits your numbers into separate groups so one ticket gives you several “ways” to win in a single draw. For example, you might mark three groups of two numbers; the groups can then be combined into multiple spot bets, each paying on its own. A way ticket costs more because you are effectively buying several bets at once, and the payout depends on how your catches fall across the groups.
King ticket
A king ticket uses one circled number — the “king” — that combines with every other group on the ticket. The king acts like a shared number that joins each of your groups, creating extra combinations. A single ticket can contain more than one king. King and way tickets are advanced retail options rather than standard online plays.
Combination ticket
A combination ticket groups numbers and then specifies how those groups are combined into several bets on one slip. It is closely related to a way ticket; the difference is that a combination ticket spells out which group pairings or triplings you are backing. The result is multiple wagers printed as one ticket, each with its own catch requirement.
Pick category (spots played)
The pick category is simply how many spots your ticket plays — OLG uses this phrase for the 2-through-10 choice you make before picking numbers. Your pick category decides which paytable applies and shapes both your odds and your potential prize. Choosing more spots raises the top prize but lowers the chance of catching them all.
Bonus features and multipliers
Canadian keno games add optional features that can increase a win for an extra cost. These are among the most misunderstood terms, so read the game’s own conditions before adding them.
Multiplier
A multiplier is an optional add-on that multiplies a winning keno prize by a randomly selected amount. BCLC’s Keno Bonus, for instance, doubles the ticket price and then applies a multiplier of 1.5X, 2X, 5X, 7X or 10X drawn before each game, with the bonus prize capped at $2 million. A multiplier only increases prizes you were already going to win — it does not change how many numbers you catch.
Bonus
“Bonus” is a general label for an optional feature or add-on game layered on top of the main keno draw. In British Columbia and Manitoba it is the Keno Bonus multiplier described above. In Ontario, the related add-on at checkout is Encore, a separate $1 game with its own set of numbers and prizes rather than a multiplier on your keno line. Because the meaning shifts by province, always check what “bonus” refers to on the specific ticket.
Keno Pattern Play
Keno Pattern Play is a BCLC variant where you win by matching set patterns of numbers rather than choosing your own spots. It is a distinct game with its own paytable and is offered separately from standard Keno. It is one of several alternative formats; our guide to the types of keno and game variants explains how these differ from the classic lottery version.
Odds and payout terms
These terms describe how likely you are to win and how the game is priced over time. They matter most when you compare one ticket or game with another. For worked examples, see our breakdown of keno odds and payouts.
Paytable
A paytable is the chart that lists how much each number of catches pays for a given spot count and wager. Every spot count has its own paytable, and amounts are usually shown per $1 wagered, scaling up with your bet. Reading the paytable before you play is the only reliable way to know what a catch is actually worth.
House edge
The house edge is the share of all money wagered that the game keeps on average over time. Keno typically carries one of the higher house edges in lottery-style games, which is why no pattern of picks or Quick Pick changes your long-run expectation. The exact edge varies by game and spot count and is set by the official game conditions.
Return to player (RTP)
Return to player, or RTP, is the flip side of the house edge: the percentage of wagers a game is expected to pay back over the long run. If a game’s house edge is 30%, its RTP is 70%. RTP is a long-term average across millions of draws, not a promise about any single ticket or session.
Random number generator (RNG)
A random number generator is the certified system that selects the 20 drawn numbers without pattern or memory. Online and app-based Canadian keno draws use an RNG, so past results have no influence on future draws. Because each draw is independent, “hot” and “cold” numbers are a myth.
Hit frequency
Hit frequency is how often a ticket catches enough numbers to pay anything at all. Lower spot counts tend to have higher hit frequency but smaller top prizes, while high spot counts hit rarely but can pay far more. Understanding this trade-off is central to any honest keno strategy.
Canadian keno terms compared
The same term can mean slightly different things depending on which provincial game you play. The snapshot below compares the two largest Canadian keno products so you can see how the core terms map to real rules.
Canadian Keno Snapshot
| Term / feature | OLG Daily Keno (Ontario) | BCLC Keno (BC & Manitoba) |
|---|---|---|
| Number pool | 1 to 70 | 1 to 80 |
| Spots you can pick | 2 to 10 | 1 to 10 |
| Numbers drawn | 20 per draw | 20 per draw |
| Wager options | $1, $2, $5, $10 | $1, $2, $5, $10 per draw |
| Draw frequency | Twice daily (approx. 2:00 p.m. & 10:30 p.m. ET) | Approx. every 3.5 minutes |
| Multiplier / bonus | Encore add-on ($1, separate game) | Keno Bonus multiplier (1.5X–10X, doubles ticket cost) |
| Top prize reference | Up to $2,500,000 | $200,000 base; up to $2,000,000 with Keno Bonus |
Common mistakes when reading keno terms
Most keno confusion comes from a handful of repeated misreadings. Avoiding these keeps your expectations accurate.
- Confusing spots with the numbers drawn. You choose your spots; the game always draws 20 numbers regardless. Playing a 5-spot does not mean only five numbers are drawn.
- Assuming a catch means a win. A single catch rarely pays on larger tickets. Each spot count has a minimum number of catches before any prize is due, listed on the paytable.
- Treating catch-all as guaranteed. Catch-all is the rarest outcome, not a typical result; the more spots you pick, the harder it is to catch them all.
- Thinking Quick Pick or a multiplier improves odds. Quick Pick only randomises your numbers, and a multiplier only enlarges prizes you already won — neither changes your chance of catching numbers.
- Mixing up provincial pools. A 1–70 OLG ticket and a 1–80 BCLC ticket are not interchangeable; the pool size affects both odds and payouts.
- Reading a paytable from another country. US casino keno often uses features (and 80-number pools everywhere) that do not match Canadian lottery rules, so always use the official conditions for your game.
A note on responsible play
Keno is a game of chance with a fixed house edge: the terms on this page explain how the game works, not how to beat it, because no selection method changes random draw odds. Play only with money you can afford to lose, treat any winnings as a bonus rather than income, and set limits before you start. If gambling is no longer fun or feels hard to control, free, confidential help is available — see our guide to responsible gambling support in Canada. Keno is restricted to adults (18+ or 19+ depending on the province).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What does “spot” mean in keno?
A spot is one number you choose on your ticket. The number of spots you play — such as a 4-spot or 10-spot — sets the size of your bet and decides which paytable applies. Canadian games let you play between 1 and 10 spots depending on the product.
What is the difference between a catch and a catch-all?
A catch is any one of your chosen numbers that is drawn, so you can have several catches on one ticket. A catch-all means every number you picked was drawn, which is normally the top prize and the rarest result for that spot count.
What is a way ticket in keno?
A way ticket splits your numbers into separate groups so one ticket holds several bets, giving you multiple “ways” to win in the same draw. It costs more than a straight ticket because you are effectively buying each combination, and payouts depend on how your catches land across the groups.
Does Quick Pick change my odds of winning?
No. Quick Pick only chooses your numbers randomly instead of you marking them. Keno draws are random, so computer-selected numbers have exactly the same chance of being drawn as any numbers you pick yourself.
What is the keno multiplier or Keno Bonus?
It is an optional paid add-on that multiplies a winning prize by a randomly drawn amount. BCLC’s Keno Bonus doubles your ticket cost and can apply multipliers up to 10X, capped at $2 million. A multiplier only increases prizes you already won; it does not help you catch more numbers.
