Keno Atlantic is the nightly keno draw game run by the Atlantic Lottery Corporation (ALC) for Canada’s four Atlantic provinces: New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador. You choose between two and ten numbers, called spots, from a field of 1 to 70, pick how much to wager, and win if enough of your numbers match the 20 drawn each evening. This guide explains the format, the draw schedule, every prize tier and your real odds, and how the game fits beside the other keno products sold elsewhere in the country.
Quick Facts
| Operator | Atlantic Lottery Corporation (ALC) |
|---|---|
| Where to play | New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador |
| Minimum age | 19+ |
| Number field | 1 to 70 |
| Spots per play | 2 to 10 |
| Numbers drawn | 20 per draw |
| Draw frequency | Once every evening (one nightly draw) |
| Wager options | $1, $2, $5 or $10 per play |
| Top prize | $250,000 per $1 wagered (up to $2,500,000 on a $10 play) |
| Odds of top prize | 1 in 2,147,181 (10-spot, match all 10) |
| Quick-pick option | Insta Pik (random numbers) |
What is Keno Atlantic?
Keno Atlantic is a lottery-style numbers game: you decide how many numbers to play, the lottery draws a set of winning numbers, and your prize depends on how many of yours match. ALC has offered it since 2001 as a daily draw game, and it is sold alongside Atlantic Lottery’s other regional products such as Bucko, Atlantic 49 and TAG.
The core mechanic is the same keno you find in casinos and in other provinces, so if you are brand new to the game it is worth reading our full walkthrough of how to play keno first. What makes Keno Atlantic specific is the number field of 1 to 70 (some provinces use 1 to 80), its once-a-night draw, and ALC’s own prize ladder and rules.
Who runs Keno Atlantic, and where can you play it?
Keno Atlantic is operated by the Atlantic Lottery Corporation, the government-owned lottery that serves the four Atlantic provinces. You can play it in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador. ALC games are not sold to players outside those provinces, and prizes must be validated and claimed in the jurisdiction where the ticket was bought.
You must be 19 years or older to buy any Atlantic Lottery product. Tickets are available from authorized lottery retailers across the region, and ALC also offers its games through its official website and mobile app for players physically located in Atlantic Canada.
Is Keno Atlantic the same as the old in-bar keno?
No. These are two different products that are easy to confuse. In 2009, Atlantic Lottery launched a “monitor keno” game drawn every few minutes on screens in bars and restaurants. Nova Scotia pulled out of that version the same year after revenue fell about 80% below expectations, and Prince Edward Island dropped its monitor version too. That rapid in-venue product is gone.
The Keno Atlantic described on this page is the separate retail draw game: one nightly draw, bought as a ticket, and still sold across all four Atlantic provinces, including Nova Scotia. If you read older news about Nova Scotia “ending keno,” it refers to the discontinued monitor game, not today’s nightly draw.
How to play Keno Atlantic, step by step
Playing Keno Atlantic takes four decisions. You can mark a paper selection slip at a retailer or let the terminal choose for you.
Step 1: Choose how many spots to play (2 to 10)
First decide how many numbers you want to try to match. This is your spot count, and it can be anywhere from 2 to 10. Fewer spots means you win more often but for smaller amounts; more spots means rarer wins but a much larger top prize. There is no “correct” number of spots — it only changes the shape of the risk.
Step 2: Pick your numbers, or use Insta Pik
Choose that many numbers from the field of 1 to 70. If you would rather not choose, ask for Insta Pik, ALC’s quick-pick option, and the terminal generates your numbers at random. Because every draw is independent, hand-picked numbers and Insta Pik numbers have exactly the same chance of winning.
Step 3: Choose your wager ($1 to $10)
You can wager $1, $2, $5 or $10 per play. The prize table is built on a $1 wager; higher wagers multiply every prize by the same amount. A $2 wager doubles the listed prizes, a $5 wager multiplies them by five, and a $10 wager multiplies them by ten. A larger wager does not improve your odds of matching — it only scales what you win.
Step 4: Check the nightly draw
Keno Atlantic is drawn once every evening, and 20 numbers between 1 and 70 are selected for that draw. ALC posts the exact draw time on its site; your ticket shows which draw (or draws) you are entered in. You can check results online, in the Atlantic Lottery app, or by having the ticket scanned at a retailer. Your prize is set the moment your matches are counted against those 20 numbers.
Keno Atlantic prizes and odds
Your payout depends on two things: how many spots you played, and how many of them matched the 20 drawn numbers. The table below shows the top prize for matching all of your numbers at each spot level, for a $1 and a $10 wager, with the odds of that perfect match. Partial matches also pay at most spot levels — for example, a 10-spot ticket pays for matching as few as 5 of your 10 numbers.
Prize Chart
| Spots played | Match all | Prize ($1 wager) | Prize ($10 wager) | Odds of matching all |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2 of 2 | $7 | $70 | 1 in 13 |
| 3 | 3 of 3 | $25 | $250 | 1 in 48 |
| 4 | 4 of 4 | $75 | $750 | 1 in 189 |
| 5 | 5 of 5 | $250 | $2,500 | 1 in 781 |
| 6 | 6 of 6 | $1,000 | $10,000 | 1 in 3,383 |
| 7 | 7 of 7 | $5,000 | $50,000 | 1 in 15,464 |
| 8 | 8 of 8 | $25,000 | $250,000 | 1 in 74,941 |
| 9 | 9 of 9 | $50,000 | $500,000 | 1 in 387,197 |
| 10 | 10 of 10 | $250,000 | $2,500,000 | 1 in 2,147,181 |
The top prize and how your wager multiplies it
The headline prize is for matching all 10 numbers on a 10-spot play. On a $1 wager that pays $250,000. Because higher wagers multiply the prize, the same 10-of-10 match pays $500,000 on a $2 wager, $1,250,000 on a $5 wager, and the game’s maximum of $2,500,000 on a $10 wager. Those larger figures are simply the $250,000 base multiplied by your stake — not a separate jackpot you have to opt into.
The $3 million prize cap per draw
ALC applies a total-prize limit of $3,000,000 for each Keno Atlantic draw. If the combined prizes won by everyone in a single draw would exceed that cap, the prizes are reduced proportionally so the total stays within the limit. In practice this rarely affects ordinary players, but it is written into the game conditions and is worth knowing before you assume a posted prize is guaranteed in full.
What are your real odds of winning?
Keno is a high-house-edge game, and Keno Atlantic is no exception. Matching every number on a 10-spot ticket carries odds of about 1 in 2.1 million — longer than many national jackpot draws. The smaller, more frequent wins are far more realistic: a 2-spot ticket hits both numbers roughly 1 time in 13. For a full explanation of how these fixed prizes relate to your chances, see our guide to keno odds and payouts, which walks through the house edge in plain terms.
How Keno Atlantic compares with keno elsewhere in Canada
Keno Atlantic is one of several provincial keno products, and the details differ by operator. The biggest structural difference is the number field: Keno Atlantic uses 1 to 70, while some other Canadian keno games use 1 to 80, which changes the odds and prize math. Draw frequency, wager levels and bonus add-ons also vary from province to province.
If you want to see how ALC’s game lines up against the options run by OLG, BCLC, WCLC and Loto-Quebec, our overview of keno in Canada compares the number pools, draw times and top prizes side by side. Because each lottery operates only within its own jurisdiction, the game you can legally buy is determined by where you are physically located.
Common mistakes players make with Keno Atlantic
Most avoidable mistakes come from misunderstanding how the odds and prizes actually work, not from picking the “wrong” numbers.
- Thinking more spots always means a better deal. Playing 10 spots unlocks the biggest prize but also the longest odds. More spots is not better or worse — it is a different trade-off between how often and how much you win.
- Believing a wager boost improves your chances. Raising your stake from $1 to $10 multiplies the prize, not the probability. Your odds of matching are identical at every wager level.
- Chasing “hot” or “cold” numbers. Each draw is independent, so past results tell you nothing about the next 20 numbers. No pattern, system or frequency chart changes the outcome. We cover why in our honest look at keno strategy.
- Confusing Keno Atlantic with the discontinued monitor keno. Expecting a draw “every few minutes” in a bar is out of date; today’s game is a single nightly draw.
- Not treating the ticket cost as the real price. The money you stake is spent whether or not you match. Budget it as entertainment, not as an investment with an expected return.
Who is Keno Atlantic for?
Keno Atlantic suits players in Atlantic Canada who enjoy a simple, pick-your-own-numbers draw game and understand that it is a long-odds form of entertainment. The flexible spot count and $1 to $10 wager range let you keep stakes small, and the once-nightly draw avoids the rapid, repeated betting that made the old monitor game controversial. It is not a way to make money: the house edge is built in, and no amount of number-picking skill changes that.
Responsible gambling and compliance
This article is for information only and is not gambling advice or encouragement to play. Keno Atlantic is a game of chance with a fixed, built-in house edge; over time it is designed to pay out less than players stake, and no strategy, system or demo play improves your odds of winning. You must be 19 or older to buy Atlantic Lottery products, and tickets can only be purchased and claimed within the Atlantic provinces where the game is offered.
If gambling is causing stress, financial strain or harm for you or someone you know, free and confidential help is available across Atlantic Canada — including provincial problem-gambling help lines and the 211 community-services line. For verified help resources, self-exclusion options and the warning signs of problem play, see our guide to responsible gambling help in Canada. Always confirm current rules, prizes and draw times with Atlantic Lottery’s official game conditions before you play.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Which provinces offer Keno Atlantic?
Keno Atlantic is sold in the four Atlantic provinces served by the Atlantic Lottery Corporation: New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador. It is not available to players located outside those provinces.
How often is Keno Atlantic drawn?
The current Keno Atlantic is a single nightly draw, held every evening, in which 20 numbers from 1 to 70 are selected. This is different from the discontinued in-bar “monitor keno” that was drawn every few minutes.
How many numbers do you pick in Keno Atlantic?
You choose between 2 and 10 numbers, called spots, from a field of 1 to 70. You can pick your own numbers or use Insta Pik, ALC’s quick-pick option, to have them generated randomly.
What is the top prize in Keno Atlantic?
Matching all 10 numbers on a 10-spot play pays $250,000 on a $1 wager. Because higher wagers multiply the prize, the same match pays up to $2,500,000 on a $10 wager. A per-draw prize cap of $3 million can reduce prizes proportionally if total winnings exceed it.
Can you play Keno Atlantic online?
Yes. Atlantic Lottery offers its games through its official website and mobile app for players who are 19 or older and physically located in Atlantic Canada, as well as at authorized retailers across the region.
