Bingo versus Keno

Bingo is often compared with the casino lottery game known as Keno, and although there are lots of similarities between the two games there are also enough differences to make bingo truly unique and – in our view – superior.

Keno requires players to pick from a numbers board showing the numbers 1 to 80. Some casinos allows players to pick anything from 1 to 20 numbers for each game. Others limit the numbers that can be picked to 15 or 10. When the game begins, 20 numbers are randomly selected and are highlighted in the main keno numbers board. Players mark their cards and the more numbers they match, the more they win. A player matching the maximum numbers wins the jackpot.

The similarities between keno and bingo are obvious:

• Both bingo and keno are games of chance.
• Both games involve the random selection of numbers, and the player cannot influence which numbers will be selected in any way.
• Both games require the player to mark a ticket, be it a real ticket or a virtual one when playing online.
• Both games offer players the chance – however small – of winning far more money than it costs them to participate.

The main differences, although less obvious, are as follows:

• In the game of bingo, the numbers on each player’s bingo ticket are not determined by the player, but in keno players select their own numbers.
• In the game of bingo, every ticket has a chance of winning the top prize. In keno, the top prize can be paid out only to players who have elected to play the maximum number of selections.
• Bingo is a game where players are competing against each other to win a prize. Keno is a game where players compete against the house.
• Bingo is a very sociable game, with players chatting and interacting as they play. Keno is not nearly as sociable, and although players may chat with each other from time to time, the game is often played in isolation, much like a lottery scratch card game.
• In 75 ball bingo, every game has one prize which has to be won. In 90 ball bingo there are three prizes that have to be won (for one line, two lines and the full house). But in the game of keno there are no guaranteed winners in any game.

It is these differences which, in our opinion, give bingo a clear edge over keno. Whilst keno may be an enjoyable game in its own right, we think that bingo gives players better odds of winning and a more enjoyable social atmosphere.