Play Online Keno for Real Money or For Free

Classed as a form of lottery, keno has its roots in the early 19th century in China, where it's believed the game, then called pakapoo, saved an ancient city during the war and helped raise funds to build the Great Wall of China. The popular numbers game found its name after it spread to North America, where it became commonplace in Texas under the name of keno. Here are some websites to play Keno online: 

Best Online Keno Sites in 2024

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Play Online Keno for Free

If you've never played online keno before but fancy giving it a shot, the best way to go is to start playing for free. This is the ideal way to start exploring the game for the first time so you can familiarise yourself with the rules without risking your own money.

Many worldwide online casinos offer you the option of playing their games for free, including online keno games (though usually not live dealer versions), and it's worth taking advantage of that option, especially if you're starting.

While the most obvious way of playing for free is via demo mode, that's not the only way, with sign-up bonuses also giving you the chance to play for free. Let's look at both options in more detail. 

Enjoy the online keno games for free

Free Online Keno Demo Mode

The most common way of exploring games at online casinos for free is by accessing demo mode. Also commonly referred to as free play mode or try free, demo mode gives you free access to the game so you can play it without risking your own money.

Games in demo mode tend to work the same as they do in real money mode, giving you a true taste of what the game is like to play. Accessible by clicking the demo or trying a free link on the game image, demo mode gives you a set amount of play chips to experience the game. Remember that any winnings you trigger will also be in play chips and cannot be withdrawn!

Promos for Online Keno

Think demo mode is the only way to play for free? Think again! Many online casinos offer sign-up bonuses to encourage new players to join their sites. A sign-up bonus is a set amount of bonus funds added to your new account balance to enter and complete your profile. You can then use those funds to play any of the games on the site, as long as the T&Cs permit it, and this can often include online keno games.

Sign-up bonuses are a step further than demo mode in that you're playing with funds closer to real money but without having to risk your own. However, as the old saying goes, you don't get something for anything, and in the case of sign-up bonuses, they tend to be small compared to deposit bonuses. For example, they also carry strict T&Cs regarding their usage.

If you trigger a win once you've completed the wagering requirements, it is possible to withdraw those winnings as cash (T&Cs permitting)!

Level up your game with the real money keno

Play Real Money Keno

So once you've had a taste of the lucky numbers game of online keno in demo mode or maybe by claiming and playing with a sign-up bonus, what's your next step? During your online keno gameplay, you've probably hit a few numbers in one go and wished the winnings were real - haven't we all? That's a good time to start playing for real, as it means the focus is now not on how to play but on how to win!

Playing online keno for real money can be done in a couple of ways, the most obvious of which is by depositing at the online casino. However, that's not the only way to get real funds to play, as we'll cover next.

How to Deposit to Play Keno

Making your first deposit at an online casino to play games like online keno for real is the obvious next step. However, this step can be a big one for many new players, conjuring up questions like "Is this safe?" and "How do I know which site to trust?". Rest assured that it's normal to be hesitant about casino banking methods. After all, it's your hard-earned cash, so you have every right to question.

The best way to approach this is to choose an online casino that is properly licensed, employs plenty of security measures, and has a trustworthy reputation. This site features a range of reliable online casinos that have been reviewed in detail, so take your time and choose the one that best suits you.

Making your first deposit at an online casino is straightforward. Once you've joined the site, click the Deposit button or visit the Cashier, choose your preferred payment method from those available, enter your details and how much you want to deposit, and then click the button to complete the deposit. Your funds will appear in your casino balance, ready to be used! Here are the best deposit methods to play this game:

Payment ProviderAccepts DepositsAccepts WithdrawalsPayout SpeedFeesMore Info
Neteller CasinosYesYesup to 72 Hours
up to 5%top Neteller online casinos
Skrill CasinosYesYes48 to 72 Hours
up to 7%top Skrill online casinos
Paypal CasinosYesYes48 to 72 Hoursup to 3% top PayPal online casinos
Credit card casinosYesYesup to 3 daysup to 3%*top credit card online casinos
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*In many cases, the casino may waive or even pass on fees associated with transacting with the casino. Ensure to clarify fees with the casino that you choose.

Casino bonuses dedicated to keno players

Bonuses Available For Online Keno

With so many bonuses on offer by online casinos, it's natural to want to check them out and see which of them might be suitable for you. If you're interested in claiming a bonus or two to play online keno, you'll be pleased to know that there are a variety to choose from!

The various online keno bonuses available to you include those that come with your deposit, others that don't require a deposit, and others that are awarded after you've played. Next, we'll take a closer look at a variety of online keno bonuses that you may come across, so you can decide which ones are for you. 

No-Deposit Bonuses for Keno

Yes, you can get a bonus without even making a deposit! Many online casinos offer a no-deposit bonus to new players in the form of a sign-up bonus mentioned above. These are great for getting a real-money taste of the games on offer, helping you decide if you want to deposit at the new online casino. However, sign-up bonuses are not the only kind of no-deposit bonuses available.

No-deposit bonuses can also be offered to existing online casino players, sometimes to entice back players that haven't been around for a while or even to explore a new game. These no deposit bonus offers are often sent to individual players by email, so make sure you're on the online casino's promotional emails list!

Keno Welcome Bonuses

Probably one of the most common types of bonuses is the Welcome Bonus. This deposit bonus is offered to new players for making their first deposit at an online casino. Different sites offer different welcome bonuses, so it's worth taking your time to find the one that suits you best.

Like other deposit bonuses, welcome bonuses are claimed by making a qualifying deposit, sometimes with a bonus code. The bonus funds are generally added to your account automatically. Almost all bonuses carry wagering requirements and other T&Cs that dictate how they are to be used. Most welcome bonuses can be used to play online keno, but double-check the T&Cs to be sure.

Reload Bonuses

As the name suggests, Reload Bonuses give you extra on top of any deposit after your first, so when you're ready to 'reload' your balance with funds. Like with welcome bonuses, reload bonuses tend to be a percentage of your deposit up to a maximum amount that's claimable by making a qualifying deposit and possibly entering a bonus code.

Reload bonuses are very common at online casinos to encourage players to stay, deposit and play - and keep doing so! You'll find them offered in various forms, such as weekly or monthly reload bonuses. Again, bonuses can often be sent individually by email, so be sure you're on the list!

Cashback Offers

Another way of getting more for your money playing online keno is by claiming a cashback offer. Cashback comes in two forms: net losses cashback and gameplay cashback. Net losses cashback gives you a certain percentage of your net losses over a certain period, while gameplay cashback is based on your entire gameplay, not just your losses. Casino cashback can be a handy way of insuring yourself against potential losses (to a certain extent) while playing online keno.

Though it may sound like it's actual cash you get back, bear in mind that it is not. What you get back is a bonus, and as such, there are wagering requirements that must be fulfilled before a withdrawal is permitted. Always check the T&Cs before claiming.

Live Keno Bonuses

While you may think online keno is purely a Random Number Generated game, it's worth remembering that you also have the option to explore one of several live dealer versions of the game too! These take your experience to the next level with a real person calling the numbers as drawn from an automatic machine in a show style format.

To get the most out of living dealer keno games, you should consider live casino bonuses, which many online casinos offer. These are bonuses that can be used specifically on live dealer games. Just bear in mind that any gameplay on non-live games will probably not contribute to the bonus's wagering requirements.

Keno Online Tournaments

Another cool way of claiming a bonus to play online keno is by getting your name on the leaderboard of a tournament. Many best online casinos run tournaments to give players the chance to win more just for playing their favourite games, with slots, table games and live dealer games tournaments often running regularly. Depending on the version of keno you prefer, you may be able to enter the table games or live dealer games tournaments.

How does this result in a bonus? If you earn enough points during the tournament to get your name in a paying position on the leaderboard, you could win a bonus, which you can then use to play more keno!

Our last thoughts on the online keno games

How to Play Keno?

Wondering what the game of online keno is all about? It's a very easy game to learn to play that involves choosing a selection of numbers that you think will come up, then watching to see if they do from the random draw!

Most keno games involve a grid of numbers from 1 to 80. By clicking on them, you choose your lucky numbers from 1 to 20 (though some games have a minimum pick of 10). Then you can set a wager amount for the round. When you're ready, click the button, and 20 numbers will be drawn at random. If enough of your chosen numbers are removed, you'll win cash!

What to learn more about this game? Check out our article on how to play and win at online keno.

Keno Games FAQs

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References

Robin Storm - CasinoTopsOnline

Robin Storm

Author & Casino Games Expert

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Robin works tirelessly to make gambling fun and worry-free for all players. With his impressive industry experience, he is passionate about being able to play casino games in a fun and safe environment, ensuring players avoid all the hassles that may appear.
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