Learn Keno Terms - Keno Lingo

Aggregate	Aggregate Total payout liability of a casino during any one game.
All or Nothing	A keno ticket that only pays if all picked numbers are drawn, or no picked numbers are drawn.
Ball Game	A keno game that uses plastic balls to represent the numbers. This is the most common type of keno bgame today.
Balls	Keno balls. Similar to bingo balls or ping pong balls. Numbered 1-80.
Bank	The casino's money available for keno operations.

Bingo	The original name for keno. Although keno and bingo are very different today, both use similar balls to represent numbers drawn.
Blank	A keno ticket that has not been used.
Blower	Part of the machine used to dispense keno balls. The blower uses air to force the balls into a tube where they can be viewed and/or removed by the keno operator.
Bowl	The part of the ball machine that holds the balls when the blower is not on.
Buy-In Tournament	A keno tournament where players pay a set fee up front, and play a predetermined number of games and/or tickets. Players get to keep any winnings.
Cage	An old type of wire cage that held keno balls. Most cages have been replaced by plastic hoppers. Also used to refer to the employees-only area where keno workers operate.
Call	The actual act of calling the keno numbers, usually over an intercom. Performed by an casino employee.
Caller	The casino employee who calls out the numbers during the keno game.
Catch	A number marked on a ticket is said to be a catch when it is called during the keno game.
Catch-All	A keno game that requires you to catch all of the numbers you have marked on your ticket.
Catch-Zero	A keno game that requires you to catch none of the numbers you have marked on your ticket.
Close	The time when no keno ticket will be written by the casino. Normally just before the draw until just after the draw.
Combination Ticket	A single ticket with several different keno wagers on it.
Computer Ticket	A keno ticket generated by a computer.
Conditioning	The "terms" of the wager. Normally written on the ticket. Generally refers to wagers other than straight ticket plays.
Deuce	Two keno spots grouped together.
Draw	The 20 numbers drawn for each keno game are collectively called "the draw".
Draw Sheet	A sheet available from the keno counter which shows the numbers drawn from the previous game. Has holes punched in it to facilitate checking your tickets.
Edge Ticket	A ticket with the 32 numbers marked that make up the outer edge of the ticket.
Enhanced Payoff	A greater payoff received by playing a combination of games on a single ticket. Pays more than would have been received if the games had been played on individual tickets.
Entry Fee Tournament	Players pay a fee up front and compete with each other for cash or prizes. Players do not keep winnings from individual games in the tournament.
Exacta	A ticket played for two games, with a special payoff rate.
Expected Value	The rate at which an outcome is expected to occur.
Field	A group of marked spots that is not circled.
Flashboard	The electronic signs that display the numbers drawn for a keno draw. Most are now LED, but older boards using light bulbs are still around.
Fractional Rate Ticket	A ticket played for some fraction of the normal rate. Normally only used on a way ticket.
Free Play	A keno win that pays no money, but lets you play your bet again.
Goose	A term used for the machine that blows the keno balls up into two long tubes.
Group	Spots that are circled or separated from the other spots marked on a keno ticket.
Handle	The total of all money taken in for a game, shift, day or some other period of time.
High End Ticket	A keno ticket that pays more for catching a high number of spots, but less (or nothing) for catching fewer spots (as compared to a regular ticket).
High Roller Ticket	A ticket that has a high minimum ticket price.
Hit	When a drawn number matches the spot on your ticket.
Hold	Handle minus payoffs, or the gross receipts after paying out all winning tickets.
House	The Casino.
House Edge	Also known as PC (percent casino). The percent of all wagers the house can expect to win, over a period of time. Can vary widely, but normally is about 30%.
House Percentage	Also known as PC (percent to casino). The percent of all wagers the house can expect to win, over a period of time. Can vary widely, but normally is about 30%.
Inside Ticket	A keno ticket that is completed and turned in to the casino.
Jackpot	The prize paid in a Stud . Technically, the jackpot is the amount above the regular payoff for the game. For instance, if the Stud payoff is $25,453 but the regular payoff is $10,000, the jackpot is $15,453. However the term is regularly misused to indicate the total payoff amount.
Jackpot Meter	An electronic display of some type that displays the current jackpot mount.
Keno	The modern version of an old Chinese lottery. Twenty numbers out of eighty are drawn, and players win by guessing which numbers will be drawn. Keno is a lottery; state lotteries are variations of keno.
Keno Board	The electronic signs that display the numbers drawn for a keno draw. Most are now LED, but older boards using light bulbs are still around.
Keno Balls	Similar to bingo balls or ping pong balls. Numbered 1-80.
Keno Computer	Used by casinos to enter wages, determine winners, print keno ticket, prepare management reports, etc.
Keno Counter	The counter where players place their wagers and collect their winnings.
Keno Lounge	The area where keno players can sit to mark their tickets and watch the game. Normally rows of connected seats with a small desk top with a cup holder. Always stocked with blanks, crayons, instructions, etc.
Keno Punch	The machine that punches holes in a draw sheet.
Keno Runner	A casino employee who goes through the casino restaurants and seating areas collecting keno wagers, and paying winners.
Keno Writer	The employee at the counter who takes your bet, produces the computer generated ticket, and pays the winners.
King	A single circled number. Works with other numbers to make a bet or way.
King Ticket	A way ticket that contains one or more kings.
Left-Right Ticket	A ticket marked vertically down the center. The object is to catch only numbers on one half of the ticket (or no numbers on one half of the ticket).
Limit	Total payout liability of a casino during any one game. Same as aggregate limit.
Live Keno	Regular keno played on tickets, NOT video keno.
Lounge	The area where keno players can sit to mark their tickets and watch the game. Normally rows of connected seats with a small desk top with a cup holder. Always stocked with blanks, crayons, instructions, etc.
Mark	A mark made on a keno ticket number, either my hand or by the keno computer.
Multi Game Keno Ticket	A ticket played for multiple keno games.
Net Win	The actual player winnings, after deducting the cost of the ticket.
Open	Any time the counter is open for taking wagers.
Outside Ticket	The official game ticket returned to the player in exchange for his hand marked ticket and the appropriate wager.
Pattern	The shape made by the collective marks on a keno ticket or lights on a keno flashboard.
Pay Any Catch Ticket	A keno ticket that pays something, no matter how many spots are caught or not caught.
Payoff	The amount paid to a player for his played ticket. Not necessarily a net profit.
Pay Table	The chart that shows what each win pays.
Stud	A keno game where the top prize increases until it is won. The prize may increase by a percent of wagers, a set amount per time period (hour, day, etc.) or any other method determined by the casino.
Punch Outs	A sheet available from the keno counter which shows the numbers drawn from the previous game. Has holes punched in it to facilitate checking your tickets.
Push	A win equal to the amount wagered.
Quick Pick	A ticket with numbers chosen by the keno computer for the player, at the player’s request.
Quit Race	Cashing in a multi game ticket before all games have been played.
Race	A single keno game. A term held over from when the game was called Horse Race Keno. Also may be a reference to the "race" to the keno counter to cash in a winning ticket before the next game starts (which normally voids all previous tickets).
Rack	The tray that holds the keno balls when they are not in play.
Random Number Generator	A computer program used to randomly select numbers for a keno game.
Rate	The price for a ticket or way.
Rate Card	Provided by the casino. Shows payoffs for various bets.
Regular Ticket	The standard or basic ticket sold by a casino.
Replayed Ticket	Giving a played ticket to the counter to replay the numbers.
RNG Game	When a computer program is used to randomly select numbers for a keno game.
Shift Boss	The shift supervisor.
Sleeper	A winning ticket that is not presented for payoff.
Special Rate	A rate different than the regular ticket rate. Does not necessarily indicate a better deal for the player.
Split Ticket	Two or more groups of numbers played separately on the same ticket.
Spot	The numbers marked on a keno ticket.
Straight Ticket	The standard or basic ticket sold by a casino.
Ticket	The keno ticket. Marked with 80 numbers, used by a player to mark her spots. Generally made from low quality paper.
Top-Bottom Ticket	A ticket marked horizontally in the center. The object is to catch only numbers on one half of the ticket (or no numbers on one half of the ticket).
Tournament	A series of keno games organized by the casino into a contest between players.
Video Keno	Keno played on a computerized machine similar to video poker. Uses a random number generator to pick the numbers. Also, offered in many Online Casinos.
Wager	The amount of money at risk on a keno ticket.
Way	A separate bet on a ticket with more than one bet.
Way Ticket	A ticket with two or more bets.
Win	Catching enough numbers to collect more than the amount wagered.
Winning Numbers	The 20 numbers drawn in the keno game.
Wire Cage	A cage used to mix keno balls.
Writer	The employee at the counter who takes your bet, produces the computer generated ticket, and pays the winners.