Keno Terms

Aggregate Limit	Highest payout legally permitted for a casino during any one game.
All or Nothingz	A keno ticket that only pays if all picked numbers are drawn, or no picked numbers are drawn.
Ball Game	A keno game where the numbers are written on plastic balls.
Balls	Keno balls Numbered 1 - 80.
Bank	The casino's money obtainable 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	An unused keno ticket.
Blower	Part of the machine used to dole out keno balls. The blower uses air to force the balls into a tube where they can be seen and/or removed by the keno operator.
Bowl	The part of the ball machine that holds the balls before being pulled by the blower.
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. Also used to refer to the area where keno workers operate.
Call	The actual act of calling the keno numbers, usually over an intercom. Performed by a member of casino staff.
Caller	The casino employee who calls out the numbers during the keno game.
Catch	A number marked on a ticket and 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 just before the draw until just after the draw, when the casino will write no more keno tickets.
Combination Ticket	A single ticket with several different keno bets 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.
Crayon	Used by a keno player to mark numbers on a ticket. Usually black.
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 that shows the numbers drawn from the previous game. Has holes punched in it to smooth the progress of checking your tickets.
Edge Ticket	A ticket with the 32 numbers marked that make up the outer edge of the ticket.
Enhanced Payoff	A larger 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 in order to 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.
Fractional Rate Ticket	A ticket played for some fraction of the normal rate.
Free Play	A keno win that pays no money, but enables you to play your bet again.
Goose	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 total admission money after paying out all winning tickets.
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 differ extensively, 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 progressive. Technically, the jackpot is the amount above the regular payoff for the game. For instance, if the progressive 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 Computer	Used by casinos to enter bets, determine winners, print keno tickets, 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
Keno Punch	The machine that punches holes in a draw sheet.
King	A single circled number that 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 aim is to catch only numbers on one half of the ticket or none on that side.
Live Keno	Differs regular keno played on tickets from video keno.
Mark	A mark made on a keno ticket number, either by hand or by the keno computer.
Multi Game Keno Ticket	A ticket played for several keno games.
Net Win	The actual player winnings, after subtracting the cost of the ticket.
Nevada Gaming Commission	The body governing gambling in the state of Nevada.
Odds	The mathematical probability of an outcome.
Open	Any time the counter is open for taking bets.
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.
Paybook	The literature that details the casino's pay tables, instructions, rates, etc.
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.
Percentage	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%.
Prize	The amount paid to a player for his winning ticket. May not be a net profit.
Progressive	A keno game where the top prize increases until it is won. The increase is done in any method determined by the casino. For instance, a percent of wagers, a set amount per time period (hour, day, etc.) r
Push	A win equal to the amount wagered.
Quick Pick	A ticket with numbers chosen by the keno computer for the player, at the players request.
Quit Race	Cashing in a multi game ticket before all games have been played.
Race	A single keno game. This name has two reasons for it. One is dated back to when the game was called Horse Race Keno. The other may be a reference to the "race" to the keno counter to cash in a winning ticket before the next game starts which normally cancel 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.
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.
Runner	A casino employee, usually a woman who goes through the casino restaurants and seating areas collecting keno wagers, and paying winners.
Shift Boss	The shift supervisor.
Sleeper	A winning ticket that is not turned in 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 individually 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 the spots. Generally made from low quality paper. (after all you only pay a dollar)
Top-Bottom Ticket	A ticket marked horizontally in the center. The object is to either 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.
Way	A separate bet on a ticket with more than one bet.
Way Ticket	A ticket with two or more bets.
Winning Numbers	The 20 numbers drawn in the keno game.
Wire Cage	An older type game using a cage to mix keno balls.
Writer	The employee at the counter who takes your bet, produces the computer-generated ticket, and pays the winners.