Most way tickets can be played with video keno

Up to now my column has focused on live keno but I am aware many readers like to play video keno as well.
Video keno, though, has one major weakness and that is lack of the ability to play most way tickets – until now. There is 3-6-9 keno, 2-4-6-8 keno, 7-way keno (groups of 4-3-2 playing all ways), and a few others.
Way ticket keno is, of course, possible for home use. Masque has a program (costs about $30) that allows you to write any way ticket up to 9 total spots per game by actually circling the numbers on your PC. But in the casino your choices to play ways on video keno are limited.
But the advent of 20-card keno makes “ways” possible. Here is an example of how to do a way ticket. The source used is Bill Holmes excellent book, “Keno Book of Ways” (out of print now, but accessible online).
You need to find a way combination that will have 20 ways, using each possibility as of one your tickets on 20-card keno. We will use a 10-spot grouped as 4-2-1-1-1-1, which has one 10, four 9’s, seven 8’s and eight 7’s for a total of 20 total ways.
The 20-card keno uses letters to separate each ticket, thus you have tickets A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T. But don’t worry about remembering your ABC’s as the letters are shown clearly on the screen.
To make things simple the 10 numbers we choose are 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60. The group of 4 will be the numbers 51, 52, 53, 54. The group of 2 will be the numbers 55, 56. The four groups of 1 (kings) will be the numbers 57, 58, 59, 60. Each of these last four numbers is its own group of one.
You press the screen on each letter and then you input the numbers for that ticket. Continue doing this for each group. Ready? Here’s how it goes!
51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60 (group of 10) (4-2-1-1-1-1)
51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59 (group of 9) (4-2-1-1-1-0)
51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 60 (group of 9) (4-2-1-1-0-1)
51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 59, 60 (group of 9) (4-2-1-0-1-1)
51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 58, 59, 60 (group of 9) (4-2-0-1-1-1)
51, 52, 53, 54, 57, 58, 59, 60 (group of 8) (4-0-1-1-1-1)
51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58 (group of 8) (4-2-1-1-0-0)
51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 59 (group of 8) (4-2-1-0-1-0)
51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 60 (group of 8) (4-2-1-0-0-1)
51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 58, 59 (group of 8) (4-2-0-1-1-0)
51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 58, 60 (group of 8) (4-2-0-1-0-1)
51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 59, 60 (group of 8) (4-2-0-0-1-1)
51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57 (group of 7) (4-2-1-0-0-0)
51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 58 (group of 7) (4-2-0-1-0-0)
51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 59 (group of 7) (4-2-0-0-1-0)
51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 60 (group of 7) (4-2-0-0-0-1)
51, 52, 53, 54, 57, 58, 59 (group of 7) (4-0-1-1-1-0)
51, 52, 53, 54, 57, 58, 60 (group of 7) (4-0-1-1-0-1)
51, 52, 53, 54, 57, 59, 60 (group of 7) (4-0-1-0-1-1)
51, 52, 53, 54, 58, 59, 60 (group of 7) (4-0-0-1-1-1)
The above groups would be exactly the same as playing the same numbers, grouped the same way, in live keno. Due to the nature of video 20-card keno we have to bet each separate group. It is similar to lottery keno where to play ways you need a separate play slip (ticket) written for each “way.”
One caution here though. Video keno is MUCH faster than live keno. Thus, the suggestion is play for less or a lower coin denomination to avoid a streak of bad luck that could empty out your wallet faster than your comfort level.
As always, play only what you can afford to lose and make sure to put in your slot card prior to play.
Unless some of these video tickets are on a progressive, you should get the same amount, proportionately, for betting fewer coins. It is the same as being able to play ways for a lower rate (with pays adjusted accordingly percentagewise) in live keno.
This methodology also works for those who like to play for fun on the excellent website videopoker.com. While the site is mainly for video poker enthusiasts, they also have several types of video keno you can play for free, even on the basic level. For a small monthly fee you can upgrade to the Silver and Gold levels respectively to bypass seeing ads and to get more features. This site is excellent practice play for when you get to the casinos.
Let me know how this method of playing “ways” on video keno works for you. Best of luck to you, and may your spots come in SOLID!

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