Keno is one of the simplest lottery-style games you can play online in New Zealand: you pick a handful of numbers, the game draws 20 at random, and you win based on how many you match. This guide explains how keno works on New Zealand’s official platform, what your real odds of matching numbers are, how prizes and the optional multiplier are structured, and what the country’s new online gambling rules mean for playing keno at an online casino.
What keno is and how a draw works
Keno is a numbers game drawn from a pool of 80 numbers, labelled 1 to 80. In each game, 20 of those 80 numbers are drawn at random. Before the draw you choose between 1 and 10 numbers of your own, which are usually called your spots. Your prize depends on how many of your chosen numbers appear among the 20 drawn.
That is the whole game. There are no cards, dealers or decisions once the numbers are locked in — keno is a game of pure chance, so no system, pattern or “hot number” changes what the draw does. In New Zealand, keno is run by Lotto New Zealand (Lotto NZ), the same state operator behind Lotto, Powerball and Strike.
Where you can play keno online in New Zealand
The official, regulated way to play keno online in New Zealand is MyLotto, Lotto NZ’s website and app. You buy entries for upcoming draws, and results and any winnings are handled through your account. Because it is the state operator’s own product, it is the clearest legal channel for playing keno online in the country.
Keno-style games also appear at online casinos, often as fast “video keno” rounds. These are different products with their own paytables, and they sit inside the wider world of online casinos available to New Zealand players rather than the Lotto NZ game. New Zealand’s rules for those operators are changing in 2026 — more on that below.
How to play keno online, step by step
Playing the Lotto NZ game through MyLotto follows a short sequence:
- Set up a verified account. You need a MyLotto account, and online play requires you to be 18 or older; the account sign-up includes age verification.
- Open the keno game. Choose to pick your own numbers or take a random selection (sometimes called a “Dip”), which fills a line of 10 numbers for you.
- Choose how many spots to play. Select between 1 and 10 numbers for each line.
- Decide your spend and number of lines. Tickets start from NZ$1 per play, and you can add more lines if you want to play several selections.
- Add the multiplier if you want it. This optional feature can increase a winning prize, but it also increases the cost of your ticket.
- Pick the draw. Keno is drawn four times a day, at 10am, 1pm, 3pm and 6pm (New Zealand time). You choose which draw or draws to enter.
- Confirm and check results. After the draw, your account shows the winning numbers and any prize you have won.
Quick Facts
| Game | Keno |
|---|---|
| Operator | Lotto New Zealand (Lotto NZ) |
| Official platform | MyLotto website and app |
| Number pool | 1 to 80 |
| Numbers drawn each game | 20 |
| Numbers you pick (spots) | 1 to 10 per line |
| Draws per day | 4 — 10am, 1pm, 3pm and 6pm (NZ time) |
| Ticket price | From NZ$1 per play |
| Optional extra | Multiplier (raises cost, can boost a prize) |
| Minimum age to play online | 18 (MyLotto account verification) |
Keno odds: your real chances of matching numbers
Because 20 of the 80 numbers are drawn, the chance that any single number you pick is drawn is 20 out of 80 — exactly 1 in 4, or 25%. That sounds friendly, but matching every number on a larger ticket becomes very unlikely very quickly, because each extra spot has to land as well.
The figures below are the mathematical odds of matching all of the numbers you pick. They come straight from how many numbers are drawn and are the same wherever standard 80-number keno is played:
Keno Odds at a Glance
| Numbers you pick | To win the top tier, match | Approx. odds of matching all |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 1 in 4 (25%) |
| 2 | 2 | about 1 in 17 |
| 5 | 5 | about 1 in 1,550 |
| 10 | 10 | about 1 in 8.9 million |
These are the odds of matching every number you select, in standard 80-number keno. Smaller partial-match prizes are far more likely.
Two things are worth remembering. First, partial matches on bigger tickets are far more common than a full match and win smaller prizes, so a 10-spot ticket is not really “all or nothing”. Second, every draw is independent: past results, lucky numbers and “due” numbers have no effect on what comes next.
How keno payouts and the multiplier work
Keno prizes scale with two things: how many numbers you picked and how many you matched. Smaller selections (say 1 to 4 spots) pay modest amounts but hit more often. Larger selections (8 to 10 spots) offer much bigger top prizes, but as the odds above show, the jackpot tiers are rare.
The optional multiplier applies a random multiple to a winning prize for that draw, which is why it also raises the ticket price. Whether it is worth it is a personal choice, not a way to improve your odds of matching numbers.
Lotto NZ publishes the current keno prize table on MyLotto, and the exact amounts can change, so check the live prize information there before you play rather than relying on figures copied from overseas lotteries. It also helps to understand return to player (RTP): keno generally returns a smaller share of money staked than many other games, and online casino video-keno RTP varies widely by paytable. If you want to understand how winnings are processed once you do win, our guide to how online casinos pay out winnings covers the mechanics for casino-style games.
How keno compares to other instant games
Keno sits alongside other quick, luck-based games. It is close in spirit to online scratch cards in New Zealand, which also offer small frequent wins and the occasional big prize with no skill involved. Compared with pokies, keno is slower and more transparent — you can see exactly how many numbers were drawn — but it typically has a higher built-in margin, so it tends to return less over time. If you prefer games where you can see the odds spelled out, keno’s fixed draw makes the maths unusually easy to follow.
The law: playing keno online in New Zealand
The Lotto NZ keno game is a long-established, legal New Zealand lottery product, which is why MyLotto is the safe default for playing keno online. Online casino keno is a separate matter. Under the Online Casino Gambling Act 2026, which has commenced, the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) is setting up a licensing regime that will allow a capped number of operators (up to 15) to be licensed to serve New Zealanders. The DIA has said the regime is not expected to be fully operational until 2027.
Until licensed online casinos are actually up and running, players should be cautious about offshore casino keno sites and stick to regulated options. You can read more about the wider rules in our overview of New Zealand casino law and safety.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Chasing losses. Keno draws are frequent, which makes it easy to keep buying tickets to “win it back”. The odds reset every draw.
- Believing in hot or cold numbers. No number is more or less likely to come up based on history.
- Picking the most spots just for the jackpot. A 10-spot ticket has a top prize roughly 1 in 8.9 million — understand that before choosing it.
- Adding the multiplier without noticing the extra cost. It raises your spend every ticket, not just when you win.
- Playing without limits. Set a budget before you start and treat any wins as a bonus, not an income.
Responsible gambling and disclaimer
This article is general information about how keno works in New Zealand. It does not encourage gambling, the purchase of any ticket or any particular choice, and it is not financial, legal or gambling advice. Keno is a game of chance in which the house keeps a margin over time; there is no strategy that improves your odds of matching numbers.
Online play is for adults aged 18 and over. Set deposit and spend limits before you play, and never gamble money you cannot afford to lose. If gambling is causing harm to you or someone you know, free and confidential help is available 24/7 from the Gambling Helpline on 0800 654 655 or by texting 8006. You can also learn more about responsible gambling in New Zealand, and the Department of Internal Affairs is the regulator responsible for online casino gambling.
Sources
- NZ Herald — Keno is a Lotto NZ game drawn four times a day (10am, 1pm, 3pm, 6pm); tickets start at $1
- Department of Internal Affairs — Online casino gambling regulation (Online Casino Gambling Act 2026; regime not fully operational until 2027)
- Gambling Helpline New Zealand — free 24/7 support, 0800 654 655
Frequently asked questions
Is playing keno online legal in New Zealand?
Yes. Keno is a Lotto NZ game and can be played online through MyLotto, the official state operator’s platform. Online casino versions of keno are being brought under a new licensing regime that the Department of Internal Affairs is still rolling out, so the Lotto NZ game is the clearest legal option right now.
How many numbers should I pick in keno?
That is a personal choice. Picking fewer numbers means smaller prizes that hit more often, while picking more means bigger possible top prizes but much longer odds. The number you choose does not change the house margin, only the shape of the prizes.
What are the odds of hitting all 10 numbers?
Matching all 10 numbers on a 10-spot ticket is roughly 1 in 8.9 million. Partial matches are far more likely and win smaller prizes, so a big ticket is not strictly all-or-nothing.
How much does a keno ticket cost on MyLotto?
Tickets start from NZ$1 per play. Adding the optional multiplier increases the cost of the ticket, and buying extra lines multiplies the spend as well.
Can a strategy improve my chances at keno?
No. Each draw is random and independent of every other draw, so no pattern, number-tracking system or timing trick changes the odds. The only things you control are how many numbers you pick and how much you spend.
