Keno
Keno Cost per Hour: What an Hour of Play Costs
How much does keno cost? This page shows the average amount lost per hour or per day, based on the number of draws, your bet and the part of each bet the game keeps.
WCLC draws every 5 minutes: 12 draws an hour. At $2 a draw you put in $24 an hour and get back $14.90 on average, so the hour costs $9.10.
Chance to finish this session ahead: 4.8%
Typical swing around the average (one standard deviation): $119.68.
The average cost is certain to show up only over a long run. A single session usually ends with a loss a bit bigger than average, and now and then with a win - that rare win is what keeps the average where it is.
Show the formula
cost = draws x price x (1 - return)
12 x $2 x (1 − 62.08%) = $9.10
The chance to finish ahead is exact: the distribution of every possible total prize after all draws is added up draw by draw.
Source: WCLC – KENO Game Conditions and Prize Structure Statement (2016), WCLC – KENO page · checked 2026-10-29
Cost per hour
Cost per hour = draws per hour × bet × kept part (the share of bets not paid back as prizes)
Example: For example, WCLC Keno has 12 draws an hour. With a $2 bet, the average cost is about $9.10 an hour.
Words used on this page
- Draw
- One round where the game picks the winning numbers at random.
- Bet
- The amount you pay for one selection in one draw. The game conditions set the allowed amounts.
- Spots
- How many numbers you pick on one selection. Each spot count has its own prize table and its own return.
- Return
- The share of all bets paid back as prizes over the long run. It is calculated from the official prize table.
- Kept part
- The share of each bet that is not paid back as prizes. Return plus kept part equals the whole bet.
- Spread
- The range where most sessions end. The calculator above shows it. A single session can end above or below the average.
Cost for each Canadian keno game
| Game | Organiser | How often draws run | Example average cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| WCLC Keno | WCLC | Every five minutes, 12 per hour | $9.10 per hour at $2 a draw |
| Daily Keno | OLG | Twice a day, every day | $2.23 per day, example set-up |
| Banco | Loto-Québec | Once a day, every evening | $1.11 per day, example set-up |
Averages are calculated by code from the official prize tables. The day examples may use another bet or spot count; set the same ones in the calculator above to compare.
Speed matters
Fast draws: WCLC Keno
- A draw every five minutes
- 12 draws in one hour
- Example: $9.10 per hour at $2 a draw
- Each extra hour adds the same average cost again
Slow draws: Daily Keno, Banco
- OLG Daily Keno draws twice a day
- Loto-Québec Banco draws once a day
- Example set-ups: $2.23 and $1.11 per day
- To compare equal bets, set the same bet and spots in the calculator
More on keno costs and returns
Sources
- Loto-Québec – Lottery rules · checked Oct 29, 2026
- OLG – Daily Keno Game Conditions · checked Oct 29, 2026
- WCLC – KENO page · checked Oct 29, 2026
- WCLC – KENO Game Conditions and Prize Structure Statement (2016) · checked Oct 29, 2026
- OLG – About Daily Keno · checked Oct 29, 2026
- OLG – Daily Keno past results and odds · checked Oct 29, 2026
- Loto-Québec – Règles des loteries · checked Oct 29, 2026
Questions
How much does keno cost per hour?
It depends on the game, spots and bet. For example, WCLC Keno has 12 draws an hour. At $2 a draw, it costs about $9.10 an hour on average. Single sessions vary around that average.
Why is fast keno more expensive per hour?
Each draw keeps part of the bet. WCLC Keno draws every five minutes, so the kept part is taken 12 times an hour. Banco draws once a day, so the kept part is taken once a day.
Does playing more draws change the kept part?
No. Every draw has the same odds and prize table, and past draws do not change the next one. More draws only add more expected loss.
Is keno cheaper than slots?
This site has no official slot figures, so it does not compare them in numbers. The same formula works for any game: amount bet per hour × the part the game keeps.
Can one session cost less than the average?
Yes. Prizes are random, so one session can end below or above the average. Over many hours, the average cost per hour gets closer to the calculated one, but the total amount lost keeps growing. The calculator above shows the usual range.