A power ticket is one that gives you a lot of action, often a way ticket using pay tables that have good top end payouts to increase your winnings should you hit the big one or most of your numbers.
Today we look at a way ticket grouped as 3-2-2-2-1. This ticket will have 31 ways (take the number of groups, raise them to that power of 2, subtract 1 to determine the total number of ways possible). Here we have five groups thus 2 to the 5th equals 32, less 1 equals 31, There are 31 possible ways.
There is a 10, a 9, three 8s, four 7s, four 6s, six 5s, four 4s, four 3s, three 2s and one king (group of one). You need not play all possible ways and I do not suggest it.
To take advantage of good high end payouts for a small bet we will use both the 40- and 65-cent rate at The El Cortez as an example. The 40-cent rate pays $7,000 for a solid 7 of 7. (Would you believe at some casinos a $1 7-spot barely pays as much or even less?) The 65-cent 9-spot pays $50,000 for a solid hit. Thus let’s play for 5s and up as follows:
Play the 10 on a separate ticket for $1.50 as a MegaKeno Mega 10 ticket as you will be shooting for at least $1 million even at its reset, though it was over $2.4 million and climbing at deadline.
Play the 9 at the 65-cent special rate. For the 8s you have two choices depending on your bankroll. You can play the three 8s as a MegaKeno three-way 8 for $4.50, as the Mega 8 is now over $95,000 ($1.50 per way times 3; even combining it with the Mega 10 for $1.50, thus $6 for these two ways).
You can also play the three 8s at the 65-cent rate that pays $25,000 for a solid 8 of 8.
Check the level of the MegaKeno progressives for the 5s, 6s, and 7s. If they are high enough and you have the dough play them as MegaKeno ways. If they are not at a good level the 40-cent rate pays $800 for a 5 of 5, $2,000 for a 6 of 6 and $7,000 for a 7 of 7.
Thus for under $10, a little more if all the progressives are high, you get all kinds of action. If you hit solid a higher number of spots you will have multiple winners, though keep in mind for non-progressives the aggregate limit of $100,000 applies; a nice problem to have.
Having MegaKeno along with good paying special and regular tickets is the hallmark of downtown Las Vegas keno especially at the California, D, and El Cortez. All offer the 40-cent or equivalent proportional rate (80-cent Island rate at The Cal, Deano rate at The D, and 40-cent at El Cortez)
It is well worth the cost of the air conditioned city buses to take you to downtown from wherever you are staying to get these better rates and pays. If you have never visited Las Vegas, you will find that a car is not needed as many bus routes are 24/7 and serve all casinos that have live keno. Thus the money you save by not renting cars or taking taxis can win you that big jackpot!
Good luck!