Today’s favorite ticket I’d characterize as a serious ticket, one that I play sometimes in an attempt to make some money. It consists of eights and fives, two of my favorite ways to play keno.
Eight-spots and five-spots are long odds tickets, with much of the payoff on the top end, so they don’t pay very often. However, when they do, the payoff is huge. Though I have never hit a solid eight, I’ve hit many solid fives on this ticket.
This is a $4 ticket, with $1 bet on the eight-spot and 50 cents bet on each one of the six-way fives. To mark the ticket, select eight likely numbers, then circle three groups of two and two kings (two one-spot groups.) You’ll end up with an eight-spot ticket grouped 2-2-2-1-1. The eight-spot is checked and paid off just like any straight eight-spot. The fives are in two groups of two and a king, 2-2-1. Whenever possible, I play both the eight and the fives at a special rate because I like the top end payouts better than the small payouts.
One thing you might consider on this ticket: playing the four six-spot ways for "insurance." There are two different combinations on the ticket that will make a six-spot way. One is the 2-2-2; three are the 2-2-1-1. Note that it’s entirely possible to hit a solid six on the 2-2-2 without even hitting a solid five. For this reason, you may want to play the sixes on the ticket, or at least cover the 2-2-2 way on a separate ticket. If you play the sixes for 50 cents, you’ll have a $6 ticket, which is not only fun to play, but can provide you with some great paydays!
Tournament update
March 23-25: Casino Magic, Call 1-800-562-4425, Ext. 4001
March 23-24: Sands Regency Reno, Call 1-800-233-4939, Ext. 2247
April 8-11: Reno Flamingo, Spring Hall of Fame, Call 1-800-950-2964
April 28: Peppermill Reno BLT #35. Call 1-800 648-6992, Ext. 7290
July 4: Sands Regency Reno (Summer) Call 1-800-233-4939, Ext. 2247
Oct 5-6: Sands Regency Reno (Fall) Call 1-800-233-4939, Ext. 2247
Weekly tournaments
Fridays, 7 p.m., Horizon Lake Tahoe.
Tell them you heard about it from Keno Lil in GamingToday!
If you’re a keno manager with a tournament announcement, contact me via this paper and provide your phone number or e-mail address.
Well, that’s it. Good luck! I’ll see you in line!
