Keno way tickets: many bets on one ticket
A way ticket splits your numbers into groups and plays every combination of them as its own bet. One ticket can hold dozens of bets.
Reviewed Oct 14, 2026
Answer first
90s| Ticket | Groups | Ways | Cost at $1 a way |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straight 6-spot | — | 1 | $1 |
| Two 3s | 3 + 3 | 1 six-spot | $1 |
| Three 3s | 3 + 3 + 3 | 3 six-spots + 1 nine-spot | $4 |
| Four 2s | 2 × 4 | 6 four-spots | $6 |
| King 4-spot | 1 king + 3 × 3 | Several ways | Depends on ways chosen |
Key numbers
Way tickets at a glance
In short
Key takeaways
- Every way on the ticket is graded separately against the same draw.
- More ways raise the cost of the ticket, not the odds of each way.
- A king number is a single number that joins every way.
- The house edge per way is the same as the pay table for that spot count.
On the ticket
Three groups of three
Your spots
Drawn (sample)
Groups B and C mostly hit; the six-spot B+C catches 5 of 6
Groups: A = 5, 6, 7; B = 23, 24, 25; C = 61, 62, 63. Combining any two groups makes a six-spot.
Sequence
Writing a way ticket
Step 01
Mark your numbers
Circle each group of numbers on the blank.
Step 02
Write the ways
In the margin, write the bet, such as 3/6 for three six-spot ways.
Step 03
Set the rate
Write the amount per way, such as $1 per way.
Step 04
Total it
Multiply ways by rate and pay the writer or set it on the machine.
Step 05
Check results
Each way pays by its own spot count on the pay table.
Counting the ways
With three groups of three, you can join any two groups for a six-spot. There are three such pairs, so three six-spot ways. Joining all three adds one nine-spot.
Writers use short notes like 3/6 and 1/9. Ask the keno writer to check your count before the draw starts.
Floor rules
Way ticket terms
Know before you sit
- Way
- One bet made by combining groups.
- King
- A single circled number that is part of every way.
- Combination ticket
- A ticket that plays several spot counts at once.
- Rate
- The bet per way.
Why players like way tickets
Way tickets turn one draw into many chances to win something. A ticket with three groups and four ways can pay on one way even when the others miss.
The cost grows fast. A ticket with 20 ways at $1 per way costs $20 per draw, even though you marked only a few numbers.
Each way keeps its own edge, set by the pay table for that spot count. Live keno edges are often 25% or more, so way tickets spread a high edge across many bets.
Examples of ticket prices
| Ticket | Ways | At $0.50 a way | At $1 a way |
|---|---|---|---|
| Two groups of 4 | 1 eight-spot | $0.50 | $1 |
| Three groups of 3 | 4 | $2 | $4 |
| Four groups of 2 | 6 four-spots | $3 | $6 |
| Five groups of 2 | 10 four-spots | $5 | $10 |
Some lounges set a minimum per ticket as well as per way.
Common mistakes
- Miscounting ways
- Players often count fewer ways than the ticket really holds, then are surprised by the price. Write the ways and rate in the margin every time.
- Buying more ways to improve odds
- Extra ways add bets, not better odds. Each way has the same chance as a straight ticket of that size.
- Forgetting the minimum ticket
- Some lounges set a minimum per ticket. A ticket with few ways at a low rate may be raised to the minimum.
- Missing a winning way
- Every way is graded on its own. Check each combination, or let the writer check the ticket for you.
- Chasing with replays
- Replaying a ticket for many games multiplies the cost. Set the number of games before you start.
Keep reading
Related pages
Go play
Where to play in Las Vegas
Tap a resort — each row opens that casino’s White Gambling page (hours, game mix, floor facts). Venues with this game in official counts, sorted high to low.
Open a casino page
Real listings · not adsAfter the 90 seconds
Questions before and after you play
A 90-second guide cannot cover every table moment. Tap a group, then a question — answers are short paragraphs, not one-liners.
01Way tickets
What is a way ticket in keno?
A ticket that groups numbers and bets every combination of groups as a separate bet. One draw grades all of them.
Is a way ticket better odds?
No. Each way has the same odds as a straight ticket of that spot count. You simply hold more bets.
How do I count ways?
Count how many ways you can combine groups to make each spot count. Three groups of three make three six-spots and one nine-spot.
What is a king ticket?
A ticket with one or more single numbers, called kings, that are added to every way.
02At the lounge
Can I play way tickets on video keno?
Most video keno does not support way tickets. They are mainly written in live keno lounges.
Can a way ticket pay more than one prize?
Yes. Every way that catches enough numbers pays on its own, so one draw can pay several prizes.
03More way ticket questions
Do way tickets pay less per way?
Pay tables are usually the same as for straight tickets of that size, but some lounges use reduced rates for way play. Check the brochure.
Can I replay a way ticket?
Yes. Most keno lounges let you replay the same ticket for several games in a row, called multi-race keno.
Are way tickets worth it?
They are a way to play more bets, not better ones. Play them for fun within a set budget.
Sources
- Nevada Gaming Control Board — Regulations · accessed Oct 14, 2026Keno rules under Regulation 5
- Wizard of Odds — Keno Not from a registry (Reference source, not an official registry)The gaming industry’s standard reference for casino-game math, by actuary Michael Shackleford. Not an official registry; our calculators compute these numbers independently. · accessed Oct 14, 2026Keno odds by spot count
- National Council on Problem Gambling — Help and resources Not from a registry (Reference source, not an official registry) · accessed Oct 14, 2026Free, confidential help: call or text 1-800-GAMBLER
- UNLV Center for Gaming Research Not from a registry (Reference source, not an official registry) · accessed Oct 14, 2026Research library on casino games and gambling