Keno is one of the simplest lottery-style games you can play in New Zealand: you choose a few numbers, 20 numbers are drawn, and you win more the more of your picks come up. In New Zealand the game is run by Lotto New Zealand through the MyLotto website and app and at Lotto retailers, so it is a government-approved domestic product rather than an offshore casino game. This guide explains exactly how to play Keno in New Zealand – the spots you choose, the draws, the odds of matching and how prizes are worked out.
Keno at a glance
| Operated by | Lotto New Zealand (MyLotto) |
|---|---|
| Number field | 1 to 80 |
| Numbers you pick (spots) | 1 to 10 per line |
| Numbers drawn each draw | 20 |
| Draws per day | 4 – at 10am, 1pm, 3pm and 6pm (NZ time) |
| Stake per line | NZ$1 to NZ$100 |
| Optional add-on | Keno Multiplier (1.5x, 2x, 3x, 5x or 10x) |
| Where to play | MyLotto website and app, or Lotto retailers |
| Minimum age (online) | 18+ (verified MyLotto account) |
| Prizes | Tax-free; a fixed multiple of your stake |
What is Keno and who runs it in New Zealand?
Keno is a numbers game in which you pick between one and ten numbers from a field of 1 to 80, and 20 winning numbers are then drawn at random. In New Zealand it is operated by Lotto New Zealand, the same state-owned body that runs Lotto, Powerball, Strike and Bullseye, under the Keno Rules made beneath the Gambling Act 2003. Because it is a Lotto NZ game, every dollar of profit goes back to the community through the New Zealand Lottery Grants Board, and prizes are paid in New Zealand dollars and are tax-free for the player.
Keno is drawn four times every day, so unlike the twice-weekly Lotto draw you do not have to wait long for a result. If you also play the main draw games, our guide to how to play New Zealand Lotto online covers the sign-up and ticket basics that apply to Keno as well.
How to play Keno in New Zealand, step by step
Playing a Keno line takes four decisions: how many numbers to play, which numbers, how much to stake and whether to add the Multiplier. The process is the same online and in store.
- Choose how many numbers (spots) to play. You can pick anywhere from 1 to 10 numbers. The number of picks is called your “spots”, so a line with seven numbers is a 7-spot game.
- Select your actual numbers. Choose them yourself from the 1-to-80 grid, or let the system pick at random (a Dip) if you do not want to choose.
- Set your stake. You decide how much to spend per line, from NZ$1 up to NZ$100. Prizes scale with your stake, so a larger stake multiplies any win by the same proportion.
- Add the Keno Multiplier if you want it (optional). This add-on can boost a non-top prize by a randomly drawn amount.
- Pick how many draws to enter. You can play your numbers in the next draw only, or enter the same line in several consecutive draws in advance.
- Buy and keep your ticket. Online, the entry is stored in your MyLotto account; in store, keep the printed ticket, because it is your proof of purchase.
After each draw, the 20 winning numbers are published on MyLotto. Any prize is compared against your spots automatically if you played online, and in store you check your ticket against the drawn numbers.
How many numbers are drawn and how often?
Twenty numbers are drawn from the field of 80 in every Keno draw, and there are four draws a day at 10am, 1pm, 3pm and 6pm New Zealand time. Each draw is independent, so previous results have no effect on what comes next – there are no “hot” or “due” numbers, only chance.
Because draws run through the day rather than on a fixed weekly schedule, Keno sits between a traditional lottery and the faster draw games. If you prefer the big weekly jackpots instead, the page on how Powerball works in NZ covers the 2026 Powerball changes and the main Lotto odds.
Keno spots: how your choice of picks changes the game
The single biggest decision in Keno is how many spots you play, because it changes both how hard it is to hit your numbers and how big the top prize can be. A 1-spot or 2-spot game wins often but pays little; a 9-spot or 10-spot game almost never lands every number but offers the largest prizes.
There is a quirk worth knowing: in the higher-spot games you can also win by matching very few numbers, or even none at all. In a 10-spot game, catching zero of your ten numbers is itself a prize-winning outcome in many Keno formats, because missing every number out of 20 drawn is unusual. Lotto NZ sets a prize table for each spot level, so always check which matches pay for the spot count you are playing.
Keno spots and odds compared
| Spots played | Chance of matching every number | Chance of matching none |
|---|---|---|
| 1 spot | 1 in 4 | 1 in 1.3 |
| 2 spots | 1 in 17 | 1 in 1.8 |
| 3 spots | 1 in 72 | 1 in 2.4 |
| 4 spots | 1 in 326 | 1 in 3.2 |
| 5 spots | 1 in 1,551 | 1 in 4.4 |
| 6 spots | 1 in 7,753 | 1 in 6.0 |
| 7 spots | 1 in 40,979 | 1 in 8.2 |
| 8 spots | 1 in 230,115 | 1 in 11.3 |
| 9 spots | 1 in 1,380,688 | 1 in 15.7 |
| 10 spots | 1 in 8,911,711 | 1 in 21.8 |
Odds are the fixed mathematical chances for an 80-number field with 20 numbers drawn, and are the same in any Keno game. Which matches actually pay a prize is set by the Lotto NZ prize table for each spot level.
What are the odds of winning Keno?
The odds of matching all your numbers get dramatically longer with every extra spot you add, because 20 numbers are drawn from 80 regardless of how many you pick. Matching a single chosen number is roughly a 1-in-4 chance, but matching all ten numbers in a 10-spot game is about 1 in 8.9 million.
These figures are fixed mathematics, not estimates: they come from the 80-number field with 20 numbers drawn, so they are the same in every genuine Keno game. The table above shows the chance of catching every number for each spot level, alongside the chance of catching none. Lower-spot games give you a realistic chance of a small win on most draws, while the top-spot games are long-odds bets on a large prize.
Does a strategy improve your chances?
No betting system changes Keno odds. Every draw is random and independent, so picking “lucky” numbers, following patterns from past draws or spreading numbers across the grid does not alter the mathematics. The only real choices that change your risk and reward are how many spots you play and how much you stake. Treat anything claiming to predict Keno numbers as marketing, not fact.
How Keno prizes work
Keno prizes are a fixed multiple of your stake, set by a prize table that depends on how many spots you played and how many you matched. Match more of your numbers and the multiple rises steeply; the top prizes come from matching every number in the higher-spot games. Because the prize is tied to your stake, a NZ$2 line pays twice what a NZ$1 line would for the same result.
Lotto NZ publishes the current dollar prize for each spot-and-match combination on the MyLotto Keno pages, and the exact amounts can change, so check the live prize table before you play rather than relying on an old figure. What does not change is the principle: the fewer people likely to hit a result, the larger the fixed prize attached to it.
The Keno Multiplier
The Keno Multiplier is an optional add-on that can increase a non-top prize. When you add it, a multiplier value of 1.5x, 2x, 3x, 5x or 10x is drawn at random for each Keno draw and applied to your winnings. Adding the Multiplier increases what you pay for the line – it doubles the cost of the play – so it is a trade-off between a higher outlay and the chance of a boosted prize. It is an optional feature that Lotto NZ may or may not offer on a given draw, so confirm it is available when you buy.
Where and how can you play Keno in New Zealand?
You can play Keno in two places: online through MyLotto (the website or the Lotto NZ app) and in person at Lotto retailers such as dairies, supermarkets and petrol stations. Online play needs a verified MyLotto account, which requires you to be 18 or over and to be in New Zealand when you buy. In store you pay with cash or card and receive a printed ticket.
Keno is a domestic Lotto NZ product, which is a different thing from an offshore casino. From 1 May 2026 it has been unlawful to advertise unlicensed offshore casinos to New Zealanders, and those sites are not covered here; if you are weighing up the wider picture of regulated gambling, our overview of online casinos in New Zealand explains the 2026 rules. For sports and race betting, the domestic operator is TAB NZ.
Common mistakes to avoid
The most common Keno mistakes come from misunderstanding the odds and the add-ons rather than the gameplay itself.
- Assuming more spots means better value. A 10-spot game has the biggest headline prize but the longest odds; it is not a smarter bet, just a different risk profile.
- Chasing “due” numbers. Past draws do not influence future ones, so number-tracking systems add nothing.
- Forgetting the Multiplier changes the cost. Adding it doubles the price of the line, which matters if you are playing many lines or many draws.
- Not checking the prize table for your spot count. Which matches pay a prize differs by spot level, so read the table for the exact game you are playing.
- Treating a fast, four-draws-a-day game as low risk. Frequent draws make it easy to spend more than planned; set a budget before you start.
Responsible gambling and staying safe
Keno is a game of chance, and no method improves your odds – the figures in this guide are fixed and the house keeps an edge over time. Play only with money you can afford to lose, set a limit before you start, and never try to win back losses by spending more. Online play through MyLotto is restricted to people aged 18 and over.
If gambling is causing harm to you or someone you know, free and confidential help is available in New Zealand. You can call the Gambling Helpline on 0800 654 655, text 8006, or use the online chat and support information at gamblinghelpline.co.nz, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
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Frequently asked questions
How many numbers do you pick in NZ Keno?
You pick between 1 and 10 numbers, called spots, from a field of 1 to 80. Twenty winning numbers are then drawn, and you win based on how many of your picks are among them.
How many Keno draws are there each day in New Zealand?
There are four draws every day, at 10am, 1pm, 3pm and 6pm New Zealand time. Each draw is separate and random, and results are published on MyLotto shortly after each one.
How much does it cost to play Keno in NZ?
You choose your own stake per line, from NZ$1 up to NZ$100. Your prize is a multiple of that stake, so a bigger stake increases any win proportionally. Adding the optional Keno Multiplier doubles the cost of the line.
What are the odds of matching all 10 numbers in Keno?
Matching all ten numbers in a 10-spot game is about 1 in 8.9 million. The odds get much longer with each extra spot you add, because 20 numbers are drawn from 80 no matter how many you choose.
Is Keno legal in New Zealand?
Yes. Keno is run by Lotto New Zealand under the Gambling Act 2003, making it a legal, government-approved domestic lottery game. You must be 18 or over to play online through a MyLotto account.
