Keno RTP Calculator: Return to Player, House Edge and EV
Calculate return to player from every outcome in a Keno paytable. Choose an Ohio or Connecticut base-game reference, or enter a custom table for an 80/20, 40/10 or other draw format. See house edge, expected net profit or loss, and how one multiplier affects the total return.
What is the RTP of Keno?
Keno has no single RTP. Return depends on the full prize table, the number of picks, the draw format and any payout limits. “80/20” or “40/10” identifies a probability model; neither label tells you the return by itself.
For a simple example, one pick in an 80/20 draw matches with probability 25%. A table paying 2× only for that match has 50% RTP; paying 2.5× instead gives 62.5%. These are the base one-spot payouts in Ohio and Connecticut, respectively. The percentages are calculated here from the published prizes.
For a casino or crypto game, use the exact provider, pick count and risk-mode paytable. A generic “99% Keno RTP” claim is not enough to verify a particular configuration.
Calculate Keno RTP
Choose a source, then set the picks and stake. Custom tables must list every feasible hit count, including outcomes that pay zero. Multipliers are total returns, including any returned stake: 1× is break-even, not a 1× profit.
RTP results
Results use the complete paytable and the selected stake.
These are mathematical expectations before taxes or fees, not a forecast of a session balance. A 99% RTP model still has negative expected value. More rounds do not guarantee a return close to the average.
Target RTP solver
Use this reverse module to see what one selected hit-count multiplier would need to be for the current table to reach a target RTP. This is useful when testing how sensitive a table is to one payout line.
The solver calculates a hypothetical multiplier without editing the paytable. Other lines, the stake and any fixed cap stay unchanged. A target can be unreachable because of the other payouts, an impossible hit count or the prize cap.
Target solver results
RTP contribution table
Each line uses the probability of exactly that many hits. RTP contribution is measured in percentage points; expected return per round is the probability-weighted money returned by that line. A capped line shows both nominal and effective multipliers.
| Hits | Exact probability | Odds | Multiplier | RTP contribution | Expected return per round | Line status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Run the calculator to see RTP contributions. | ||||||
Keno RTP examples from published prize tables
These are calculated base-game examples, not universal rates for lottery or online Keno. Each uses an 80/20 draw and the full table for the named spot count. Figures are rounded after calculation.
| Game / picks | Stake per draw | Calculated RTP | House edge | Expected loss / $1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio · 1 spot | $1 | 50.0000% | 50.0000% | $500.00 |
| Connecticut · 1 spot | $1 | 62.5000% | 37.5000% | $375.00 |
| Ohio · 6 spot | $1 | 64.7920% | 35.2080% | $352.08 |
| Connecticut · 6 spot | $1 | 65.2047% | 34.7953% | $347.95 |
| Connecticut · 10 spot | $1 | 64.8300% | 35.1700% | $351.70 |
| Connecticut · 10 spot | $20 | 63.7640% | 36.2360% | $362.36 |
Connecticut’s $100,000 base prize ceiling is applied to each outcome. This is why its 10-spot RTP changes with stake. Ohio’s 8–10-spot results in the calculator are before shared top-prize reductions; the Ohio rows above do not involve those categories. Prize sources were checked on ; see sources and assumptions.
A worked six-spot calculation
For Ohio’s six-spot base table, three, four, five and six hits return 1×, 7×, 57× and 1,100×. All other outcomes return zero. With P(h) denoting the exact-hit probability:
RTP = P(3) × 1 + P(4) × 7 + P(5) × 57 + P(6) × 1,100 = 64.7920%
The six-spot hit probabilities are identical in Connecticut, but its five-hit and six-hit returns are 50× and 1,300×. Its full-table return is therefore 65.2047% at a $1 stake. The paytable changes the value of the outcomes; it does not change how likely those hits are.
How Keno RTP is calculated
Keno RTP is calculated by combining the probability of every possible hit count with the payout multiplier for that hit count. The result is a theoretical long-run return, not a guarantee for one round or one session. If you only need published prize schedules, use the Keno payout charts; if you need to inspect the structure of an entire multiplier table, use the paytable analyzer.
The basic formula is:
P(H = h) = C(n, h) × C(N − n, D − h) / C(N, D)
N is the pool size, D the draw size, n the picks and h the exact matches. C(a, b) is a combination count. The model assumes each draw samples distinct numbers uniformly without replacement.
RTP = Σ P(H = h) × m(h)
With a fixed gross cap: effective m(h) = min(stake × m(h), cap) / stake
Sum mutually exclusive exact-hit outcomes. Adding “at least h hits” probabilities would count some results more than once. RTP is expressed as a fraction in these formulas: 0.99 means 99%.
In a hypothetical table, an exact outcome with 10% probability paying 2× contributes 20 percentage points to RTP. A different exact outcome with 1% probability paying 50× contributes another 50 points. Include every other paying outcome before treating their sum as full-game RTP.
Probability
Exact-hit probability comes from the number pool, draw size and pick count, independently of the payout table.
Multiplier
Use the total-return multiplier after applying any gross prize cap. Do not add the stake again if the listed prize already includes the total return.
Contribution
Contribution is probability multiplied by multiplier. Total contribution across all lines equals RTP.
RTP vs house edge vs EV
RTP measures expected gross return per unit staked. House edge is 1 − RTP. Net expected value subtracts the original stake. For example, $1,000 in turnover at a hypothetical 99% RTP has $990 expected gross return and $10 expected net loss. Turnover may include the same money being wagered repeatedly.
| Metric | Formula | Hypothetical example at 99% RTP | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|---|
| RTP | Total payout contribution | 99% | Theoretical long-run return from the paytable |
| House edge | 1 − RTP | 1% | Expected loss rate; actual results vary |
| EV per 1 staked | RTP − 1 | -0.01 | Expected profit or loss per unit wagered |
| EV in money | Stake × (RTP − 1) | -0.10 on a 10 stake | Expected result per round at the chosen stake |
Why RTP is not hit rate
A Keno game can pay often and still have a poor theoretical return if the payouts are small. Another game can pay rarely and still have a similar RTP if the rare payouts are large enough. Hit rate describes how often any payout occurs. RTP describes the average long-run value of all payouts.
This distinction matters when comparing low-volatility and high-volatility Keno tables. A low-volatility table may feel smoother because it pays smaller results more often. A high-volatility table may feel harsher because more of the return is concentrated in rare outcomes.
- Payout rate answers: how often is any amount returned, including a partial return?
- Profit rate answers: how often does the return exceed the stake?
- RTP answers: how much does the full table return over the long run?
- House edge answers: what percentage is theoretically retained by the game?
- EV answers: what is the expected gain or loss for a chosen stake?
When to use this RTP calculator
Use this page when you have a full Keno paytable and want to evaluate the return. It is the right tool for checking whether a table is close to 99%, 99.9% or 100% RTP, estimating expected loss over a total amount wagered, and testing how one multiplier affects the total return. For the relationship between expected value and session variation, see the Keno strategy guide.
Checking a paytable
Enter all feasible outcomes, including zero-paying ones, to calculate the complete theoretical return.
Comparing formats
Use the format and table together. Keeping a table while changing the format tests a hypothetical comparison; it does not identify a real game.
Testing a target return
Use the solver to estimate what one payout line would need to pay for the table to reach a chosen RTP.
Common RTP mistakes
Using one hit line as full RTP
One payout line can show a contribution, but full RTP needs every paying hit count in the table.
Ignoring the game format
An 80/20 table and a 40/10 table do not have the same exact distribution. Using the wrong format gives the wrong RTP.
Reading RTP as a short-term promise
RTP is theoretical and long-run. Short sessions can land far above or below the calculated return.
Related Keno tools
Payout charts
Use verified 1–10 Spot prize schedules when you need a reference table rather than an RTP calculation.
Paytable analyzer
Inspect multipliers, paying-hit frequency and RTP contribution by hit count.
Payout calculator
Calculate stake, multiplier, gross payout, net profit and break-even probability for one payout line.
Odds & distribution
Calculate exact hits, at-least-hit probability, zero-hit risk and the full distribution.
Risk calculator
Measure dry-streak probability, miss frequency and bankroll exposure.
Strategy guide
Use RTP, paytable quality, volatility and stake sizing as one math-based decision process.
Sources and calculation assumptions
- Ohio Lottery KENO rules and prize schedule: base 1–10-spot prizes; shared top-prize pools are disclosed but reductions cannot be estimated without other winning claims.
- Connecticut Lottery KENO prizes and odds: base 1–10-spot prizes, with the $100,000 gross ceiling applied. Bonus Multiplier is excluded.
- Hypergeometric probability formula: exact counts from uniform sampling without replacement.
The lottery inputs were checked on 11 September 2026. RTP values on this page are our calculations from those inputs, not operator-certified RTP statements. Reference presets are read-only; choosing manual mode keeps an editable copy and the displayed cap. Recheck the official rules if the game changes.
Custom and illustrative tables are mathematical models. The calculation excludes unentered fees, taxes, bonuses, jackpots, side bets and prize-sharing adjustments. Expected results assume the same rules and stake across all rounds. See the payout charts for prize schedules and the payout calculator for a single result.
Frequently asked questions
What is Keno RTP?
Keno RTP is the theoretical gross return per unit staked from a complete paytable. Multiply each exact-hit probability by its total-return multiplier, after any relevant fixed prize cap, then add the contributions.
Does every Keno game have the same RTP?
No. The draw format, pick count, full paytable and prize limits determine RTP. A format such as 80/20 or 40/10 does not identify the return without its payouts.
How do you calculate Keno house edge?
House edge is 1 minus RTP when RTP is a fraction, or 100% minus RTP when it is a percentage. A hypothetical 99% RTP gives a 1% house edge and $10 expected net loss per $1,000 wagered.
Is RTP the same as win rate?
No. The chance of any payout counts outcomes returning more than zero. The chance of net profit counts returns above the stake. RTP averages the value of all returns; these three metrics are different.
Can one Keno payout line determine full RTP?
One line determines full RTP only if every other outcome pays zero. Otherwise, include all paying hit counts. This calculator requires every feasible hit count explicitly, using a zero multiplier for non-paying outcomes.
Can the stake change Keno RTP?
With proportional payouts and no limits, changing stake does not change RTP. A fixed money cap can reduce the effective multiplier at larger stakes, so the capped full-table RTP can change.
Does a higher RTP mean lower variance?
No. RTP and variance measure different things. A high-RTP table can still concentrate much of its return in rare outcomes. More rounds do not guarantee that a session will return the theoretical percentage.
Does the target RTP solver change a real game?
No. It calculates a hypothetical minimum multiplier for one hit count and leaves the table unchanged. Some targets are unreachable with a non-negative multiplier, an impossible outcome or a fixed prize cap.