The Wizard of Odds

Nevada Numbers

Last Update: Oct 29, 2003


Nevada Numbers is a game offered at different keno lounges around Nevada. I've been told a few times that Nevada Numbers is a lottery and not keno, but what makes the difference I don't know. Mathematically they are the same.

The following is the pay table.

Table 1
CatchPays
5Progressive
4$2,000
3$20
2$2
1$1
00

The next table shows the number of combinations for each number of catches, the probability, and return based on the theoretical average winning jackpot of $17,020,008.

Return Table
CatchCombinationsProbabilityPaysReturn
510.00000004170200080.353993
43750.0000156020000.015599
3277500.00115433200.011543
26752500.0280885820.028089
160772500.2527972510.126399
0172593900.7179442000
Total24040016100.535623

The lower right cell shows an average return of 53.56%, or a house edge of 46.44%. This is a long-term return. At any given moment the return is 18.16% plus 2.08% for each $1,000,000 in the meter. For the odds to switch to the player's favor the jackpot would need to pass $39,347,282.

This game may sound like a terrible bet but it isn't the worst. The Las Vegas Hilton offers a Million Dollar keno game with a return of only 43.05%. However as far as I know the worst bet in Las Vegas in any game is the "Millionaire Keno" game at Harrah's and the Rio, which is a pick-10 with a return of 39.99%.

Other Keno Links

Go back to keno.
Keno appendix 1 features an analysis of the top/bottom/left/right as as well as edge tickets as played at the Las Vegas Hilton.
Keno appendix 2 features an analysis of Caveman Keno as played on IGT's Game King.
Keno appendix 1 features an analysis of the top/bottom/left/right as as well as edge tickets as played at the Las Vegas Hilton.
Keno appendix 2 features an analysis of Caveman Keno as played on IGT's Game King.
Keno appendix 3 probabilities and returns for basic keno at the Atlantic City Tropicana.
Keno appendix 4 progressive keno at the Orleans. Learn when the meter is high enough to have a positive expectation.

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