5 Spot Keno Payout Chart
Five-spot keno is the sweet spot between frequent wins and a payout big enough to feel like a real prize. Below is a payout chart showing what each match level pays on a $1 bet, alongside the exact odds of landing it. Casino paytables are generally more generous than state-lottery paytables; both are shown.
| Matches (Catch) | Casino Payout ($1 bet) | Lottery Payout ($1 bet) | Odds of This Match |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 of 5 | $0 | $0 | 1 in 4.4 |
| 1 of 5 | $0 | $0 | 1 in 2.5 |
| 2 of 5 | $0 | $0 | 1 in 3.7 |
| 3 of 5 | $1 | $1 | 1 in 11.9 |
| 4 of 5 | $12 | $11 | 1 in 82.7 |
| 5 of 5 (jackpot) | $810 | $640 | 1 in 1,551 |
Payouts are representative of common paytables and are quoted as total return on a $1 wager. Your local casino or lottery paytable is the final word, so always check it.
5 Spot Keno Odds Table
These probabilities are fixed by the math of the game: 20 numbers are drawn from a field of 80, and you hold 5 of them. No system changes them. Here is the probability of every possible outcome:
| Outcome | Probability | Odds (1 in X) |
|---|---|---|
| Hit 0 of 5 | 22.718% | 1 in 4.4 |
| Hit 1 of 5 | 40.569% | 1 in 2.5 |
| Hit 2 of 5 | 27.046% | 1 in 3.7 |
| Hit 3 of 5 | 8.394% | 1 in 11.9 |
| Hit 4 of 5 | 1.209% | 1 in 82.7 |
| Hit 5 of 5 | 0.0645% | 1 in 1,551 |
The probability that pays: 3 or more
On most 5-spot paytables you need at least 3 matches to win anything. The chance of catching 3, 4, or 5 is about 9.7%, roughly 1 winning ticket in every 10 you play. The other ~90% of the time, a 5-spot ticket pays nothing.
Is 5-Spot Keno Worth Playing?
Here's the honest answer: like all keno, 5-spot has a house edge that's much steeper than table games. But within keno, it's a reasonable choice. The representative casino paytable above returns about 75% of money wagered over the long run, meaning a house edge near 25%. Lottery paytables are worse, often returning closer to 63% (a 37% house edge).
What 5-spot gets right is balance. You win something on roughly 1 in 10 tickets, the $810 top prize is large relative to a $1 bet, and the swings are moderate. It won't drain your budget as fast as a 10-spot, and it pays far more than a 4-spot when you do hit the top. If you enjoy the chase but want your money to last, 5-spot is a defensible pick, just go in knowing the edge is real.
How 5-Spot Keno Payouts Vary by State
Five-spot jackpots range from $300 to $450 on a $1 bet depending on the state. Here is how the top prize and the 4-catch level compare.
| State / Game | Catch 5 (top prize, $1) | Catch 4 ($1) |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $450 | $20 |
| Ohio | $410 | $18 |
| California Hot Spot | $435 | $15 |
| New York | $300 | $20 |
| Pennsylvania | $450 | $15 |
| Maryland | $300 | $15 |
| Georgia | $400 | $17 |
| Connecticut | $450 | $16 |
Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut sit at the top with $450, while New York and Maryland pay $300. See the details in the Massachusetts keno guide, New York Quick Draw guide, or California Hot Spot guide. These are official base-game prizes on a $1 wager; optional multiplier and bonus add-ons are excluded.
Expected Return: The Math, Shown
Expected value (EV) is the sum of every payout multiplied by its probability. For the representative casino paytable on a $1 bet:
| Matches k | Probability P(k) | Payout | P(k) × Payout |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 0.08394 | $1 | $0.0839 |
| 4 | 0.01209 | $12 | $0.1451 |
| 5 | 0.000645 | $810 | $0.5224 |
| Total Expected Return per $1 bet | $0.751 | ||
| Return to Player (RTP) | 75.1% · House edge 24.9% | ||
In plain terms: for every $1 you wager on this 5-spot paytable, expect to get back about 75 cents over the long run. Any single session can swing far above or below that. The jackpot does most of the heavy lifting in the EV.
How 5-Spot Compares to Other Spot Counts
Picking more spots makes the jackpot harder but bigger. Here's where 5-spot sits:
| Spots | Odds (Hit All) | Typical Top Payout ($1) | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 spot | 1 in 326 | $100 | Frequent small wins |
| 5 spot | 1 in 1,551 | $810 | Balanced play |
| 6 spot | 1 in 7,753 | $1,600 | Most popular |
| 10 spot | 1 in 8,911,711 | $100,000 | Jackpot chasing |
Want to model any spot count head-to-head? Use the spot count comparison tool to see variance, hit frequency, and jackpot odds side by side.
Run your own 5-spot numbers
Open the keno odds calculator pre-filled for 5 spots to see the exact probability and "1 in X" for every match level, with the hypergeometric formula on screen.
Frequently Asked
On a typical $1 bet, 5 spot keno pays around $1 for 3 matches, $12 for 4 matches, and $810 for hitting all 5. Lottery keno pays a bit less, roughly $1, $11, and $640 for the same matches. Exact amounts vary by casino and state, so always check the local paytable.
The odds of hitting all 5 numbers in 5 spot keno are 1 in 1,551 (about 0.0645%). This comes from the hypergeometric distribution: 20 numbers drawn from 80, with you holding 5 of them.
It depends on what you want. 4 spot hits its jackpot far more often (1 in 326 vs 1 in 1,551) and wins something more frequently, making it better for long, low-variance sessions. 5 spot pays a much bigger top prize and often carries a slightly higher return-to-player, making it better if you want a larger payout for the same bet.