6 Spot Keno Payout Chart
Six-spot keno is the most popular ticket in the game, and for good reason. It pays often enough to stay fun, but the jackpot can top $1,600 on a single dollar. Below is a payout chart showing what each match level pays on a $1 bet, alongside the exact odds of landing it.
| Matches (Catch) | Payout ($1 bet) | Probability | Odds of This Match |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 of 6 | $0 | 16.660% | 1 in 6.0 |
| 1 of 6 | $0 | 36.349% | 1 in 2.8 |
| 2 of 6 | $0 | 30.832% | 1 in 3.2 |
| 3 of 6 | $1 | 12.982% | 1 in 7.7 |
| 4 of 6 | $4 | 2.854% | 1 in 35.0 |
| 5 of 6 | $88 | 0.3096% | 1 in 323 |
| 6 of 6 (jackpot) | $1,600 | 0.0129% | 1 in 7,753 |
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.
6 Spot Keno Odds Table
These probabilities are fixed by the game: 20 numbers drawn from 80, with you holding 6. No betting system changes them. Here is the probability of every outcome:
| Outcome | Probability | Odds (1 in X) |
|---|---|---|
| Hit 0 of 6 | 16.660% | 1 in 6.0 |
| Hit 1 of 6 | 36.349% | 1 in 2.8 |
| Hit 2 of 6 | 30.832% | 1 in 3.2 |
| Hit 3 of 6 | 12.982% | 1 in 7.7 |
| Hit 4 of 6 | 2.854% | 1 in 35.0 |
| Hit 5 of 6 | 0.3096% | 1 in 323 |
| Hit 6 of 6 | 0.0129% | 1 in 7,753 |
The probability that pays: 3 or more
On most 6-spot paytables you start winning at 3 matches. The chance of catching 3 or more is about 16.2%, or roughly 1 winning ticket in every 6. The all-6 jackpot at 1 in 7,753 is the rare, exciting top end that gives 6-spot its big-prize reputation.
Why 6-Spot Is the Most Popular Keno Bet
Walk into any keno lounge and you will see more 6-spot tickets than anything else. Here is what makes it the crowd favorite:
- The best of both worlds. It wins often enough to keep a session lively while still dangling a four-figure jackpot.
- A reachable big prize. At 1 in 7,753, hitting all 6 is a long shot but not an impossible dream, so regulars do see it.
- A satisfying ladder. Prizes climb steadily from 3 matches up to the jackpot, so near-misses still pay and stay exciting.
- Manageable variance. The swings are bigger than a 3 or 4-spot but far gentler than an 8 or 10-spot.
If you want one ticket that does a bit of everything, frequent small wins plus a real jackpot chase, 6-spot is the classic all-rounder.
State Payout Variations: Casino vs Lottery
Casino keno usually pays a little more than state lottery games. Here is how a representative casino 6-spot payout compares with typical state lottery games in Massachusetts, New York, and Ohio:
| Matches | Typical Casino ($1) | Lottery: MA / NY / OH ($1) | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 of 6 | $1 | $1 | 1 in 7.7 |
| 4 of 6 | $4 | $3 | 1 in 35.0 |
| 5 of 6 | $88 | $75 | 1 in 323 |
| 6 of 6 | $1,600 | $1,400 | 1 in 7,753 |
The casino sheet here returns about 72.3% of money wagered, while the lower lottery payouts return closer to 62.8%. That is a meaningful gap on a ticket you might play many times, so compare paytables when you can. For state context, see the Massachusetts keno guide, New York Quick Draw, and the Ohio keno guide.
How 6-Spot Keno Payouts Vary by State
Six-spot is the most popular ticket, and its jackpot swings from $900 to $1,600 across states. Here is how the top prize and 5-catch level compare.
| State / Game | Catch 6 (top prize, $1) | Catch 5 ($1) |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $1,600 | $50 |
| Ohio | $1,100 | $57 |
| California Hot Spot | $900 | $67 |
| New York | $1,000 | $55 |
| Pennsylvania | $1,200 | $50 |
| Maryland | $1,000 | $50 |
| Georgia | $1,200 | $50 |
| Connecticut | $1,300 | $50 |
Massachusetts leads at $1,600, while California Hot Spot pays the smallest top prize at $900 (though its 5-catch level is the highest). Compare the full sheets in the Massachusetts keno guide, California Hot Spot guide, or Ohio keno 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 every payout times its probability, summed. For the representative casino paytable on a $1 bet:
| Matches k | Probability P(k) | Payout | P(k) × Payout |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 0.129820 | $1 | $0.1298 |
| 4 | 0.028538 | $4 | $0.1142 |
| 5 | 0.003096 | $88 | $0.2724 |
| 6 | 0.000129 | $1,600 | $0.2064 |
| Total Expected Return per $1 bet | $0.723 | ||
| Return to Player (RTP) | 72.3% · House edge 27.7% | ||
Notice how evenly the return is spread across the 5-catch and 6-catch prizes. That balance is exactly why 6-spot feels both rewarding and reachable, rather than living or dying on one rare jackpot.
How 6-Spot Compares to Other Spot Counts
| 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 |
| 7 spot | 1 in 40,979 | $7,000 | Bigger jackpot hunt |
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 6-spot numbers
Open the keno odds calculator pre-filled for 6 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, 6 spot keno pays around $1 for 3 matches, $4 for 4 matches, $88 for 5, and about $1,600 for catching all 6. State lottery games pay a bit less across the board. Amounts vary, so always check the local paytable.
The odds of catching all 6 numbers are 1 in 7,753 (about 0.0129%). This comes from the hypergeometric distribution: 20 numbers drawn from 80, with you holding 6 of them.
Six spot is the most-played keno ticket because it balances a frequent enough win rate with a jackpot that can reach $1,600 or more on a $1 bet. You win something on about 1 in 6 tickets, and the top prize, while rare, is realistically reachable for regular players. For smaller swings try 4 spot; for a bigger jackpot try 7 spot.