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.
Playing a state lottery? Your prizes are different
The chart on this page is the representative 6 spot paytable. Real lottery prizes vary by a lot between states, so if you are playing a specific game, start with its own chart:
| 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.
Know the odds but not the money? Calculate your expected payout for a 6-spot ticket against your state's real paytable, at any bet size, with the return-to-player worked out for you.
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.