8 Spot Keno Payout Chart
Eight-spot keno is a high-variance, big-prize ticket. The jackpot can hit $20,000 or more on a single dollar, but wins are rare because you usually need 5 or more matches to collect. Below is a representative payout chart showing what each match level pays on a $1 bet, alongside the exact odds of landing it.
| Matches (Catch) | Typical Payout ($1 bet) | Probability | Odds of This Match |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 of 8 | $0 | 8.827% | 1 in 11.3 |
| 1 of 8 | $0 | 26.646% | 1 in 3.8 |
| 2 of 8 | $0 | 32.815% | 1 in 3.0 |
| 3 of 8 | $0 | 21.479% | 1 in 4.7 |
| 4 of 8 | $0 | 8.150% | 1 in 12.3 |
| 5 of 8 | $9 | 1.830% | 1 in 54.6 |
| 6 of 8 | $90 | 0.2367% | 1 in 423 |
| 7 of 8 | $1,500 | 0.0160% | 1 in 6,232 |
| 8 of 8 (jackpot) | $20,000 | 0.000435% | 1 in 230,115 |
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.
8 Spot Keno Odds Table
These probabilities are fixed by the game: 20 numbers drawn from 80, with you holding 8. No betting system changes them. Here is the probability of every outcome:
| Outcome | Probability | Odds (1 in X) |
|---|---|---|
| Hit 0 of 8 | 8.827% | 1 in 11.3 |
| Hit 1 of 8 | 26.646% | 1 in 3.8 |
| Hit 2 of 8 | 32.815% | 1 in 3.0 |
| Hit 3 of 8 | 21.479% | 1 in 4.7 |
| Hit 4 of 8 | 8.150% | 1 in 12.3 |
| Hit 5 of 8 | 1.830% | 1 in 54.6 |
| Hit 6 of 8 | 0.2367% | 1 in 423 |
| Hit 7 of 8 | 0.0160% | 1 in 6,232 |
| Hit 8 of 8 | 0.000435% | 1 in 230,115 |
The probability that pays: 5 or more
On most 8-spot paytables you start winning at 5 matches. The chance of catching 5 or more is only about 2.1%, or roughly 1 winning ticket in every 48. That low hit rate is the price of admission for a five-figure jackpot.
Who Should Play 8-Spot Keno
Eight-spot is a jackpot-chaser's ticket. It rewards patience and a tolerance for losing streaks. It fits you if:
- You want a five-figure dream. A $20,000 prize for $1 is the headline draw, and catching 7 of 8 still pays around $1,500.
- You accept rare wins. Only about 1 in 48 tickets pays anything, so many games will go by with nothing.
- You have the bankroll for swings. High variance means you need enough budget to survive the quiet stretches and still be playing when a big hit lands.
- You play for the thrill of the big one. The appeal is the size of the prize, not steady returns.
If frequent small wins matter more to you, a 4-spot or 6-spot will suit you better. But if you want a serious jackpot and can stomach the dry spells, 8-spot is built for it.
State Payout Variations: Casino vs Lottery
Casino keno usually pays a little more than state lottery games. Here is how a representative casino 8-spot payout compares with typical state lottery games in Massachusetts, New York, and Ohio:
| Matches | Typical Casino ($1) | Lottery: MA / NY / OH ($1) | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 of 8 | $9 | $8 | 1 in 54.6 |
| 6 of 8 | $90 | $80 | 1 in 423 |
| 7 of 8 | $1,500 | $1,300 | 1 in 6,232 |
| 8 of 8 | $20,000 | $18,000 | 1 in 230,115 |
The casino sheet here returns about 70.5% of money wagered, while the lower lottery payouts return closer to 62.3%. With wins this rare, every dollar of payout counts, so it pays to compare sheets. For state context, see the Massachusetts keno guide, New York Quick Draw, and the Ohio keno guide.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 0.018303 | $9 | $0.1647 |
| 6 | 0.002367 | $90 | $0.2130 |
| 7 | 0.000160 | $1,500 | $0.2407 |
| 8 | 0.0000043 | $20,000 | $0.0869 |
| Total Expected Return per $1 bet | $0.705 | ||
| Return to Player (RTP) | 70.5% · House edge 29.5% | ||
Even though the jackpot is $20,000, it adds less than 9 cents per dollar to the return. Most of 8-spot's payback comes from the 6 and 7-catch prizes, with the headline jackpot mostly there for the dream.
How 8-Spot Compares to Other Spot Counts
| Spots | Odds (Hit All) | Typical Top Payout ($1) | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 spot | 1 in 7,753 | $1,600 | Most popular |
| 7 spot | 1 in 40,979 | $7,000 | Bigger jackpot hunt |
| 8 spot | 1 in 230,115 | $20,000 | High variance jackpots |
| 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 8-spot numbers
Open the keno odds calculator pre-filled for 8 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, 8 spot keno pays around $9 for 5 matches, $90 for 6, $1,500 for 7, and about $20,000 for catching all 8. State lottery games pay a bit less. Amounts vary, so always check the local paytable.
The odds of catching all 8 numbers are 1 in 230,115 (about 0.000435%). This comes from the hypergeometric distribution: 20 numbers drawn from 80, with you holding 8 of them.
It is a high-variance bet for players chasing a five-figure jackpot. Wins are rare, since you usually need 5 or more matches, but the prizes are large. If you enjoy the dream of a $20,000 hit on a $1 bet and can accept long dry spells, 8 spot delivers it. For more frequent wins, try 6 spot; for the biggest jackpot of all, see 10 spot.