The most popular video keno variants found at tribal casinos and gaming venues — Cleopatra, Caveman, Power Keno, Super Keno, and Multi-Card Keno explained.
Walk into almost any tribal casino or gaming establishment and you'll find rows of video keno machines. While all video keno shares the same core mechanic — pick numbers, draw 20 from 80, get paid by matches — different game variants add bonus features that significantly change the experience (and sometimes the odds). Here are the five most widely encountered video keno variants.
All video keno variants share the same fundamental structure: 80 numbers, 20 drawn, pick 1–10 spots (sometimes up to 20). The differences lie in bonus features layered on top of the base game. The base paytable — and the resulting house edge — varies by manufacturer and casino setting, typically between 5% and 15%.
Cleopatra Keno is the most popular video keno variant in North America and is made by IGT (International Game Technology). It's immediately recognizable by its Egyptian-themed graphics and the distinctive Cleopatra bonus feature.
The Cleopatra bonus adds roughly 0.1–0.3% to the theoretical RTP depending on the paytable. It's a modest boost, but the visual payoff of watching numbers redraw makes wins feel more exciting. The bonus is automatic — no decision required from the player.
Cleopatra Keno is available in denominations from $0.01 to $5+ per credit and is found at the vast majority of IGT-equipped tribal casinos across the US.
Caveman Keno is another IGT title and a perennial favorite, especially among players who prefer mid-level spot counts (4–8 spots). Its bonus feature adds bonus numbers before the draw, giving an engaging pre-draw moment.
Before the main draw, 3 "egg" numbers are randomly placed on the board. These are numbers that are not your picks — they're bonus targets. When the 20 main draw numbers are revealed:
The multiplier applies to your existing win — you must still catch enough spots to win in the base game for the multiplier to matter.
The probability of hatching all 3 eggs is relatively low (3 specific numbers among 20 drawn from 80), but when it occurs on a larger win, the 8× multiplier creates some of the biggest single-game payouts in video keno. Caveman Keno is especially popular for 7- and 8-spot play where a well-timed 8× multiplier can be substantial.
Power Keno is a simpler, faster variant that adds a single multiplier trigger based on the draw order. It's often available at lower denominations and is a good option for players who want a cleaner game without complex bonus mechanics.
If the 20th number drawn (the final ball) matches one of your selected spots, your payout is multiplied by 4×. That's the entire feature — one extra number check that can quadruple your win. There are no eggs, no replays, no cascading bonuses.
The simplicity of Power Keno makes it easy to learn and fast to play. The 4× multiplier on the final ball meaningfully improves the expected value of winning games — landing the multiplier on an already-good catch is one of the more exciting outcomes in casino keno play. House edge is similar to Cleopatra Keno at a given denomination.
Super Keno takes the same "last ball" concept as Power Keno but increases the multiplier significantly. It's less commonly found than Cleopatra or Caveman but shows up at tribal casinos with a broader machine mix.
If the first number drawn (the very first ball revealed) matches one of your selected spots, your winning payout is multiplied by 4×. Some Super Keno variants use the first ball for the trigger rather than the last. The trigger mechanic creates an exciting moment right at the start of each draw rather than at the end.
Super Keno's first-ball trigger creates a different emotional arc than Power Keno's final-ball reveal. You know immediately whether the multiplier is live, which can add tension throughout the rest of the draw as you watch to see if your spots come in.
Multi-Card Keno is structurally different from the variants above. Rather than playing one ticket per draw, Multi-Card Keno lets you play multiple tickets simultaneously — typically 3, 4, 8, or 20 cards at once — all sharing the same 20-number draw.
Multi-card play does not change the underlying odds on any individual card — each card plays the same mathematical game. However, playing many cards per draw lets you cover more number combinations. It's a faster way to exhaust a session budget, so set a firm per-draw limit and stick to it.
Multi-Card Keno is ideal for players who enjoy variety across tickets — some players run a few 4-spot cards alongside a 10-spot card, letting them chase a big hit while also collecting smaller wins more frequently.
All these variants have a house edge set by the base paytable, which casinos configure independently. Bonus features (Cleopatra's double, Caveman's 8×, Power/Super multipliers) add a small positive contribution to RTP on top of the base paytable. The differences between variants are generally smaller than the differences between paytables at different casinos.
Before playing any video keno machine, look up or request the paytable. The house edge on a "9 out of 9" hit can range from 25% to less than 5% across different machine configurations. A favorable Cleopatra Keno paytable beats an unfavorable Caveman Keno paytable every time, regardless of the bonus feature.
| Variant | Bonus Feature | Multiplier | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleopatra Keno | Last ball completes win → double | 2× | Very common |
| Caveman Keno | 3 egg numbers hatch → multiplier | 4× or 8× | Very common |
| Power Keno | 20th ball is a catch → multiplier | 4× | Common |
| Super Keno | 1st ball is a catch → multiplier | 4× | Moderate |
| Multi-Card Keno | Multiple simultaneous cards | None | Common |
Video keno draws resolve in seconds, making it easy to play many games quickly. Set a per-session budget before sitting down and leave when you reach it. For problem gambling resources, call 1-800-522-4700 or visit our resources page.
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