A king number is a single number circled so that it forms a "group" by itself. Any ticket containing one or more king numbers is called a king ticket. Although a king ticket is a kind of combination ticket essentially like those we have already examined, it contains enough unique features to merit separate discussion. The simplest king ticket is one in which several numbers have been marked by the player, only one of which is circled. The circled number is the king number, while the un circled numbers plus a nine-spot bet on all the marked numbers including the king. When several groups are circled, one of which is a king, the king number is intended to play in every possible combination with the other groups.
A king number never plays by itself, only in combinations. A ticket may contain more than one king number. In fact, one may play an all-king ticket, which consist only of circled individual numbers, each of which is intended to be played in every possible combination with the other king numbers. Such tickets can become mind-bog-glingly- complex. Jus for the records, in order to determine how to correctly condition an all-king ticket, you would have to apply the formula given earlier for calculating way tickets. For example, if you have a ticket composed of five king numbers, you would use the formula to determine all the two-spot combinations possible with this ticket. Then you would employ the formula again to determine all the three-spot combinations, and one final time to determine all the possible four-spot combinations. Obviously, there is only one possible five-spot combinations on the ticket. There is almost no limit to the variations that can be worked out on keno tickets through the use of different-size groups and different numbers of groups played in combinations. (Groups fewer than five numbers are usually circled, while those of five numbers or more are separated by means of straight lines.) Some combinations tickets favored by many players actually incorporate all eighty numbers on the ticket, separated into different groups and played in combination with each other. When you turn in your ticket, the writer will go over it carefully to check for errors. Nevertheless, you should do your part to make sure it is correctly conditioned before you submit it. If you find that the tickets you are writing are too confusing for you, there is a simple solution: Stick to less complicated tickets. As we shall see, complex tickets may be intriguing, but they offer no mathematical advantage over even the simples straight ticket.
Almost every casino offers one or more special types of combination tickets with unique payoffs not available in any other casino. Such tickets are known in the business as house tickets, although each casino dreams up some catchy name for its particular house ticket. These tickets don't offer the player any significant break in the massive house percentage found in keno, but they may offer advantages of emotional significance. For example, often these tickets will give the player a shot at the $50,000 grand prize for a smaller bet than do any of the standard tickets. They make up for this by offering smaller payoffs for lesser numbers of catches (winning numbers).
However, since most keno players are primarily attracted to the game by the hope of a major win, this advantage of the house ticket will make it worth playing for may people. The house tickets offered by each casino will be found listed in their keno brochure.
