Specialty Games
Specialty games — keno, bingo, scratch cards and the big-six wheel — are simple, luck-based casino games that are easy to play but typically carry much higher house edges than table games, sometimes exceeding 10%.
| Examples | Keno, bingo, scratch cards, big-six wheel |
|---|---|
| Skill Element | None |
| House Edge | Often 10%+ (keno can exceed 20%) |
Easy to play, costly to play long
Specialty games trade favourable odds for simplicity and entertainment. Keno is a lottery-style draw where players pick numbers and hope they are called; bingo marks numbers on cards; scratch cards reveal instant results; and the big-six (money) wheel pays on where a spun wheel stops. None require strategy, which is part of their appeal — but it comes at a price.
Why the edge is so high
Because these games are sold on fun and the chance of a large payout relative to a tiny stake, operators set payouts well below true odds. Keno house edges commonly run from 20% to 35%, far higher than any table game. That does not make them ‘bad’ — for small, occasional stakes they are harmless entertainment — but anyone focused on playing time or value will get far more from a low-edge table game.
Frequently asked questions
Why is keno's house edge so high?
Keno offers large potential payouts on small stakes, so the casino sets prizes well below the true odds — pushing the house edge well above that of table games.
Is there any strategy to specialty games?
Essentially none. They are pure chance, so the only real decision is how much, and how often, to stake.
Sources
- Published keno and bingo paytables
- Probability theory
- Standard house-edge references