The number you are looking for is printed on the game's own prize table
When a keno ticket matches 4 of the 6 numbers you picked, the amount you receive is not set by any general rule. It is set by the prize table for the specific keno product you played, at the stake you paid, in the draw format you entered. A 4-of-6 result on one keno game can pay a different amount from the same result on another keno game run by the same lottery, and the same game can pay differently at different stakes.
Keno is a draw game built around choosing a set of numbers, usually called spots, from a larger field. The lottery then draws a set of winning numbers. Your prize depends on how many of your chosen spots appear among the drawn numbers. The more spots you choose, the more ways there are to match only some of them, and the prize table has to account for every partial match. A ticket with 6 spots has separate prize rows for matching 3, 4, 5, or all 6 of them. The 4-of-6 row is one row on that table, and its value is fixed by the game's design, not by a general keno formula.
Where the prize table lives
The authoritative figure for any keno product is on the game's own published materials. For a state lottery keno game, the prize table appears in three places that all carry the same numbers: the printed playslip or brochure at a retailer, the game rules page on the lottery's website, and the how-to-play section inside the lottery's mobile app if it has one. The table is usually laid out as a grid with the number of spots chosen down one side and the number of matches across the top. You find your row, read across to the 4-match column, and that cell gives the prize for the base stake.
If the game has a multiplier, a bullseye, a progressive add-on, or any other optional feature, the prize table will show a separate column or a separate table for that feature. The base 4-of-6 prize and the feature prize are different rows. You need to know which one you paid for. The ticket itself states the stake, the number of spots, the draw numbers, and whether any feature was active, so the ticket plus the table is the complete answer.
How a keno prize table is built
A keno prize table is constructed so that the total expected return across all possible outcomes matches the game's designed payout percentage. The prize for matching all 6 spots is large because it is rare. The prize for matching 3 of 6 is small or sometimes zero because it is common. The 4-of-6 prize sits between those two, and its size is chosen by the game designer to balance the table. There is no arithmetic rule that says a 4-of-6 match must pay a particular multiple of the stake. It is a design choice, and it differs from game to game.
One consequence of this is that two keno games with the same spot count can pay different amounts for the same partial match. A game with a higher top prize may pay less for the 4-of-6 row to keep its overall return in line. A game with a lower top prize may pay more for partial matches. The only way to know is to read the table for the exact game you played.
| What changes | What stays fixed |
|---|---|
| The prize for a 4-of-6 match | The number of spots you chose |
| The prize at different stake levels | The game's draw format |
| The prize with a multiplier or feature active | The base prize table |
| The prize on a different keno product | The number of matches (4) |
Stake multipliers and prize scaling
Many keno games let you multiply your stake. When you pay twice the base stake, the prize for every row on the table is typically doubled, including the 4-of-6 row. When you pay five times the base stake, the prize is typically five times the table value. This scaling is linear for the base game, but it can change when a feature is involved. A multiplier feature may apply to only some prize rows, or it may apply to all of them at a reduced rate. The game's rules page states which rows the feature affects and how the feature stake is calculated.
If the keno product has a progressive jackpot, the progressive amount is usually separate from the fixed prize table. The fixed 4-of-6 prize remains as printed, while the progressive amount applies only to the top match tier, often only when a specific stake or feature is active. The ticket and the rules page make this separation clear.
What the ticket itself tells you
After a draw, the ticket or the app shows the numbers drawn, the numbers you matched, and the prize won for that specific ticket. This is the most direct answer to the question, because it already applies the correct prize table, the correct stake, and any feature. If you are checking a ticket after the draw, the prize shown on the ticket or in your account is the amount the lottery has calculated for that exact play. If the ticket shows a prize of zero for a 4-of-6 match, that means the specific game's table does not pay for that match level at that stake, which is possible on some products.
Why the same match can pay differently on different days
A 4-of-6 match can appear to pay differently from one day to the next for three reasons. The most common is that you played a different stake on the two occasions, so the table value was multiplied differently. The second is that you played a different keno product, such as a standard draw game on one day and a fast-play or instant keno product on another. The third is that a feature was active on one ticket and not the other. The underlying table for a given product is stable; what changes is which table applies and what multiplier the stake and features produce.
Finding the figure without guessing
To find the exact 4-of-6 prize for the game you mean, take these steps. First, identify the exact product name printed on the ticket or shown in the app. Second, open that product's how-to-play page on the lottery's website or the brochure at the retailer. Third, find the prize table and locate the row for 6 spots. Fourth, read the column for 4 matches at the base stake. Fifth, multiply by your stake level if the game uses stake multipliers, and add any feature prize shown separately. The result is the amount for your specific play.
If the question is about a past ticket, the fastest route is the ticket checker in the lottery's app or the scanner at a retailer. The scanner reads the barcode and returns the prize for that exact ticket, already calculated. No table reading is required.
FAQ
Does a 4-of-6 keno match always pay something?
No. Some keno prize tables pay only for higher match levels, or pay zero for a 4-of-6 match at the base stake. The table for the specific game is the only place that shows whether a 4-of-6 match has a prize at all.
Does the 4-of-6 prize change if I pick different numbers?
No. The prize depends on how many of your chosen numbers match the drawn numbers, not on which numbers they are. Any 4-of-6 match on the same game at the same stake pays the same table amount.
Where can I see the prize table before I buy a ticket?
The lottery's website, the printed playslip or brochure at a retailer, and the how-to-play section of the lottery's app all show the prize table. Check the table before buying so you know what a partial match pays on that product.
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This article is general information about how these mechanics work. It is not legal advice and not a recommendation to gamble or to use any particular operator. Availability and legality differ by jurisdiction — check the rules that apply where you are.