The extra is a second drawing attached to your ticket
Most keno games draw 20 numbers from a pool of 80. When a game offers an extra, the machine or the caller draws one more number after the main 20. That additional number is not free: it is a separate side bet you pay for when you buy the ticket. If the extra number matches one of the numbers you picked, the extra bet pays according to its own paytable, which is printed separately from the main game's paytable.
You can think of the extra as a small parallel game running alongside your regular keno ticket. Your main picks are judged against the 20 regular draws. Your extra bet is judged against the single extra draw. Winning one has no effect on the other. You can lose the main game and win the extra, or hit several main numbers and miss the extra entirely.
What you are buying
When you add the extra to a keno ticket, you are buying exactly one additional number drawn from the same pool of 80. The bet is usually a fixed amount or a fixed multiple of your base wager, and the amount is printed on the keno screen or the paytable before you confirm the ticket. The extra does not change how many numbers you pick, and it does not change how the main 20 numbers are drawn.
The extra pays only when the extra ball is one of your chosen numbers. If the extra ball is a number you did not pick, the extra bet loses, even if your main ticket wins. The payout for a hit depends on two things: how many numbers you picked in total, and the paytable for the extra feature. Those paytables are specific to the game variant, so the same extra hit can pay differently on two different keno machines.
How the extra changes the odds
Keno is a negative-expectation game. The house edge is built into the difference between the true odds of a hit and the payout the game offers. The extra is no exception. Because you are buying one number out of 80, the chance that the extra ball matches any single pick is low, and the payout is scaled to that probability. The edge on the extra bet is typically different from the edge on the main game, and it is not always lower.
Adding the extra does not improve your main ticket. Your main numbers still have the same probability of appearing among the 20 regular draws. The extra is a separate wager with its own expected return. If you play the extra on every ticket, you are adding a second stream of wagers, each carrying its own house edge. Over a long session, the extra increases the total amount you wager and therefore the total amount you can expect to lose, unless the extra paytable happens to return more than the main game on average.
How the draw sequence works in practice
On a video keno machine, the sequence is usually visible on screen. The main 20 numbers are drawn first and your hits are marked. Then the extra ball is drawn, often with a distinct colour or a separate line on the display. On a live keno game in a lounge or a bar, the caller announces the main numbers and then announces the extra as a separate event. The ticket you hold shows whether you paid for the extra, and the paytable on the ticket or the screen tells you what a matching extra pays.
Some keno variants call the extra by a different name, such as a bonus ball or a multiplier ball, and some attach a multiplier to your main win instead of a standalone payout. Those are not the same feature. A standalone extra pays on the extra number alone. A multiplier ball changes the payout on the main game when a condition is met. Read the game's help screen to see which structure you are playing, because the two are easy to confuse and the paytables work differently.
| Feature | What you wager on | What a hit pays | Effect on main ticket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standalone extra | One additional drawn number | Fixed amount or multiple from the extra paytable | None; main game is judged separately |
| Multiplier ball | A condition attached to the main draw | Multiplies the main payout when triggered | Changes the main payout, not a separate win |
| Main keno bet | Your picks against 20 draws | Main paytable by number of hits | Not affected by the extra |
Where the exact rules are stated
The paytable for the extra is always displayed before you buy the ticket. On a video keno machine, it appears on the same screen as the main paytable, usually below it or on a second tab. On a live game, the paytable is printed on the ticket or posted at the counter. The amount you pay for the extra is shown as a separate line item when you confirm the wager.
Because the extra is a game variant rather than a universal rule, the payout for matching the extra ball with, say, six picks on one machine is not the same as the payout on another machine. The only reliable way to know what the extra pays is to read the paytable for the specific game you are about to play. If the paytable is not clear, ask the venue staff or check the game's information panel before you confirm the ticket.
Why players add the extra
The appeal of the extra is that it creates a second chance to win something on a ticket that would otherwise be a total miss. A keno ticket with no hits on the main draw loses, but if the extra ball matches one of your numbers, the extra bet still pays. That can soften a losing session, but it does not turn the ticket into a positive-expectation wager. The extra is a separate bet with its own edge, and it pays less often than the main game because it rests on a single number.
Some players add the extra only when the base wager is small, treating it as a low-cost side action. Others avoid it entirely because it increases the total amount wagered per ticket without changing the main game's return. Neither approach changes the mathematics of the game. The decision is about how much you want to wager per ticket and whether you value the second chance enough to pay for it.
FAQ
Does the extra ball count toward my main keno hits?
No. The extra ball is drawn after the main 20 numbers and is judged only against the extra bet. Your main ticket is settled on the 20 regular draws. A number that appears as the extra does not become a hit on your main ticket, and a main hit does not carry over to the extra bet.
Can I add the extra after the draw starts?
No. The extra is part of the ticket purchase. Once the draw begins, the ticket is fixed. On a video keno machine, you select the extra before you confirm the wager. On a live game, you pay for it when you buy the ticket. There is no point after the draw starts where you can add or remove the extra.
Is the extra a better bet than the main keno game?
Not necessarily. The extra has its own paytable and its own house edge, and the edge can be higher or lower than the main game's depending on the variant. The only way to compare them is to read both paytables on the specific machine or ticket you are playing. The extra adds a second wager, so it increases your total action per ticket regardless of which bet has the lower edge.
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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.