I actually won playing Ultimate X Keno
I’ve been a video poker fiend for years, the kind of guy who can sit at a machine for hours, grinding out hands with the precision of a mathematician and the stubbornness of a mule. There’s something meditative about it—crunching the odds, holding the right cards, and chasing that elusive royal flush.
Last weekend, I was at Santa Fe Station in Vegas, hunkered down for a six-hour marathon of Not So Ugly Deuces Wild. The machine was my battlefield, and I was in the zone, methodically playing each hand, my brain wired to the 9/6 paytable like it was second nature. By the time I called it quits, my eyes were bleary, my coffee was cold, and my wallet was about even—classic video poker grind. I was ready to shuffle back to my room, maybe grab a burger on the way, when something caught my eye.
A cheer erupted from the keno area, that unmistakable whoop of a jackpot win. Curiosity got the better of me, so I moseyed over, expecting to see some lucky soul cashing out on a standard keno game. Instead, I found a woman grinning ear to ear, her machine flashing like a neon sign on the Strip.
The screen read Ultimate X Keno. I’d heard whispers about this game—IGT and Action Gaming’s lovechild, blending the simplicity of keno with the multiplier madness of Ultimate X video poker—but I’d never given it a spin. Video poker’s my thing; keno always felt like a game for folks who prefer luck over strategy. But watching her collect her winnings, I thought, “Hmm, maybe I could give my brain a rest and still have a shot at some cash.”
I slid onto a stool at a nearby Ultimate X Keno machine, part of one of those trusty IGT Game King setups that Santa Fe Station peppers around the floor. The interface looked familiar enough—four keno cards, just like *Four Card Keno*, but with a twist that screamed high-octane. I popped in a twenty to test the waters, figuring I’d get the hang of it quick. And I did. Within a few minutes, I was picking my numbers, betting across all four cards, and watching the game unfold.
Here’s the deal with Ultimate X Keno: you pick your numbers—say, 3 to 10 spots per card—on up to four keno cards, just like classic Four Card Keno. But the kicker is the multiplier feature, borrowed straight from Ultimate X Video Poker. After each game, the machine randomly assigns multipliers (2x up to 12x) to each card about half the time, based on how many numbers you hit in the previous round. Catch a solid hit, like 3 out of 3 or 5 out of 6, and the next game on that card could get a juicy multiplier, boosting your payout if you hit again. The catch? You’ve gotta bet the max to activate those multipliers—no short-coin nonsense like in some poker games.
The paytables vary by casino, and Santa Fe’s wasn’t the best (I later learned it’s around 91.45% RTP, per some chatter on Wizard of Vegas), but the potential for a big score was undeniable. It’s a high-volatility ride, meaning you’re either walking away with pocket change or a payout that makes your heart race.
I started small, picking 6-spot cards, betting a buck per card, and watching the numbers roll in. The first few games were quiet, but then I caught a 4-out-of-6 with a 2x multiplier—nothing huge, but enough to keep me hooked. The game’s rhythm was different from video poker’s calculated grind. No strategy charts, no agonizing over discards—just pick your numbers, hit play, and let the universe decide. It was oddly liberating, like taking a vacation from my usual brain-taxing sessions.
Three hours flew by, and I was having a blast. The multipliers kept things spicy—every so often, a card would light up with a 4x or 8x, and I’d hold my breath as the numbers dropped. Then, it happened. The machine lit up like a Christmas tree: I nailed a 6-spot on one card and two 5-spots on others, all in the same round. One of those 5-spots had a 4x multiplier, and the payout was sweet—enough to cover my entire session and then some. I leaned back, grinning like a kid who just won at skee-ball. Not bad for my first rodeo with Ultimate X Keno.
Was it the most strategic game I’ve ever played? Nah. The odds are tough, and that 91.45% RTP isn’t exactly screaming “easy money.” But man, was it fun. The multipliers add a thrill that standard keno can’t touch, and the simplicity let me unwind from the mental marathon of *Not So Ugly Deuces*. I’m not about to ditch video poker—*Jacks or Better* and I have a lifelong love affair—but *Ultimate X Keno* gave me a new way to mix things up, take a break, and still have a shot at coming out ahead. I’ll be back for it next time I need a breather, but I’ll keep my bets modest and my expectations grounded. Sometimes, a little chaos is just what a gambler’s soul needs.
