Keno, Bingo and Lotto in New Zealand: What’s the Difference?

Keno, bingo and Lotto are three of the most familiar number games in New Zealand, and it is easy to lump them together because they all revolve around matching randomly drawn numbers. Look closer, though, and each one plays differently, is run by different people, pays out in its own way and carries very different odds. This guide explains what sets Keno, Housie (the New Zealand name for bingo) and Lotto apart, how each works in practice, what it costs, and which might suit you. It is written for complete beginners, with every term explained the first time it appears.

What are Keno, Bingo and Lotto?

All three are games of chance built on the same simple idea: numbers are drawn at random, and you win if the right numbers come up. What changes is who picks the numbers, what counts as a win, how often draws happen and who runs the game.

What is Keno?

Keno is a draw-based number game run in New Zealand by Lotto NZ. You choose between one and ten numbers — known as ‘spots’ — from a field of 1 to 80. The game then draws 20 winning numbers at random, and you are paid according to how many of your chosen numbers match. The more numbers you back and the more you match, the larger the prize. Lotto NZ holds multiple Keno draws every day, including the well-known 6pm draw, so you are never waiting long for a result. A standard play starts at $1, and an optional Multiplier (which doubles the cost of the play) can boost a winning prize by 1.5, 2, 3, 5 or 10 times. If you are new to it, our guide on how to play Keno walks through the steps.

What is Bingo (Housie) in New Zealand?

Bingo in New Zealand is almost always called Housie. Instead of choosing your own numbers, you buy pre-printed tickets (often sold as a ‘book’) laid out in a grid. A caller announces numbers drawn at random, and you mark off any that appear on your tickets. The goal is to be the first to complete a set pattern — a single line, two lines, or a full card (a ‘full house’). Housie is a community and charitable activity rather than a casino product: it is governed by the Gambling Act (Housie) Game Rules 2004 from the Department of Internal Affairs, and sessions must return at least 70% of the money taken as prizes. It is usually run by clubs, schools and charitable societies to raise funds, which is why the atmosphere tends to be social and local rather than high-stakes.

What is Lotto (the lottery)?

Lotto is New Zealand’s flagship lottery draw, also operated by Lotto NZ. For the main game you pick 6 numbers from 1 to 40, and a seventh ‘Bonus Ball’ is then drawn from the remaining numbers to decide some prize divisions. Draws are held twice a week, on Wednesday and Saturday evenings. Two optional add-ons sit on top: Powerball, which adds one extra number (drawn from 1 to 14 since a rule change on 13 September 2026) for a shot at the biggest jackpots; and Strike, where you try to pick the first four main numbers in the exact order they are drawn. Instant scratch games such as Instant Kiwi are a separate product — they are ‘instant’ lotteries, not draw games, so they are not the same as Lotto.

How do the three games actually work?

The step-by-step play is where the differences become obvious. Here is the basic flow for each.

How do you play Keno?

Choose how many numbers you want to play (one to ten) and mark them, or let the terminal pick them for you with a Quick Pick. Set your stake, from $1 per play, and decide whether to add the Multiplier. After the next draw, 20 numbers are revealed and you are paid on how many of yours appear. Because you decide how many numbers to cover, you also shape your own risk and reward: fewer spots mean smaller but more frequent wins, more spots mean rarer but larger ones.

How do you play Housie (bingo)?

Buy a book of tickets when you arrive at a session. As the caller reads out each drawn number, scan your tickets and mark any matches. When your tickets complete the pattern being played — a line, two lines or a full house — you call out to claim the prize before the next number is drawn. Games run one after another through a session, often with different patterns and prizes each time.

How does the Lotto draw work?

Pick 6 numbers from 1 to 40 for each line (or take a Dip for randomly selected numbers), with a minimum of four lines per entry. Add Powerball or Strike if you want. At the scheduled Wednesday or Saturday draw, six main numbers plus a Bonus Ball are drawn, and prizes are split into divisions based on how many you match. You do not have to match everything to win something — lower divisions pay out for matching fewer numbers.

What are the main differences between Keno, Bingo and Lotto?

The quickest way to see the contrast is side by side.

Who chooses the numbers?

In Keno and Lotto you choose your own numbers (or let the system pick them). In Housie you do not choose anything — the numbers are already printed on the tickets you buy, and your job is simply to mark the ones that are called. This is a common point of confusion: the older idea that ‘the lottery uses pre-written numbers like bingo’ is wrong, because Lotto players select their own lines.

What are you trying to achieve?

In Keno and Lotto the aim is to match the numbers that are drawn, and prizes scale with how many you match. In Housie the aim is different: you are racing other players to be first to complete a pattern on your card, so speed and timing of the call matter, not just luck.

Who runs each game, and where does the money go?

Keno and Lotto are both operated by Lotto NZ, the trading name of the New Zealand Lotteries Commission, and their profits are returned to the community through the New Zealand Lottery Grants Board, which funds thousands of community organisations. Housie is run by individual clubs and charitable societies under Internal Affairs rules, so the surplus from a session supports that organisation’s own cause. In short, Lotto and Keno fund the nation broadly; Housie funds the group running the hall.

What are the odds of winning each game?

The odds vary enormously, both between the games and within a single game depending on how you play.

• Keno: matching both numbers on a two-spot play is roughly 1 in 17, while matching all ten numbers on a ten-spot play is about 1 in 8.9 million. You trade frequency for size.
• Lotto: winning Division 1 (all six main numbers) is about 1 in 3.84 million. Adding Powerball lengthens the odds of the top jackpot to roughly 1 in 53.7 million since the pool widened to 14 numbers. You can see the detail on our page about the odds of winning Powerball.
• Housie: there is no fixed figure. Your chance of winning a game depends on how many tickets are in the room — the fewer players and tickets, the better your odds.

No system or ‘lucky number’ changes these odds. Every draw is independent, so past results do not predict future ones.

How much does it cost, and what can you win?

Cost and prize style are another clear point of difference. Keno starts at $1 per play, and you can stake more or add the Multiplier for bigger potential returns; prizes are paid on a published pay table according to how many spots you matched. Housie is priced by the book of tickets at the venue, with modest prizes drawn from the pooled takings for each game. Lotto is sold in lines (minimum four per entry), pays in tiered divisions, and offers the largest jackpots of the three — especially with Powerball, which is designed to roll over and grow into multi-million-dollar prizes. As a rough rule: Keno offers frequent small-to-medium wins, Housie offers modest community prizes, and Lotto offers the life-changing jackpots.

A short history of Keno, Bingo and Lotto

All three games are much older than the modern New Zealand versions, and their roots help explain why they feel related.

Where did Keno come from?

Keno is widely traced to ancient China. According to popular accounts, an early number-drawing game sometimes called the ‘white pigeon ticket’ was used to raise public funds, with legend linking it to construction of the Great Wall — a colourful story that historians treat with caution. The game was carried to the United States in the 19th century by Chinese immigrants and gradually evolved into the number-matching casino game played worldwide today.

Where did Bingo come from?

Bingo descends from an Italian state lottery, often dated to around 1530. By the late 1700s a version known as ‘Le Lotto’ was popular in France, played with numbered cards and drawn tokens. In 1920s America a carnival game called ‘Beano’ used beans to cover called numbers; toy maker Edwin S. Lowe is credited with popularising it around 1929-1930 and with the name ‘Bingo’. From there it spread into community halls — and, in New Zealand, into Housie.

Where did Lotto come from?

Lotteries are ancient, having been used by governments for centuries to raise money for public works. The modern draw-style Lotto spread worldwide through the 20th century. New Zealand’s own Lotto launched in 1987, with the first live draw on 1 August that year, run by the newly created New Zealand Lotteries Commission (trading as Lotto NZ since 2013). Huge international lotteries such as Spain’s El Gordo show just how large these draws can become.

What mistakes do players most often make?

Understanding the common pitfalls is as useful as understanding the games themselves.

• Believing a strategy improves the odds. Picking ‘hot’ or ‘lucky’ numbers, or replaying the same set, is fine for fun but does not change your mathematical chances. For a realistic look at approaches, see our Keno strategy page.
• Chasing losses. Spending more to ‘win it back’ is the single most dangerous habit in any game of chance.
• Confusing instant games with draws. A scratch ticket is an instant lottery; Lotto and Keno are draw games with scheduled results. They are not interchangeable.
• Misunderstanding syndicates. Pooling money buys more entries and raises the group’s chance of winning, but any prize is shared. The Lotto syndicate rules explain how shares work.
• Ignoring the age rules. New Zealand has moved to an 18+ minimum across Lotto NZ products, so buying on behalf of someone under 18 is not allowed.

Which game is right for you?

Choose based on the experience you want, not on which ‘pays best’. If you enjoy a social, in-person atmosphere and supporting a local cause, Housie is the natural fit. If you like quick results and controlling your own risk with frequent draws, Keno suits you. If you are happy to wait for twice-weekly draws in exchange for the chance at a very large jackpot, Lotto (with or without Powerball) is the one. Many New Zealanders dip into all three at different times, which is exactly why they are so often mentioned in the same breath.

Responsible Gambling

Keno, Housie and Lotto are games of chance, not ways to make money. The odds always favour the operator, no strategy or number choice improves them, and you should only ever play with money you can afford to lose. In New Zealand all Lotto NZ products are now restricted to players aged 18 and over following a 2026 law change (previously only Instant Kiwi carried an 18+ rule). If gambling is causing harm to you or someone you know, free, confidential, 24/7 help is available from the Gambling Helpline Aotearoa on 0800 654 655 (free text 8006), and you can read more on our responsible gambling page. This article is general information only and is not gambling, financial or legal advice.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is Keno the same as Lotto in New Zealand?

No. Both are run by Lotto NZ, but they play differently. Keno lets you choose one to ten numbers from a field of 80, with several draws every day, and pays on how many you match. Lotto uses six numbers from 40 in twice-weekly draws and pays in prize divisions.

Is Housie the same as bingo?

Yes. Housie is simply the New Zealand name for bingo. It is usually run by clubs and charitable societies under the Gambling Act (Housie) Game Rules 2004, with a caller reading out numbers while players mark pre-printed tickets and race to complete a pattern.

Which game gives the best odds of winning?

It depends on how you play. Matching two numbers in Keno is about 1 in 17, while matching all ten is roughly 1 in 8.9 million. Lotto’s first division is about 1 in 3.84 million and Powerball’s top prize about 1 in 53.7 million. Housie odds depend on how many tickets are in the room.

Can you play these games online in New Zealand?

Keno and Lotto can be played through Lotto NZ’s official online channels as well as in store. Housie is mostly an in-person, community activity run at venues, so it is not generally an online product in the same way.

How old do you need to be to play?

New Zealand has moved to an 18+ minimum age across all Lotto NZ products under a 2026 law change; previously only Instant Kiwi required players to be 18. Housie is run by community organisations under their own rules and supervision.