Variant Breakdown: Cleopatra, Caveman, Power, Lightning

Compare four of the most popular keno variants. See how mechanics, volatility, and payouts differ while RTP stays in line.

Section: Resources → Guides • Level: Intermediate–Advanced

Hero: The “big four” bonus-feature variants — Cleopatra, Caveman, Power, Lightning.

Introduction

Classic Keno is simple: pick numbers, draw 20, pay by hits. Variants add bonus mechanics that change payout distribution and volatility. Four of the most common are Cleopatra, Caveman, Power, and Lightning. Each preserves the 80/20 core but alters how wins arrive. Casinos rebalance paytables to keep RTP steady, so the main difference is variance profile and player experience.

Variance spectrum chart from Cleopatra to Lightning — Figure 1. Variance spectrum: Cleopatra moderate, Caveman mid-high, Power high, Lightning extreme.

Cleopatra Keno

Mechanic

If the 20th ball matches one of your picks, you trigger the Cleopatra Bonus: 12 free games, all wins doubled.

Effect

Free games cluster payouts into bursts. RTP is rebalanced so base pays are smaller. Variance increases due to streaky outcomes. Bonus trigger rate ≈ (spots ÷ 80).

Graph of Cleopatra bonus trigger probability by spots — Figure 2. Trigger probability grows linearly with spot count.

Caveman Keno

Mechanic

Three dinosaur eggs are randomly placed each round. If two eggs hit, payouts are doubled; if all three hit, payouts are quadrupled (some paytables allow 8×).

Effect

Egg multipliers cause occasional spikes. Variance higher than Classic but not as extreme as Lightning. Eggs hit rarely, so most rounds are unaffected, but when they align payouts cluster sharply.

Illustration showing dinosaur eggs and multiplier triggers — Figure 3. Egg multipliers — rare but impactful.

Power Keno

Mechanic

If the 20th and final ball drawn is one of your picks, your win for that round is multiplied 4×.

Effect

Concentrates excitement at the last moment. Variance increases because some wins are multiplied dramatically while others remain base. Trigger rate ≈ (spots ÷ 80).

Illustration showing last-ball glowing multiplier trigger — Figure 4. Last-ball multiplier — suspense until the final draw.

Lightning Keno

Mechanic

Before each draw, several numbers are struck by lightning and assigned multipliers (2× to 12×). If those numbers are drawn and match your picks, your win is multiplied.

Effect

Produces extreme volatility. RTP held constant by reducing base payouts. Most rounds pay little, but rare lightning hits can create outsized wins. High variance appeals to players seeking big swings.

Illustration showing lightning bolts striking numbers on a keno board — Figure 5. Lightning multipliers — rare but massive potential.

Comparison Matrix

Variant	Mechanic	Trigger Rate	Effect on Volatility	RTP Impact
Cleopatra	20th ball → 12 free games at 2×	Spots ÷ 80	Moderate variance increase	Base pays reduced slightly
Caveman	Egg multipliers (2×/4×)	Rare (depends on egg hit probability)	Mid–high variance	Base pays rebalanced
Power	Last ball hit → 4× payout	Spots ÷ 80	High variance	Base pays rebalanced
Lightning	Random multipliers (2×–12×)	Depends on # struck per round	Extreme variance	Base pays reduced significantly

Bar chart comparing variance across Cleopatra, Caveman, Power, Lightning — Figure 6. Lightning has the most extreme volatility; Cleopatra is moderate.

Strategy Angles

While no strategy can change odds, players can align variant choice with bankroll tolerance:

Cleopatra: Good for those who enjoy streaks of bonus games.
Caveman: Moderate bankroll, occasional multiplier spikes.
Power: Higher tolerance for variance, chasing last-ball drama.
Lightning: Only for players comfortable with long droughts and rare windfalls.

Icons showing bankroll comfort levels for each variant — Figure 7. Match variant choice to risk tolerance.

Simulation Insights

Simulating 100,000 rounds for each variant shows the following patterns:

Cleopatra: RTP converges near target, but win/loss graph shows step-like jumps when free games cluster.
Caveman: Flat returns most of the time, interrupted by occasional egg-triggered spikes.
Power: Long flat stretches punctuated by sharp 4× peaks when last-ball aligns.
Lightning: Most rounds return zero; distribution dominated by rare, high-multiplier wins.

Histograms of payout distributions from variant simulations — Figure 8. Simulation histograms show the different shapes of payout distributions.

Summary

Cleopatra, Caveman, Power, and Lightning all extend Classic Keno with bonus features. They share the 80/20 draw model but diverge in volatility. RTP is held constant through paytable rebalancing, so differences are experiential, not mathematical in expectation. Choose variants based on risk comfort and entertainment preference, not perceived advantage.

Infographic comparing the four variants at a glance — Figure 9. Summary at a glance: mechanics, volatility, and RTP alignment.

Next Steps

Bonus Features — deeper dive into how mechanics alter payout distributions.
Simulation Tools — run your own comparisons across variants.
Strategies & Myths — apply simulation insights to disciplined play.