The lottery, quick pick or your lucky number?
Asked by
ETpro (
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March 27th, 2013
This question is for those who do play numbers-game lotteries. Despite all the idiotic misinformation out there, the odds of winning the MegaMillions or Powerball lotteries are about 175 million to one. It really doesn’t matter whether you buy a “lucky number”, or let the computer pick for you. The odds of winning remain the same. In fact, as counterintuitive as it may seem; the odds of winning with 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 are exactly the same as they are for winning with some random pick the computer spits out; 175 million to one. Maybe the widespread confusion from this stems from the fact that 3 out of every 2 people have a hard time understanding statistics and probability.
But given that the odds are the same (trust me, they are), the deciding factor has to be convenience. It’s easier to buy an easy pick, but it’s easier to recognize a winner if you play a know number each time. If you buy a quick pick and don’t recognize that you have a winning ticket, there’s the possibility you’ll toss it out and never collect. Then again, if you routinely buy a quick pick, and you forget to buy a ticket for a given draw, no harm, no foul. But what if you always play a particular number but forget to buy a ticket for one draw, and then you hear that your number won that draw?
So given all that, if you do play, quick pick or lucky number? If you do play your lucky (or beloved) numbers, do you make sure you’re in the game for every draw so there’s zero chance of that number winning when you aren’t in the hunt?
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21 Answers
I have a set of numbers that I always use and then I buy a “lucky dip” (where the computer chooses). I play the lottery online so I receive an email if I win anything but I still always check myself as well. If I don’t play one week then I don’t check the numbers so I am not dissapointed if my familiar numbers come up.
Quick Picks. Five quick picks.
Too often, ‘Lucky numbers” are limited to being 31 or less, along with disproportionate numbers between 1 and 12.
NO pick. The odds against winning are too high.
I would feel so guilty if I won. My life is pretty darned blessed right now and I already feel like I’ve won so I’ll just hope one of my jelly friends wins and keep my dollar in my wallet.
Good luck y’all.
My husband puts it on and has a particular set of numbers he always plays. If it’s a huge draw I sometimes ask him to put on a quick pick for me. Since I know the likelihood of me winning is so low, I think I have as much chance with a quick pick as using any other method.
I used to frequent a chinese restaurant next to a 7–11 store. On the back of the fortune in the fortune cookie were six numbers. I played those numbers next door on the way home. Now I let the computer choose, but rarely play.
One quick pick and one lucky set.
I do not play the lottery.
Rule 188: Never bet on a race you haven’t fixed.
The best way to win is to put aside the money you would have spent on lottery tickets, then cash in when you feel like the pot is big enough. Then repeat.
Lotteries are a voluntary tax. I already pay enough in taxes.
The odds of having to share your jackpot with others increases if you choose mostly numbers from 1–31, since many people use dates for lucky numbers. I’m in a pool at work and after using Quick-Picks for a while, they decided that we should choose numbers… so I picked all high numbers for that reason.
I used to play numbers based on things like significant dates, but when I understood the probability, I decided to QP all the way.
If I had lucky numbers I’d have won the lottery already. Clearly my “lucky” numbers aren’t that lucky. On the rare occasions I buy a ticket I go for the lucky dip.
I am with @hearkat.
Since all numbers have equal chances, is stay away from the numbers chosen most often.
Those are the ones under 31, for instance.
I have the same chance of winning, but if I do, I’ll need to share with @hearkat only.
Go with the least likely numbers and do not choose the numbers that have already been drawn.
I also use @hearkat ‘s strategy. We’ll have to split the winnings three ways.
Always quick pick, because it’s always random.
I rarely play the game though, so I have no superstitious thoughts about it.
I don’t play the lottery because I understand math and would rather spend my money on things that can make a difference to my well being rather than waste it on pipe dreams.
Thanks, everyone. My number obviously isn’t so lucky either. But it isn’t meant to be a lucky number, just one that is meaningful to me. It is includes 4 numbers under 31 and two larger than 31, so I just may be in the sweet spot between those who always play dates, and those who always go for numbers over 31. I’m sticking with my meaningful number. Sounds like it’s one that is less likely to result in a split pot when I DO win. Yeah, I know. Odds are good I will win if I play every draw for the next 168,269¼ years. I’m good to go for that if life will let me. Then I just have to figure out how to live enough longer to enjoy my winnings.
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