We are multiple major lottery winners.

Originally Posted by lbowles2

OK... say you buy $5 of Powerball tickets. Most people let the machine pick you 5 random sets of numbers... one for each $1 ticket. The problem with this is you are trying to make 1 set of random numbers (or in this case 1 of 5 sets) match another set of random numbers generated at the drawing. What he says to do instead is ALWAYS play the same set of numbers... that way one of the random factors is eliminated effectively taking one or two zeros off of your chances of winning percentage wise.

Statistically, your chances are exactly the same. The win could be the same number many times over the years and never, ever get to most numbers.

Another tip he gave me (and this is the part that didn't sound right at first) is to play the same set of numbers on all 5 plays. His reasoning is that your odds of winning are already like .0000000001% (not exact but you get the idea). By playing the same set of numbers for all 5 plays you only knock 1 zero off of those odds so you're really not improving your odds that much. The benefit of having all 5 of the same set of numbers is if you do win something short of the jackpot you win it 5 times!!! So if you win $100 you really win $500.

This one makes sense. If five other persons and you won the big jackpot, you would get half instead of 1/6.

[lbowles2]

Originally Posted by BC-Axeman

Statistically, your chances are exactly the same. The win could be the same number many times over the years and never, ever get to most numbers.

If you take one of the 'random' variables out of the equation over time you're odds are going to be better. Maybe not for that one drawing but over time they will. This would help the person that plays every week not someone like me that buys once every two years if that.