Real lottery strategies help you improve your chances or make your life easier as a player. There are many lotteries to choose from, not to mention their different formats, so we created approaches that suit any preferences. As a result, you will be more ready than ever for any lottery.
Contents
Key Takeaways
- The more combinations you purchase, the better your chances of winning the lottery.
- Systems can make your choices easier but won’t improve your odds.
- All number combinations share the exact same odds of occurring.
Lottery Strategies List to Use Before Picking Your Numbers
We’ve compiled a list of 10 lottery strategies that could potentially give you a slight edge in your pursuit of the elusive big win. Some involve human calculation and logic, while others require lottery software and generators. Check them out.
Choose Lotteries With Favorable Odds
The best lottery strategy, in our expert opinion, is to start picking lotteries with odds of winning that are favorable to you. There are three rules that you must follow to ensure you are doing the best business:
- Avoid lotteries with odds that are too difficult for their prizes.
- Play lotteries with better odds when the small jackpot rolls over.
- Prefer lotteries with big jackpots and worthy secondary prizes.
By eliminating from your list lotteries with odds that are too difficult for the prize they offer, you can direct your ticket efforts to easier lotteries. For example, Superenalotto is out of proportion with odds of 1 in 622,614,630 and a minimum jackpot of only €2 million. Therefore, we would definitely avoid it!
In order to know if the odds are worth it, there is no alternative but to compare the most popular lotteries. Here are some examples that need to be collected from our lottery results page or on the official lottery sites:
| Lottery | Jackpot Odds | Minimum Jackpot |
|---|---|---|
| Powerball | 1 in 292,201,338 | $20 Million |
| MegaMillions | 1 in 290,472,336 | $50 Million |
| Euromillions | 1 in 139,838,160 | €17 Million |
| Eurojackpot | 1 in 95,344,200 | €10 Million |
| Oz Lotto | 1 in 45,379,620 | $3 Million |
| Superenalotto | 1 in 622,614,630 | €2 million |
- A second prize of at least $2 million and odds of 1 in 12,629,232.
- A multiplier that makes secondary prizes worth up to 10x.
If you can have a prize of $2-10 million with those odds, there is no reason to spend a single penny on less favorable tickets. Even diversification should give preference to the best odds-prize proportion. Diversification can sound fun, but we insist that the odds speak louder when it comes to the lottery.
On the other hand, balanced games like Euromillions and Eurojackpot have over 10 prize tiers, which means decent prizes by matching just a few numbers. Those are also interesting to include in your shopping cart, if you like chances at secondary prizes like us.
With that knowledge, you can purchase more lottery tickets to cover more possibilities in favorable games. The odds that are already better than in other games become easier as more combinations can result in your prize.
Richard Lustig is a popular name among lottery winners due to his many awards totaling up to $1 million. However, there is no mystery: he often purchased lots of tickets to his favorite lotteries. He was simply lucky, and you may be too, especially if you cover more combinations.
We can guarantee that it is the best lottery strategy you may have, and it can be applied to every lottery site with those games.
Do Not Avoid Specific Numbers
Many players believe that analyzing the previous lottery sessions of a lottery game helps them to make smarter choices for the next session. You can check lottery statistics, analyze several last drawing sessions, or go back for years to get more reliable data. These are the numbers to pay attention to when analyzing previous draws.
Every number you add to your ticket has the same odds of being drawn as any other. It is not just us saying, that is basically how the lottery works. Basing your choice on lottery statistics cannot help you figure out the winning numbers simply because past drawings do not affect the next ones.
In other words, you may play with any combination you wish and should not avoid numbers just because they did not appear recently. You might be frustrated if you give up on a number and discover it was drawn. Trust us, we have seen that happening before.
Therefore, you may use a lottery numbers checker to figure out if your recent numbers granted you a prize, which is its ultimate goal. If you use it to check if your numbers are hot, you may make it your personal fun method to play, but that won’t help you win the lottery.
Mixed Numbers Lottery Strategy
Avoiding perfect sequences of numbers cannot improve your chances of winning, but it is a valid lottery strategy to optimize your results. After all, obvious sequences like 1 to 6 are played more often. We know most players avoid those by instinct, but mostly for the wrong reason.
They can win like any other combination, but you would be sharing the prize with everyone else who had the same simple idea. It is better to mix things up a bit, create less obvious sequences when there are usually millions of them, and try to grant an individual win. I don’t know about you, but everyone in our team prefers to win solo. It is simple:
- Choose your numbers or use the quick pick feature.
- Reveal them and figure out if there are any obvious sequences.
- Make sure to do it for the second drum, too, if available.
Now, if you want a real example, let’s go back to 2020 in South Africa when 20 people won the South African Powerball with the numbers 5 – 6 – 7 – 8 – 9 and the Powerball 10. Although the individual prize of £277,000 is still tempting, it is 20 times smaller than the actual jackpot. Facing those tough odds to win far less is definitely not your dream strategy.
Lottery Wheeling System
A lottery wheeling system is a strategy that does not help your odds of winning but can be useful for people who want to choose the numbers but are always hesitant. It simply shortens the pool of numbers and gives you the combinations, so you do not have to do it yourself.
That method may have many forms and sometimes even be based on software, but it all comes down to getting a few combinations. In short, this is the simplest way to go:
- Choose at least one number more than the total numbers drawn. For example, if it is a 6/49 game, pick 7 or more random numbers.
- Randomize them so that each of the numbers appears at least once with all the other numbers.
- Play the generated combinations, which should result in a decent number of tickets.
For example, let’s say you have picked 10, 12, 20, 23, 40, and 45 to play a game with 5 drawn numbers. These would be the possibilities:
10 – 12 – 20 – 23 – 40
10 – 12 – 20 – 23 – 45
12 – 20 – 23 – 40 – 45
10 – 20 – 23 – 40 – 45
10 – 12 – 23 – 40 – 45
(…) and so on until all of them are included.
Considering that this means the purchase of a good number of tickets, your odds of winning would be decent.
Pick 3 System
A Pick 3 system wheels a few numbers chosen by the player, just like a wheeling system, but specifically for lottery games with 3 digits from 0 to 9 only. It can be done in several ways, including the use of software, or the Rundown or the Tic Tac Toe methods.
If you want, you can get into detail with them on our Pick 3 strategies page. There, we have other ways to play those that we have personally tested in the past. Otherwise, we can summarize a simple system to get you going immediately:
- Pick at least three numbers from 0 to 9 that you want to play.
- Start writing them down.
- Wheel them so that each digit plays with all others at least once.
- Turn them all into tickets.
Unlike regular lotteries, your odds in Pick 3 games are extremely easy at 1 in 1,000 with a single ticket. Relying on several tickets, your odds are definitely impressive.
As a plus, if you decide to play each ticket more than once, each winning ticket can get a prize separately.
Pick 3 Lottery Software
Source: Florida Lottery
Lottery software can analyze lotteries and identify patterns in the draw better than even lottery geniuses. It is a great idea to use lottery software to choose your numbers. They can review the previous draws, check lottery statistics, and provide the best lottery numbers for the next draw. They may be a little expensive, but they are worth it. Popular examples are Pick3Sniper, SamLotto, WinSlips, and Lotto Pro.
Pick 4 Strategy
The Pick 4 system uses a similar approach to the Pick 3 system. The only difference is that you pick at least four digits from 0 to 9 and whirl them to create combinations.
Let’s take this basic example: you pick five numbers for the Pick 4 system. We will call those numbers A, B, C, D, and E, and you can put them in these mixes – ABCD, ABCE, ABDE, ACDE.
Given the fact that the order matters in a Pick 4 game, playing ABCD and DCBA are two completely different tickets. Here is a quick breakdown of this strategy:
- Pick four or more digits from 0 to 9 that you want to play.
- Write them down in the right order before anything else.
- Change their order, and add and remove digits if you have chosen more than four.
- Get all those combinations into tickets.
We don’t often put this system in practice because it has no real advantage compared to quick picks. If you want more information, please check out our Pick 4 strategy guide with all the possible systems and methods people use for it.
Pick 5 Strategy
There are Pick 5 lotteries that are also based on digits from 0 to 9 only. In those cases, the same specific wheeling strategy applies:
- Choose five or more digits from 0 to 9.
- Write down the digits.
- Start scrambling them, or use Pick 5 software to do it for you.
- Play tickets with all the combinations.
Given the fact that more digits are involved, this method tends to generate a large number of tickets to purchase. If you are not comfortable with a large purchase, just play a few combinations that your intuition says so. Personally, you can be good with any other way of picking combinations if you cannot afford much.
On the other hand, if you only become more interested in learning the different methods for this type of game, check our Pick 5 strategies page.
There are more Pick games you can play with their specific strategy. We have guides for all of them, just to give you the best:
Pick 6 Strategy | Pick 7 Strategy | Pick 8 Strategy | Pick 10 Strategy
Use the Quick Pick Feature and Leave It to Luck
It is hard to say that the Quick Pick feature is an actual lottery strategy. However, nobody can deny that you can’t win a lottery jackpot without relying on a certain degree of luck. Given the fact that it is the case, there is nothing preventing you from simply letting luck pick your numbers.
Many lottery providers, like theLotter, Lotto Agent, and WinTrillions allow you to use a Quick Pick feature to let the machine pick a combination for your ticket. You press a single button, and the software does its magic. In most cases, the software is programmed to include a variety of numbers. That means the ticket will be a mixture of odd, even, low, and high numbers.
The Quick Pick feature is also great if you are in a rush. Perhaps there are only a couple of minutes until the time for purchasing the tickets expires. Maybe you don’t have enough time to analyze the numbers and come up with a strategy. In those cases, you can use the random factor and participate in the draw. That will give you at least some odds compared to not playing at all.
Find Lottery Loopholes and Explore Positive Expected Value
There are real cases in the history of the lottery of people who used math to benefit themselves through loopholes. Although no guarantees were ever involved, the calculation of positive expected value had good odds and resulted in a benefit. You may try to find those special cases in your local lotteries, but they are most certainly extinct.
It is an extraordinary mathematical effort that requires a few steps:
- Analyze the odds of a lottery in which the jackpot could be distributed after rolling over a couple of times.
- Estimate the necessary cost of tickets to cover a large portion or all of the secondary prizes.
- Calculate when the jackpot will be big enough to cover the costs and return a positive expected value.
Things were even simpler for Stefan Mandel, who has won the lottery jackpot 14 times in Romania by simply purchasing all the combinations. Back then, he figured out the jackpot was worth more than the total cost, and the combinations were affordable.
The Selbee couple was a more recent case, using the lottery loophole strategy as described above. Both the lotteries that they used, Winfall and Cash Windfall, no longer exist.
Lotteries have adapted since then, especially the popular ones found online. Although big jackpots like Powerball accumulate enough to compensate for the costs, it is simply impossible to convert all combinations. Therefore, you need to be willing to spend a lot of time studying without the certainty that you can actually find any exploitable positive value.
Join Lottery Pools and Syndicates
One of the best lottery strategies that can help you in your odds of winning the lottery and still make you spend less is joining lottery groups. It may be a local pool or a completely anonymous syndicate online, they have the same effect.
Although all prizes are shared, the costs are also reduced according to the number of players. You can simply have hundreds of times more chances of winning a very decent amount for not much more than a ticket’s worth. Let’s take online syndicates, which are more practical, as an example:
- With an account on any lottery site with syndicates, pick a game.
- Find a lottery syndicate with a number of tickets you like.
- Purchase an entry for a very affordable price.
- You are participating with all those tickets like all the other players.
When we consider prizes above $1 million, it is not a big deal if you have only a share. It is possible to purchase multiple shares, too, improving your prize in case of a match.
This strategy works because it is a simple case of math. More tickets are covered, so your odds are better by having more combinations.
Lottery Strategies to Avoid
Lottery strategies are useful to help you play with good combinations and a decent number of tickets and make good use of tools like syndicates. However, there are so-called strategies out there that you should keep a distance from:
- Bad-luck numbers: All numbers have equal chances, so avoiding specific numbers on purpose is not only useless but also may prevent you from matching a perfect combination.
- Aggressive purchase: More tickets equal better chances, but the lottery will still be difficult. Make sure to stick to your budget and not spend more than you can just because it is a valid strategy.
Random lotteries: Moving from one lottery to another without looking at the odds first does not help you win and may result in playing games that are too difficult for payment.
Extra Tips for Winning the Lottery
Apart from the strategies already presented in this article, you can also use other lottery winning tips to adjust your approach.
1. Second Chance Drawings
A second chance draw gives you an additional chance to win during a lottery drawing session. These drawings involve cash prizes, but also vacation packages, gift cards, cars, etc.
Depending on the game, you might be automatically qualified for a second chance draw by purchasing a ticket. Alternatively, you might need to pay extra to become eligible for additional drawings. You’ll find second chance drawings alongside the games on top lottery providers like theLotter, Lotto Agent, WinTrillions, and Jackpot.com.
2. Avoid Overspending
The biggest mistake you can make is not taking care of your lottery budget. Be cautious when determining how much you can spend on lottery tickets.
The crucial thing to ensure is that your quality of life is not compromised. If you set aside money for paying bills, don’t use it for playing the lottery. Not only that ensure you won’t get in any trouble, but it also allows focusing on designing the right strategy. If you are not worried about overspending, you can think straight and come up with a smart playing approach.
3. Buy Tickets at Different Times
Do not buy all the tickets at once. Instead, buy a couple of them today, and leave the rest for tomorrow and the day after. It doesn’t have to mean anything, but the statistics show that jackpot times are random. The law of probability indicates it’s better to spread your ticket purchases than buy them all at the same time.
4. Special Dates Are a Good Choice… Up to a Certain Extent
Special dates are important for you, and they can be your lucky numbers. The problem is that these numbers don’t go over 31, and most lotteries involve at least 40 balls. That is why you should find a way to include other numbers, too. It might be wise to save special dates for extra drums, such as the PowerBall number drawing.
Final Thoughts: Do Lottery Strategies Actually Help You Win?
The only lottery strategy that guarantees a win is covering all possible combinations. However, that requires a lot of money, and you will end up losing most of it since it will go to providers and other players. Lottery loopholes happened in the past, but they were specific cases that are not likely to occur again.
However, there are tips on how to win the lottery that can boost your chances of winning significantly. By making smart choices on lottery odds, avoiding bad strategies like limiting your numbers, and participating as much as possible, you increase your odds of winning.
Whether you choose to rely on in-depth analysis, probability, or intuition, the most important thing is to identify a playing style that suits you. Feel free to experiment with the strategies described in this comprehensive guide and play responsibly.
Important Note Once you decide to start playing the lottery with one of the strategies here, make sure you play safe with one of our recommended lottery sites:
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FAQs
Can you improve your chances of winning the lottery with a strategy?
You can improve your chances of winning the lottery with a strategy. By choosing lotteries with the best odds and extending your coverage of combinations through tickets or syndicates, your chances definitely get better.
What are some of the most popular lottery strategies?
Popular lottery strategies include Pick 3, Pick 4, Pick 5, Pick 6, and Lottery Wheeling Numbers, but only to diversify how you choose numbers. You can also join a syndicate for better chances in the lottery.
Do past winning numbers provide any insights into future draws?
Past winning numbers can give you the hot, cold, and overdue numbers for the lottery. However, they do not influence future draws or provide an insight into what numbers are appearing next. Those are simple statistics!
Is it Worth Buying More Tickets to Increase Your Chances of Winning?
Buying more tickets can slightly increase your chances of winning prizes in the lottery. By joining syndicates, you can cover more than you could possibly afford by buying individual tickets!
Are There any Strategies for Choosing Numbers That Might Be More Likely to Win?
No strategies can effectively indicate which numbers are more likely to win. All numbers have an equal chance of appearing in the draw. The combination that a lottery provides has the same odds of appearing as other numbers.
Can I Trust Websites or Individuals that Claim to Have a Winning Lottery Strategy?
No, you should not trust websites or individuals that offer winning lottery strategies. They are often scams. You are better off signing for a lottery prediction software, creating your own strategy, or using the Quick Pick option on the lottery website.
