Skip to main content

How to Win the Lottery

Today, I ran across an article on the Huffington Post about 7 time lottery winner Richard Lustig. Back in November, Lustig was giving out tips on how to win the lottery, or at least, how to increase your chances of winning. This man has won the grand prize seven times, so either he is the luckiest man in the world, or he knows what he's talking about, (you be the judge).

Here are some of his tips:
- Pick your own numbers instead of having the machine do it for you
- Research and see if your numbers have won before
- Select your ten sets of numbers and keep those if you continue buying tickets
- Buy as many tickets as you can afford

Those tips sounded great, but I wondered, "What are the real chances of me winning the lottery even if I did those things?" I decided to find out.

In Pennsylvania, we have the Cash 5 Lottery Drawing. The odds of winning the Cash 5 are obviously better than the odds of winning the PowerBall or any lottery drawing with more than 5 numbers, but it still holds a high jackpot at times. So I went to www.webmath.com where they asked me a few simple questions in order to calculate my chances of winning.

Here is how they broke it down (click the image to enlarge):


As it turns out, there is a 1 in 962,598 chance that I will win the Cash 5 (if I decide to play it). Just for fun, Web Math gave me some other odds to compare this to. For example; there is about a 1 in 2,000,000 chance of being struck by lightning; a pregnant woman has a 1 in 705,000 chance of giving birth to quadruplets; and someone eating an oyster has a 1 in 12,000 chance of finding a pearl inside of it.

If you live in Pennsylvania and you plan to play the lottery, here are your chances of winning:
The Big 4: 1 in 126 chance
Cash 5: 1 in 962,598 chance
Match 6 Lotto: 1 in 13,983,816 chance
Mega Millions: 1 in 3,819,816 chance of picking the winning numbers on your top grid and 1 in 46 chance of getting the Mega Ball number correct.
Powerball: 1 in 5,006,386 chance of picking the winning numbers on your top grid and 1 in 35 chance of getting the Power Ball number correct.

Calculating the odds for winning The Daily Number and Quinto is a bit trickier since you have to calculate the chances of selecting the correct numbers and consider your Play Type and Bid. The PA Lottery has a thorough chart on your odds of winning at their website; palottery.state.pa.us

So, are you feeling lucky yet? :)

Comments


  1. A lottery is a form of gambling which involves the drawing of lots for a prize.
    Lottery is outlawed by some governments, while others endorse it to the extent of organizing a national or state lottery.
    For more information please visit: How to Win the Lottery

    ReplyDelete
  2. Yes it is. but people are hoping to win the lotto so, even if they know it's gambling at least it is authorized by the government and lottery helps charity.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Regardless of the odds I play play religiously. My motto has always been "You can't win, if you don't play!" So many people dream fo what they'd do with the money if they win but don't ever play. Really cool to see the breakdown of your math though, pretty interesting to view the odds. I can't believe someone has won the grand prize 7 times... I've maybe won a dollar 7 times, haha! I think the only question left for me when I win is lump sum or annuity payments?!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanks for the comments everyone. I do play the lottery for fun. I don't play every day, but every now and then I try my luck :) You never know what could happen, right?

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A Weak Man Hates Anything that Challenges Him to Be Better

We all come across weak men who blame others for their shortcomings. These men struggle with accountability and reject anything that challenges them to be better. In essence, they are narcissistic and self-centered. It is not easy to deal with such men, especially if you are in a relationship with them. Weak men often have fragile egos, and anything that threatens their fragile sense of self is perceived as a threat. We have to understand that these men are not secure within themselves, and they rely on external validation to feel good about themselves. Therefore, when you try to challenge them to be better, they feel like you are attacking them, and they become defensive. They cannot handle criticism, and they struggle with personal growth. One of the reasons why weak men struggle with personal growth is that they are afraid of change. They are comfortable in their current ways, and they are not willing to step out of their comfort zones. They fear the unknown, and they do not want to

Invest in Men Who Invest in Themselves

Many women fall into the trap of settling for men who are not growing emotionally or mentally. So, today we're exploring the importance of investing in a partner who invests in themselves. We will look at the five warning signs that a man is not growing and why settling for less can be detrimental to your happiness. If you are ready to prioritize your own growth and fulfillment in a relationship, keep reading. Unwilling to be accountable A man who is not willing to take responsibility for his actions or mistakes is not growing. He may blame others for his problems, make excuses, or refuse to admit when he's wrong. This lack of accountability can cause major problems in a relationship, leading to mistrust, resentment, and emotional distance. If your partner is unwilling to be accountable, it's essential to have an honest conversation about how you feel and set clear boundaries. Unaware of his faults A man who doesn't recognize his faults and limitations is not growing. H

Dating After 40: Why You Deserve a Man Who's Done the Work

Women in their 40s should have a different outlook on dating than those in their younger years. As we age, our priorities should change. What once seemed like an exciting project or a new endeavor may now feel like a waste of time. We reach a point where we no longer have time for "projects." And that includes men who don't have their shit together. A man must be stable, both financially and emotionally. We've invested time and energy building ourselves up and we deserve a partner who has done the same.  Once you reach a certain age, you can no longer afford to invest your time and energy into someone who isn't on the same page as you.  You've spent years working on yourself and improving your life. You've invested time and money into your education, career, and personal growth. You've learned the importance of taking care of your physical and mental health. So why should you settle for a man who hasn't done the same? A man who has done the work is

When He Wants Your Body and Not Your Heart

There's nothing wrong with being physical with your partner, whether it's holding hands, cuddling, or kissing. However, when a man is only after your body and not your heart, he will show signs that can be easy to miss. It's important to recognize these signs to protect ourselves from being used and giving ourselves to the wrong people. If he's doing these things he may be using your for sex.  His touch is always sexual When you're in the company of a man who is only after your body, his touch will always have a sexual undertone. He'll initiate physical contact with the sole purpose of getting you into bed. You'll notice that his hand on your thigh or your shoulder will linger longer than necessary. If you're not comfortable with this type of physical contact, it's best to set boundaries with him sooner rather than later. He's not interested in intimate conversations A man who's interested in your heart will want to get to know you on a deepe

STOP Recycling Men: Here's Why You Deserve Better!

Have you ever found yourself in a relationship with a man who keeps revisiting his past, unable to detach from his old ways? Do you often feel like you're with someone who is not truly committed to growing and evolving themselves? If so, then it's time to put an end to it. Ladies, stop recycling men! Recycling is when you take an old, outdated thing, and make a new use of it. You deserve a man who is continually evolving and reinventing himself—a man who is letting go of his past, his soul ties, and his youthful mindset.  In this post, we'll explore why you deserve better and how to avoid the pitfalls of recycling men who are stuck in their old ways. You deserve a man who is ready and willing to create a completely new version of himself. Someone who is committed to shedding his old ways, letting go of soul ties, and breaking free from younger mentalities. Recycled men often come with baggage that prevents them from truly growing and evolving. And if you're with someone

Don't Date Him if He's Broke - Here's Why!

As a society, we've been taught that love knows no boundaries - not even financial ones. And while it's true that money isn't everything, it's important to recognize the impact that financial instability can have on a relationship. If you're considering dating a man who is currently broke, but still trying to date, you may want to think twice. Here are the reasons why you shouldn't date him if he's broke, and what negative effects it can have on your relationship. He's Going to Transfer Those Bad Priorities into a Relationship with You When someone is broke and still trying to date, it's a clear indication that their priorities aren't in order. If he's struggling to take care of himself financially, he's likely to prioritize instant gratification over long-term goals. This means that he may not understand the importance of saving money, setting financial goals, or investing in a shared future. If you're in a relationship with a man wh

Dating After 40: How To Approach It Differently

Age is just a number, and you're never too old to find love. But let's be real: dating after 40 can be a bit daunting. If you're single and dating in your 40s, you know that your patience, intuition, and emotional needs have changed over time, and so should your dating approach. It's important to take a step back and reevaluate your priorities before jumping back into the dating scene. Here are some tips on how to approach dating after 40. Create A List Of Priorities And Deal Breakers Before starting to look for a partner, make sure you have a clear idea of what you're looking for. Take some time to think about your priorities in a relationship. What are the qualities you want in a partner? What are your deal breakers? Things like being a cat or dog person, smoking preferences, or having kids can be important factors that determine the compatibility with a potential partner. Having a clear idea of what you want from a relationship will help you navigate the dating s

Three Reasons He Takes You For Granted: Understanding His Mindset

Sometimes we often find ourselves in situations where we feel undervalued by our significant other. We give all our love, care, and attention to make our partner happy, but sometimes, they don't reciprocate our efforts. It can be a frustrating and hurtful experience, leaving us feeling unappreciated and unwanted. But why does this happen? Why do some men take their partners for granted? Let's explore three common reasons why this could be happening and what we can do about it. Photo by Alex Green His value system makes him ignorant to your value. One of the main reasons why men take their partners for granted is that their value system differs from ours. For them, emotional support, care, and attention may not hold the same importance as it does for us. They may prioritize other aspects of life, such as their career, hobbies, or friends. They may not realize the effort that goes into maintaining a healthy relationship and undervalue the importance of emotional support. This cou