Do You Play The Lottery?

Michael Alexander · January 25, 2011, 06:59:14 AM

Patricia Lotte · January 25, 2011, 07:36:14 AM

Wish I could, but in the land of the Men in White, this is totally illegal.

Bertie Horak · January 25, 2011, 09:31:37 AM

Here's a Lotto question for the maths boff's on the forum....

Look at the results of any week's Lotto. You will see that there is on average 5 to six times more winners in the 5+bonus category, than in the jackpot (6 numbers) category.
Now here's the story....
*** If you have 5 numbers correct as well as the bonus number, you have chosen 6 numbers out of 49 correctly.
*** If you have 6 numbers correct in the jackpot, you also have chosen 6 numbers out of 49 correctly.

Now, stats people, tell me.... if in both categories you have to get 6/49 numbers correct, why, oh why, is the odds of you getting 5+bonus an incredible 5 times higher than winning the jackpot????

I worked it out, and know the answer. This is just to make you guys think a little, or let's just blame it on another conspiracy...

Michael Alexander · January 25, 2011, 09:41:56 AM

Here's last Friday's Powerball results....

Bertie Horak · January 25, 2011, 11:37:19 AM

My maths question is regarding the Lotto. The probabilities and chances work totally different in the powerball. Don't confuss the people Mike!

Patricia Lotte · January 25, 2011, 11:48:29 AM

Quote from: Bertie Horak on January 25, 2011, 11:37:19 AM
My maths question is regarding the Lotto. The probabilities and chances work totally different in the powerball. Don't confuss the people Mike!

Mike's no confusing us Bertie, you are ... what language are you writing in

Michael Alexander · January 25, 2011, 12:24:23 PM

Does'nt the Powerball work the same way?

Bertie Horak · January 25, 2011, 12:32:12 PM

Nope, in the powerball, the top category is 5 numbers plus the powerball = 6 balls. The next category is 5 balls only (without the powerball), etc.

Michael Alexander · January 25, 2011, 12:44:10 PM

That suites me just fine, as I am only playing Powerball.... Gonna fly to Ireland to visit a friend with my winings, (after Michele takes her cut!)

Rhona · January 25, 2011, 05:21:31 PM

Uhn! Not to give away any secrets but that lotto is to be split evenly down the middle before Michele takes her cut.........same goes this side of the ocean - we are a lotto-syndicate of 2

Michael Alexander · January 25, 2011, 05:37:48 PM

Yes!Yes! Off Course..... down the middle.... you better print this page out for proof when we have won and bought our yacht and started to sail to castaway island..... Sigh! Castaway Island...Now there's.....

Rhona · January 25, 2011, 05:42:40 PM

You can go sailing on your own - I have big plans for my share...............Big plans - huge!!!

Michael Alexander · January 25, 2011, 05:43:55 PM

That's a helluva lot of chocolate Mrs Wonker!

Rhona · January 25, 2011, 05:48:14 PM

My plans don't involve chocolate - they involve Beauvalon.........ssssshhhh!

Alfred Boehme · January 25, 2011, 08:00:29 PM

The Lotto machine and ball sets picked before each draw is used to allow for the lowest pay-out, the numbers and combinations played by the the public are recorded and the ball set that will give the least winning combinations is chosen - eg. the least balls chosen are slightly heavier than the rest and settle to the bottom where the rod pushes them up into the display area for the final numbers

my 5 cents, but I still play hoping to hit th 23_146_26e jackpot some day