Whether you play the lottery for fun or to win a massive jackpot, choosing the best lotteries can be the key to success. It’s also important to understand the odds of winning a prize and how they differ from those of other events. Here are some ways you can boost your chances of winning the lotteries you play:
Choose a Lottery That Has Good Odds
Most lottery players think that if they play a lot of tickets, they’ll increase their odds of winning. This strategy may work for some people, but it’s not guaranteed to improve your odds. If you want to make sure your numbers have the highest chance of getting selected, choose a lottery with smaller jackpots and fewer players, says Harvard statistics professor Mark Glickman.
Find the Best Lottery Stores in Your Area
A store that sells lots of lottery tickets might seem like a logical place to buy your tickets, but it’s not always the case. While it’s hard to determine exactly how many lottery winners are selling tickets at any given time, a new analysis of lottery sales in New York has shown that certain retailers have had more luck with big winnings than others.
The best lottery stores are often ones with a long history of selling high-sales lotto tickets, according to the USA Today Network’s Albany Bureau. Its list includes liquor stores, food markets, and even bowling alleys in the Albany region that sell more than $2,000 a week in lottery tickets.
If you’re looking for a place to start, consider the largest jackpots in history and how much money was paid out in each draw. The highest lump sum amount was $636 million in 2016, while the biggest Powerball payout was $307 million in 2014.
Another way to improve your odds is by bringing investors on board, says Glickman. This method has been used to increase the odds of winning a big prize and can be a great way to build a bigger profit for your efforts.
Use “Lucky Numbers” to Boost Your Ticket
It’s not uncommon for lottery players to play their birthdays or the numbers of family members as lucky numbers. However, it’s a rare occurrence to win the big jackpot using this strategy. Generally, these numbers fall within the range of 1 to 31, and there are only six possible combinations: a birthday plus one of the family’s numbers or a birthday plus five of their numbers.
This can increase your odds by about 20%, according to Langholtz. Those who play the lottery as a hobby can benefit from this strategy by bringing friends and coworkers on board to help them purchase tickets in bulk.
Join a Syndicate
Lottery syndicates are an excellent way to increase your odds of winning a big prize. It’s a known fact that 20 percent of all lottery jackpots are won by syndicates, so it’s not a bad idea to bring people together who share your passion for the lottery.