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0 pointsMtinie10y ago0 comments

You'd think that, but I get the idea that you're figuring that there's a relatively even distribution of picked numbers across the entire available set.

Historically there's a higher than average representation of numbers 31 and under (birthdays, anniversaries, special events), which means that there are going to be gaps; especially now that the highest possible white number drawn has been increased to 69.

I imagine that there are lots of duplicate tickets out there, for certain number combinations, and lots of (potential) tickets with combinations that haven't been purchased.

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5 comments · 1 top-level

eric_h10y ago· 4 in thread

That's precisely why you should always let the computer pick your numbers for you - your expected value is (slightly) higher because the odds of a shared jackpot go (slightly) down.

tzs10y ago

Even better, instead of letting the lottery sales computer pick your numbers let your computer pick them, and filter out combinations that human pickers favor.

Also, once your computer has generated a set of numbers for you only play those once. If you want to play again later roll a new set of numbers.

The reason for this is that if you get into the habit of playing the same numbers every time you play, and you do not play every time, you face the possibility of seeing your numbers win a drawing you did not enter. It could be really annoying to know that you would have won if only you had bought a ticket that week.

logfromblammo10y ago

No. Don't do that. Sharing a jackpot is still better than not winning. Your EV would drop more by abandoning that part of the probability space than it would drop by the possibility of splitting the pot.

The only valid reason not to use the lottery computer's random picks would be mistrusting its random number generator.

3 more replies

digler99910y ago

Then thats precisely why you should always pick your own numbers, and specifically choose combos containing numbers above 31. You would get (slightly) better EV than even the RNG-generated ones, because those can include both +/- 31

squozzer10y ago

I prefer quick picks but for a different reason. I used to have a set of favorite numbers, but then I heard a story - urban legend most likely - about someone in Ireland who forgot to play their lucky numbers. Of course, those numbers won that time, so the now distraught Irishman committed suicide.

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