Playing the lottery is fun and easy, but it also comes with a head-scratching question. Should you pick your own numbers or use Quick Picks? Which is luckier?
Many participants tend to lean towards choosing the same set of digits in every draw. These digits often revolve round important dates in the participant’s life, such as an anniversary or a birthday. Only participants can also opt for the Quick Picks option which automatically generates their digits. This leads EuroLotto to ask – is one method luckier than the other?
Should you pick your own numbers or use Quick Picks? What do the odds say?
According to Powerball officials, the Quick Picks option is the most popular way of purchasing tickets with an estimated 70% to 80% of participants opting to do this. Per the common law of averages, this signifies that most jackpot-winning tickets come from Quick Picks.
Quick Picks generate numbers completely randomly, giving players better winning odds of covering the digits’ matrix in a lottery draw. Given that most special numbers picked are limited to calendar dates and therefore chosen from a smaller pool of 1 to 31. There is an increased chance that, should your winning numbers come up, the probability is you’ll be sharing the top prize.
Players going for Quick Picks option are less likely to share their fortune, it’s important to add that Quick Picks are not necessarily distinctive and it is entirely possible for the same batch of digits to be randomly picked for other players. Once such occurrence took place on August 7 2013, when the $448 million (€417 million) Powerball jackpot was split amongst three winners – two of which, had played by opting for the Quick Picks option.
Another good reason for opting for the Quick Pick option is that totally random numbers are generated for each draw, somewhat aiding in the anticipation for some players. Participants who play the same numbers weekly, often become disinterested by time, making them more likely lo misplace or lose their tickets and in some cases, it has resulted in players not checking the winning numbers from each draw.
Take the example of the unfortunate UK player, Martyn Tott, who missed out on £3 million (€3.5 million) by failing to check his numbers after every draw. It wasn’t until almost six months later that his partner realised the winning numbers were the same numbers they’ve used in every draw. Those very numbers had come up after a special appeal was made on TV.
Their bad luck continued when they failed to store their ticket safely and couldn’t find it. Despite UK lottery officials confirming that the couple did, own the winning ticket at one point, they denied their appeal for a pay-out on their multi-million windfall since Tott was unable to present the winning ticket as proof of purchase.
Players who pick their own numbers can sometimes be affected by situations beyond their control. When MegaMillions made rule changes to its Mega Number pool which saw the reduction of the numbers’ pool from 1 to 46 to 1 to 15, it upset many players who were used to the original numbers’ system.
The Verdict
So, should you pick your own numbers or use Quick Picks?. One thing is for certain, there are both advantages and disadvantages with either method. What is guaranteed however, is that winning is a matter to luck – plain and simple. You may have your preference when it comes to purchasing lottery tickets, but as to which option is luckiest? The jury is still out.
Whichever option you prefer to play lottery with, EuroLotto offers a range of the wold’s biggest and best lotteries in the world. Click here to find out more
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