[Nat'sChuff]

I play two tickets every week. One with my children's and my birthday, plus our average age; the other with mine and my five Grandchildren's birthdays.

[VioletSummers]

I only play occasionally, when its a big rollover such as last night.
I always get a lucky dip, I would be so gutted if I had a set of numbers, had one week where I didn't play and they came up!

[jarednjames]

Originally Posted by sallyshaw88

But the probability of two separate machines selecting the same random combination of 6 numbers is less probable

Not true at all.

A machine is more capable of picking 'random' numbers than a human.

A human will generally look at each number they chose and make a decision on what the next should be. For example they choose 10, they may not want to be 'too close' and so it affects their next choice. Or they will play 'special' numbers that mean something to them. Lowering their ability to choose a random selection. A machine suffers no such drawback and so is more capable of choosing numbers to the same 'random' level as the actual lottery draw.

Regardless, whether a human chooses the numbers or a computer, they are all independent events which do not affect each other.

The odds are that each week the same numbers could be drawn over and over and that is equally as likely to happen as a different selection occurring each week.

[tnt]

Originally Posted by jarednjames

Not true at all.

A machine is more capable of picking 'random' numbers than a human.

A human will generally look at each number they chose and make a decision on what the next should be. For example they choose 10, they may not want to be 'too close' and so it affects their next choice. Or they will play 'special' numbers that mean something to them. Lowering their ability to choose a random selection. A machine suffers no such drawback and so is more capable of choosing numbers to the same 'random' level as the actual lottery draw.

Regardless, whether a human chooses the numbers or a computer, they are all independent events which do not affect each other.

The odds are that each week the same numbers could be drawn over and over and that is equally as likely to happen as a different selection occurring each week.

If its machine that's selecting the numbers, in this case it must be computer, then who programmed it? Anyone with programming experience will know you make a machine do what ever you want it to do?

[SuperDude95]

I sometimes play the lottery.

[jarednjames]

Originally Posted by tnt

If its machine that's selecting the numbers, in this case it must be computer, then who programmed it? Anyone with programming experience will know you make a machine do what ever you want it to do?

I write software.

A random number algorithm does not suffer from the prejudices I described above regarding choosing numbers.

Although ultimately from a human programmer, the random algorithm could choose 1, 2, 3 and 4 as a sequence for the lottery where as a human would be highly unlikely to choose that because they don't believe it could ever come up.

The odds however, are equal for all combinations and independent each week. But this doesn't change the fact that if you do choose as per my description in the previous post, you are excluding certain possible combinations that are perfectly likely to come up.

If you want truly random (or as close as you can get), get a bag and choose balls randomly without looking.

1,2,3,4,5,6 is just as likely to occur as 1, 15, 19, 25, 26, 48. But people would never pick the first combination.

[Cissy Fairfax]

Sometimes

[lordOfTime]

Didn't win.

[cnbcwatcher]

I'm in Ireland so I do the Irish lotto and Euromillions every week. Usually do lucky dips (or Quick Picks they're called here).

[MartinRosen]

Originally Posted by lordOfTime

Yea but one win and you make your moneyback and then some :-)

You must have played one line for 9 weeks, to win with a profit (£10)

[lordOfTime]

Originally Posted by MartinRosen

You must have played one line for 9 weeks, to win with a profit (£10)

Totally worth it.

Nah tonight was my first play. Failed to match a single number which putting all delusions of hope aside was to be expected.

[Nat'sChuff]

Originally Posted by jarednjames

I write software.

A random number algorithm does not suffer from the prejudices I described above regarding choosing numbers.

Although ultimately from a human programmer, the random algorithm could choose 1, 2, 3 and 4 as a sequence for the lottery where as a human would be highly unlikely to choose that because they don't believe it could ever come up.

The odds however, are equal for all combinations and independent each week. But this doesn't change the fact that if you do choose as per my description in the previous post, you are excluding certain possible combinations that are perfectly likely to come up.

If you want truly random (or as close as you can get), get a bag and choose balls randomly without looking.

1,2,3,4,5,6 is just as likely to occur as 1, 15, 19, 25, 26, 48. But people would never pick the first combination.

I used to play Keno online, with varying degrees of success. For a while I was convinced the games were rigged because of the way the numbers seemed to form in clusters.

After playing a non commercial downloadable version with no money involved, I began to realise that was the nature of randomly chosen numbers to form in patterns that a human would be reluctant to choose because it seems counterintuitive.

[Hut27]

Originally Posted by blueblade

Brilliant

My wife said ,I wont know if you win as you don't do Lottery every week do you? My reply. You will know, Car will be at Norwich Airport.

[jarednjames]

Originally Posted by Nat'sChuff

I used to play Keno online, with varying degrees of success. For a while I was convinced the games were rigged because of the way the numbers seemed to form in clusters.

After playing a non commercial downloadable version with no money involved, I began to realise that was the nature of randomly chosen numbers to form in patterns that a human would be reluctant to choose because it seems counterintuitive.

Online games (along with things like slot machines and bandits) are rigged - legally - to give the house favour. At least that's how betting and casinos are operated.

But yes, you are right what you say.

[PhilH36]

I used to do one lucky dip per day on the Daily Play. I found that I averaged at least one win per week,most commonly winning either a fiver or a lucky dip for no numbers (and sometimes the £30).
On the other hand I play the same fixed numbers on the main draw each week,so since they changed it to plus5 I've basically been entering the same fixed lines into every main and plus5 draw,and find I win on plus5 far less often.

[Welsh-lad]

I play somtimes - about 10 times a year.
Always the same numbers.

[MGS4SnakeRulez]

Rarely play the actual lottery but sometimes do scratchcards. Most I've won is a fiver lol

[Crawley Cutie]

Playing the lottery is fun - if, you don't overdo it........you only need one line & - it could be You.

We have won quite a few sizeable prizes - so, definitely worth it. I do set numbers...the OH does random.

[Delboy219]

I got 4 numbers twice and won about a 100 each time. In fact, those wins came in the same month. They were lucky dips.

Nothing since though. That was about 3 years ago.

[nanscombe]

I just seem to give £2 a week, via lucky dips, to the "Good causes".

[grps3]

if you play £2 a week , i know a sure fire way to win £10 every 5 weeks

instead of buying 2 tickets per week....stick the £2 in a jar/a drawer/ anywhere you like

after 5 weeks collect your £10

[Horton]

I play from time to time. My grandad has played every week since I can remember!

I saw a man in Starbucks a few years ago with a big notebook, scouring his lottery tickets and recording the numbers that he'd played in the book. It was an A4 notebook and was over half full. I don't know why he was recording all the numbers, but it was quite sad to see. He must have lost so much money.

[nanscombe]

Originally Posted by grps3

if you play £2 a week , i know a sure fire way to win £10 every 5 weeks

instead of buying 2 tickets per week....stick the £2 in a jar/a drawer/ anywhere you like

after 5 weeks collect your £10

But the "Good Causes" charities would lose out and the likes of Sainsburys, who get enough already, would just win instead.

[Burstfire]

Originally Posted by Helbrown

Have had the same Lottery numbers since it started but go Lucky Dip on Euromillions..... The most frustrating night was when all 6 of my Lotto numbers came up - but on Lotto Extra!

This is the reason I don't play the same numbers every week, because you're sort of screwed if the 1 week you don't play they end up coming up. You would just be gutted for life!

Also if you change numbers 1 day and they came up you would also be gutted.

You're trapped haha

[MartinRosen]

Originally Posted by Burstfire

This is the reason I don't play the same numbers every week, because you're sort of screwed if the 1 week you don't play they end up coming up. You would just be gutted for life!

Also if you change numbers 1 day and they came up you would also be gutted.

You're trapped haha

I used to run a small syndicate at work. When I left, the syndicate broke up. I have never checked the numbers since and I don't think I even have a record of them.

I might have been rich by now!