Anyone have any formula's or theories on playing lotto scratch offs?

Question

theres got to be a way to calculate the odds...anybody got any GOOD leads,or systems to playing it.....

Answer 1

There is no system, there are no formulas.  Buying a scratch off ticket is random.  You could buy 100 tickets and win nothing, or two and win two jackpots.  It's pure chance.

Consider this though, the larger the jackpot relative to the cost of the ticket, the fewer good prizes will be offered.

A $1 ticket with a $1,000 first prize, is obviously 1,000 times the cost of the ticket.  So clearly, even making no profit, they have to print at least 999 losing tickets to make enough money for the jackpot.

A $20 ticket with a $300,000 first prize is 15,000 times the cost of the ticket.  So ignoring small prizes and profit again, they have to sell 14,999 losing tickets to raise enough for a jackpot.

So my theory is the larger the jackpot relative to the price of the ticket, the more chance you have of losing or merely winning another ticket.

Based on this theory, I would suggest that a $10 ticket with a $100,000 jackpot is probably better value than a $20 with a $250,000 jackpot.

Of course my theory will be upset by multiple jackpots and the general distribution and quantity of smaller prizes.

Answer 2

Be smart about what you play.  Newer games tend to flood the market with winners, get you hooked thinking it's a lucky game, then dry up a little bit.

Most tickets have overall odds of winning in the 1:4 to 1:5 ratio.  Most rolls of tickets (usually 100) will have 1 decent winner.  A decent winner could be defined as $15-$20.  

If you're friendly with the guy selling tickets, and he keeps an eye on what gets sold and turned in, if you know something has hit...that roll should be avoided, if it hasn't hit...now is a good time to buy.

This past week, I've had winners of $15, $30, and $75.  Not bad off 6 bucks spent to win the initial $15.

Answer 3

no system, no odds, just play and pray.