Do people who win the lottery win more by choosing their own numbers or letting the computer do it for them?

Question

I want to know it it is better for me to pick my own numbers for the lottery or to let the computer pick them for me. How did the people who won choose their numbers?

Answer 1

It makes no difference on your chance to win. It does slightly effect your winnings if you do win, but it has no effect whatsoever on your chances of winning.

The reason is simply that while all numbers are equally likely to be winners, not all numbers are equally chosen. If you choose numbers that other people are more likely to choose (like 7), if you do win, you are statistically likely to share your winning with more people, leading to a smaller share for you. Common 'lucky' numbers are more frequently chosen, as are numbers below 31 (since they may be people's days of birth, anniversary, and so on).

Answer 2

Neither, of course.  The odds of winning with any set of numbers are exactly the same from set to set.  They do not change based upon who picked the numbers.  This is basic statistics and chance mathematics.  No shortcuts!!   :-)

Answer 3

It's better to let the computer pick and I will tell you why.

I suspect those who pick their own numbers win slightly more than others but this is only because these people are more likely to play every draw for an extended period of time(years/decades). Picking your own numbers does nothing to change the odds.

Also picking regular numbers is much more addictive than letting the computer pick them. What if your numbers come up this week and you didn't buy a ticket?...How could you live with yourself?