The Greatest Myths About Lotteries Explained

Author: Neha Agrawal

There are many myths about lotteries that people may believe in. Some are undoubtedly true, while others are pure folly. It is important, however, that you recognise the difference between the ones that are true and the ones that are absolute nonsense.

One myth, or personal belief, that is neither true nor false, however, is the one about your special chosen lottery numbers. Some people have played the same lottery numbers for years and having not won a penny have decided to change their numbers. Lo and behold, as soon as they have done that, their original and now discarded numbers come up for the jackpot.

While this has undoubtedly happened, and many people say it has happened to them, there is no actual evidence of this having occurred. Because of this, we can not say it is true, nor can we claim it is false. But if you wish to avoid potentially kicking yourself stupid, once you have chosen a set of lottery numbers to play with, don’t change them. For that matter, don't ever miss a week either, as this amounts to the same thing. If you happen to be playing in a pool, you will almost certainly be destroyed by your workmates if you forget the lottery numbers for that week.

Now, the myth that states that you lessen your chances of winning the lottery with 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 selected on your lottery ticket is absolute nonsense. It is a simple matter of probability. A lottery draw consists of say thirty five to fifty numbers. All are put into the draw once, so each number has exactly the same chance of appearing as every other number.

Therefore, every sequence of lottery numbers drawn has exactly the same chance of winning. The truth is, you are just as likely to win with 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, as you are with 12, 25, 34, 47, and 49, or any other combination of lottery numbers. It only seems improbable that 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 would come out in your head, in actuality there is an equal chance on all number combinations.

There are a number of other myths that surround the lottery. Some examples are that you have greater odds of being struck by lightning than winning the lottery. Or that all lottery winnings are taxed. Some also say that only less well off, poorer, people play lotteries, that if you don’t win you have wasted your money, and that lottery drawings are rigged to create big jackpots, through rollovers, to entice more people to play the lottery.

These myths are all nonsense and completely unfounded. Research has shown that more people won the lottery in a year than were struck by lightning, that most lotteries are tax-free, and that poor people (based on household income) only account for roughly 42% of lottery ticket purchasers.

Research also shows most lottery players play for excitement as well as money, and that lotteries are drawn via random machines, not people who might rig the game. Unfortunately, most people only stop believing in the myths when they actually win a big lottery jackpot for themselves.