Does Quick-Picking Your Lottery Numbers Help You Win? (2024)

Are You More Likely to Win If You Choose Your Own Lottery Numbers?

When you buy tickets for lotteries like Powerball or Mega Millions, you have a choice to make. You need to decide whether to select your own numbers or use Quick Pick, which lets a computer randomly select numbers for you.

But which choice is better? Are you more likely to win the lottery if you use one method over the other?

The Argument for Quick Picking Lottery Numbers

Using Quick Pick has an obvious advantage: It's quick. If you just want to get in the game and have the chance of winning a jackpot, Quick Pick is fast, convenient, and will have you on your way in a flash. You don't have to consider which numbers to play and you don't have to spend time filling in dozens of numbers on the form.

Another thing that Quick Pick has going for it is that lottery numbers are random and so are the numbers Quick Pick draws. By trying to outguess the computer by choosing your own numbers, you could actually be lowering your odds.

Why? People tend to react emotionally to numbers, "liking" some and "disliking" others. People tend to pick the numbers they like, while computers have no bias.

Furthermore, humans are likely to pick numbers that mean something to them, such as birth dates or anniversaries. That means that some numbers are selected more often than others (especially numbers that fall in the range of 1 - 31, since they correspond to dates). If you win with a commonly-used number, the chances are higher that you'll have to split your jackpot.

The Argument for Choosing Your Own Lottery Numbers

So Quick Pack has some advantages, but so does choosing your own numbers.

Many people enjoy having control over the numbers that they buy. They may feel closer to a loved one by playing their birth date or they may find that playing a lucky hunch or have more fun finding lucky numbers.

Self-pickers also have the ability to avoid the most commonly-played numbers. If all numbers have the exact same chance of being drawn, then you can at least narrow the odds of having to share your jackpot if you win by picking the most rarely-selected numbers, something that Quick Pick won't do for you. Quick Pick won't prioritize lottery numbers that give you higher chances of winning the whole pot.

Another thing that Quick Pick can't do is to ensure you choose unique numbers across tickets. There's no guarantee that your Quick Picked lottery numbers won't repeat themselves. With (very!) bad luck, a Quick Pick could even end up with two tickets with the exact same numbers on them — a waste of money that won't happen when you choose your own numbers. The Quick Pick is likely to generate the same random numbers for other lottery players, too.

Some people believe that they can use a system to crack the lottery. To try your luck with a lottery system like wheeling, analyzing the probability of numbers being drawn, or following recommendations from lottery software, you need to pick your own numbers.

Quick Pick Versus Self-Pick: Which Is Better?

If there were a clear way to get better chances of winning the lottery, everyone would use it. That the debate over Quick Pick versus self-pick exists at all indicates there's no clear winner.

If you are going strictly by the numbers, more Quick Pickers than self-pickers win lottery jackpots. About 70% of lottery winners used Quick Pick to choose their numbers. But then again, about the same percentage of all lottery players — about 70% - 80% — use Quick Pick to select their numbers. So it seems that about the same percentage of people win using each method.

It really boils down to what makes the most sense for you. If you have fun poring over numbers to find a pattern, then coming up with a system might be right for you. If it makes you smile to play your children's birthdays, then play them! Even splitting a jackpot is better than not winning at all.

If you just want to grab a few tickets while you are picking up milk at your local convenience store or you want to buy a batch of tickets for your office lottery pool, Quick Pick is a solid option.

Most important is to make sure that if you do play the lottery, you set a budget that you can afford and never go above it. The chance of winning a huge lottery jackpot isn't worth blowing your rent or grocery money on tickets.

Does Quick-Picking Your Lottery Numbers Help You Win? (2024)

FAQs

Does Quick-Picking Your Lottery Numbers Help You Win? ›

Chances of winning the lotto between playing quick picks or selecting your own numbers are both equal. “Around 70 to 80 percent of Powerball players use Quick Pick tickets, and the same percentage of winning entries are Quick Picks,” one report said.

Do lottery winners win more with quick picks? ›

You need to search for whether your numbers are a good set of numbers to win the lottery. Remember, every number has an equal chance of winning. Don't go for quick-pick numbers. Your chance of winning may not be high if the machines pick the number for you.

Are you more likely to win with a quick pick or your own numbers? ›

Picking your own numbers doesn't change the odds of winning. But, picking random numbers does increase the odds that if you win, no one else wins.

Is it better to do a quick pick or pick your own numbers for Mega Millions? ›

A: As all numbers are equally likely the chances of winning are the same whether you make the choice yourself or have the computer do it. There is one more thing to consider: you not only would like to win you would like to be the only winner so you do not have to split the jackpot.

What are the 6 most common winning lottery numbers? ›

The most frequently appearing Powerball numbers are: 1, 26, 18, 10, 10, 2, 12, 11, 9, 6 and 20.

How many people win the lottery with quick picks? ›

If you are going strictly by the numbers, more Quick Pickers than self-pickers win lottery jackpots. About 70% of lottery winners used Quick Pick to choose their numbers. But then again, about the same percentage of all lottery players — about 70% - 80% — use Quick Pick to select their numbers.

How many people won with quick pick? ›

Odds of Winning

Around 70 to 80 percent of Powerball players use Quick Pick tickets, and the same percentage of winning entries are Quick Picks. This shows that regardless of whether players choose to select their own numbers or not, the odds of winning remain the same.

Do quick picks ever win Mega Millions? ›

Which Option Is Better? The odds of winning the lottery will stay the same regardless of whether you use Quick Pick or not.

How do you increase your chances of winning Mega Millions? ›

But, as Chen and other mathematics experts have said, there are no numbers, combinations, or methods to give you a better chance at the Mega Millions jackpot. You can, however, increase your chances by simply buying more tickets.

What is the best time to buy a lottery ticket? ›

When the jackpot gets large, it is a better time to buy the lottery. But it will never become a rational investment (with positive expected return) due to the lotto mania created by these large jackpots! Moreover, the more tickets sold, the more likely the winner will have to split the prize with others.

What are the most common winning lottery numbers? ›

11 - Drawn 28 times. 18 - Drawn 27 times. 9 - Drawn 27 times. 13 - Drawn 27 times.

Has the same lottery numbers ever won? ›

In dozens of the games across the United States, identical winning numbers have been generated within weeks or months of each other — sometimes in consecutive drawings, a Des Moines Register investigation shows.

What are the 5 most common Powerball numbers? ›

News Across the U.S.
  • 61 - Drawn 83 times.
  • 32 - Drawn 82 times.
  • 63 - Drawn 75 times.
  • 23 - Drawn 74 times.
  • 69 - Drawn 74 times.
  • 36 - Drawn 74 times.
  • 21 - Drawn 74 times.
  • 59 - Drawn 73 times.
Feb 22, 2023

What are the top 5 luckiest numbers? ›

In the Realm of Numerology, the Five Luckiest Numbers are Considered to be 3, 7, 9, 11, and 13.

What are the top 6 hot numbers for Mega Millions? ›

But some players will look at the statistics and try to choose the numbers that come up most often. According to LottoNumbers.com, the most drawn Mega Millions numbers are 31, 17, 39, 48, 4 and 10. The most drawn Mega Ball number is 3.

Is it better to pick your own numbers for Powerball? ›

"There is a common misconception that the odds of winning differ depending on whether you choose your own numbers or go for a Quick Pick," Powerball.net reports. "That is not true; your chances of winning are exactly the same in both cases."

How much does the $2 billion lottery winner get after taxes? ›

If you add the 24% withholding tax plus the 13% extra tax the winner will pay April 15 together, you get a federal tax of $369.1 million. The winner takes home $628.5 million after federal tax. Then, depending on whether the winner's state taxes lottery winnings, he may have to add state taxes too.

What is the best way to win Powerball? ›

  1. Avoid "quick-pick" The "quick-pick" method works in number sets, which means every number doesn't have the same amount of luck one would perceive. ...
  2. Use the entire board. Many people use birthdates and anniversaries when filling out their cards. ...
  3. Stick with your instincts. ...
  4. Be consistent. ...
  5. Don't get carried away.
Oct 16, 2018

Which lottery has best odds? ›

THE BEST WORLDWIDE LOTTERY ODDS
WORLDWIDE LOTTERY ODDS
German Lotto1:139,838,160
Powerball (US)1:292,201,338
MegaMillions (US)1:302,573,350
SuperEnalotto (Italy)1:622,614,630
15 more rows

What is more likely than winning Mega Millions? ›

Getting a perfect NCAA bracket (if you just guess) How's this for a mind-blowing fact: You are 30.4 billion times as likely to win the Mega Millions than you are to get a perfect NCAA bracket, if you just guess or flip a coin to determine your teams. That's right, billion with a “B.”

Are lottery numbers truly random? ›

Lottery ball blowing machines are random but they are not equally random. Each ball is different and has a slightly different chance of being chosen. If there are 100 balls, some balls might have a 1.00001% chance while others a . 99998% chance of being selected.

What is 1.9 billion after taxes? ›

Due to inflation, the federal income tax brackets for 2023 have been adjusted upward. After these taxes are levied on the $1.9 billion, the winner could be left with $492.9 million of the total amount, according to CNBC.

What if you get the Mega Ball only? ›

What happens if you match the Mega Ball only? If you match just the Mega Ball (and don't match any of the 5 regular numbers), you win a $2 prize and break even on the $2 cost of your Mega Millions ticket.

What are my odds of winning the Powerball if I buy 100 tickets? ›

It's easy to understand why players might splurge on tickets, experts said. "But if you buy 100 tickets — which will cost you $200 — your odds are still only 1 in 2,920,000," said George Loewenstein, an economics and psychology professor at Carnegie Mellon University.

Should you buy lottery tickets from different locations? ›

Many people try to buy their tickets at a store where large jackpots have been won before. But that will do you no good. USC math professor Ken Alexander says past success means nothing. The odds any given store will produce a winner are only related to how many tickets it sells.

Who won the lottery 7 times? ›

Publicity. Lustig's seven lottery wins has been featured on the financial web site CNN Money. His book Learn How to Increase Your Chances of Winning the Lottery was ranked #3 on Amazon's self-help book list in 2013.

Are lottery tickets a good investment? ›

A $2.00 ticket gets you a chance at a very high rate of return. But, since your chances of winning the lottery are extremely small no matter how many tickets you buy, buying additional tickets is not a good investment. An infinitesimal chance multiplied by two or even six is still infinitesimal.

How can I increase my chances of winning the lottery? ›

Buy More Tickets

Buying more tickets might have the most significant impact on your lottery odds. It's elementary math. If each ticket has a 1 in 100,000,000 chance of hitting the lottery, then playing 100 tickets improves the odds to 1 in 1,000,000.

Has anyone ever won the lottery choosing their own numbers? ›

Chances of winning the lotto between playing quick picks or selecting your own numbers are both equal. “Around 70 to 80 percent of Powerball players use Quick Pick tickets, and the same percentage of winning entries are Quick Picks,” one report said.

Are most lottery winners random? ›

In general, most jackpot winners come from quick picks, in which players opt to have the machine choose their numbers randomly rather than picking numbers themselves.

Has anyone ever won Powerball twice? ›

Winning the lottery once is already super rare, but winning twice is even less likely. While it's possible (and has been done before in some respects), no one has ever won the Mega Millions or Powerball more than once. You can enhance your odds but can't expect to win regardless.

What are the most overdue Powerball numbers? ›

The top five most-frequently drawn red balls are Nos. 29, 6, 29, 2 and 18. LottoNumbers.com also keeps track of the numbers that don't get called as often. The "most overdue numbers" are 1, 3, 35, 24, 51 and 8.

What are the least picked numbers in the lottery? ›

When it comes to the least common numbers, those include 51, 49, 35, 55 and 5. The Mega Ball that has reportedly been drawn the least is 7.

What are the 9 ways to win Powerball? ›

The nine possible winning combinations are as follows, starting from the smallest, and thus the highest odds of winning.
  • The Powerball - $4. ...
  • 1 number plus the Powerball – still $4. ...
  • 2 numbers plus the Powerball - $7. ...
  • 3 numbers - $7 again. ...
  • 3 numbers plus the Powerball - $100. ...
  • 4 numbers - $100.

What is the luckiest number of all time? ›

Perhaps part of the answer lies in a seminal paper published in 1956 by the psychologist George A Miller called “The Magical Number Seven, Plus or Minus Two”. Miller claims that it is more than just coincidence that the number 7 seems to be all around us.

What is the lucky number to become rich? ›

Money number 6 in numerology

Considered to be the money attracting number, people falling under this will have the most luck when it comes to monetary wealth. You will probably get a huge sum by inheritance.

What is the lucky month? ›

May babies might be born lucky.

your little one might already have all the good juju they need! A 2004 study revealed that people born in May consider themselves luckier than those born in other months.

What are hot numbers in the lottery? ›

Hot numbers are the numbers that are drawn most often in any given lottery in any given time frame.

What are the numbers 1 to in Mega Millions? ›

Players may pick six numbers from two separate pools of numbers - five different numbers from 1 to 70 (the white balls) and one number from 1 to 25 (the gold Mega Ball) - or select Easy Pick/Quick Pick.

What happens if you get 5 numbers in Mega Millions? ›

Five numbers - $1 million.

How often do quick picks win Powerball? ›

Yes, quick picks have won the Powerball, although the odds of matching all the Powerball numbers for any given ticket are about 1 in 292 million. However, it does happen; the biggest Powerball jackpot ever, worth $1.

Does buying more Powerball tickets increase your odds? ›

Does buying more tickets increase odds? Does buying more tickets increase your odds? Yes. If you buy five tickets with different numbers, you are five times more likely to win than buying just one.

Which lottery ticket wins the most? ›

The most amount of wins came from the $1 scratch-off tickets, but that is because $1 tickets were the most common type of lottery ticket by a wide margin.

Has anyone ever won the set for life scratchers? ›

The California Lottery said on Wednesday that Mary Higelin bought a Set for Life Millionaire Edition Scratchers ticket from CN Liquor in Norco, California.

How do you win Mega Millions guaranteed? ›

Some players play special, "lucky" numbers and others like to spread their money around, but Glickman says there's only one way to be certain you have a winning ticket: Buy every possible combination. At a price of $2 per ticket, playing every possible number would require an initial investment of $605,150,700.

Is there a method to winning the lottery? ›

Lottery experts agree that the number one way to boost your chance of getting a winning ticket is to just get more tickets. Even though the probability of winning the lottery is low in general, the greater the amount of tickets you have, the more likely it is that one of these tickets will be the winner.

Do most lottery winners choose their numbers? ›

In general, most jackpot winners come from quick picks, in which players opt to have the machine choose their numbers randomly rather than picking numbers themselves. For example, there have been a dozen winning Powerball tickets sold in Florida since 2009.

What is the luckiest number for Powerball? ›

24 - Drawn 45 times. 18 - Drawn 43 times. 10 - Drawn 37 times.

What happens if you get all 5 numbers but not the Powerball? ›

If you match five Powerball numbers but not the Powerball and chose a Power Play option on your ticket, your prize automatically doubles regardless of the number that comes up in the Power Play drawing.

Is there a trick to playing the Powerball? ›

The best way to increase your odds of winning the Powerball is to buy more tickets. The more tickets you buy, the higher your chances are of winning the jackpot.

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