The drawing of lots to determine ownership or other rights has been around for centuries. In the United States, lotteries have been used to raise money for towns, wars, colleges, and public-works projects. They contribute billions to state coffers every year. But winning the lottery is very unlikely, even for people who play regularly.
Despite the odds, many people buy lotto tickets each week. Some play for fun, while others believe it is their only chance at a better life. I’ve talked to a lot of lottery players—people who have been playing for years and spending $50 or $100 a week. They defy my expectations about their irrational gambling behavior. They have quote-unquote systems that are completely unrelated to statistical reasoning, about lucky numbers and lucky stores and what types of tickets to buy and when. They know their odds are long, but they also have this gnawing feeling that somebody has to win eventually.
If you want to play the lottery, I recommend that you find out the expected value of a ticket. This is the probability that you will win if you purchase a ticket and your odds of winning are 1 in 100. You can calculate this using the calculator on the official lottery website. Then, consider whether the ticket is worth purchasing. If you’re not sure, try experimenting with scratch off tickets. Chart the “random” outside numbers that repeat and pay special attention to singletons—digits that appear only once on a ticket.
