anyone play the s.c. lottery and powerball? (Fort Mill, Clover: buying, live in)

[naeem5]

better to pick your own numbers?
how?
same ones each week?

let the machine pick your numbers?
That is what I did today on a $1 ticket.
Numbers are 2-17-27-37-47.
Those last 4 numbers being what they are, do not "look" random.
They might as well given me a 7 instead of the 2.

how do you choose numbers if you do play the powerball occasionally?

[rdub1968]

This guy just won 258 million doing the easy pick in Missouri.

Missouri Powerball winner Chris Shaw only had $28.96 in the bank when he won $258 million | jacksonville.com

I have never played any lotteries in my life, but something has been telling me to play once in a while.

[naeem5]

Well, since no one needs 258 million, my rule change would be 258 one million dollar winners giving everyone a better chance.

That guy won in recent weeks, as the new one is up to about 40 million.

When I let the machine pick my numbers they just don't look random. And when I think to pick my own numbers I wonder how to approach it.

What really smells like fish is the prize list. If you get all 5 numbers (ex powerball number) you win a decent $200,000. However, if you get a VERY MIRACLE OCCURRING 4 out of 5 you only win $100.
Serious dropoff in payout. 4 out of 5 should pay more than $100. You were 1 number from $200,000 and 2 numbers from multi millions? Too bad 5 of 5 doesn't pay $300,000 so 4 of 5 could pay $100,000. A measely $100 for 4 of 5 numbers is against the odds. 4 out of 5 are harder to pick than that.

[DCtransplant]

I used to sell lottery tickets and was told by the SCEL rep that the high majority of poweball winners are from tickets where the machine picked the numbers. I don't honestly think it makes any difference. There is a reason it is gambling and I'm not sure there is any "better" way to pick your numbers.

Just have fun with it and cross your fingers. :-)

[naeem5]

I always right down the name of the clerk who sold me the ticket so I can give them some of any winnings.

My number is 2-17-27-37-47 . just does not seem random. The odds against 17-27-37-47 are very high, but the machine gave it to me.

[CMPX2]

I got tired of throwing my money away a few weeks after I turned 18 and haven't bought another ticket. That was 15 years ago.

[DipDog3]

Just let the machine pick the numbers, because if you pick the same numbers every time, the one time you don't, those numbers will win....

[Jeff in Indian Land]

Originally Posted by naeem5

My number is 2-17-27-37-47 . just does not seem random. The odds against 17-27-37-47 are very high, but the machine gave it to me.

The odds of your combination are no higher than any other combination of the white balls.

The probability of the 5 balls will always be 59 x 58 x 57 x 56 x 55, since the same number cannot be chosen twice as a white ball.

The interesting aspect is that the "official" odds on the Powerball website state the odds of a match at 1 in 5 million.

The correct odds are more along the lines of 1 in 600 million, but the PB folks use a little creative accounting to skew the probabilities, under the assumption that some combinations of white and red balls may entitle the player to an even bigger cash prize:

" A common complaint is that our odds are wrong. Sure, the odds of matching 1 red ball out of 39 are 1 in 39, but we are not giving those odds. We give the odds for winning a prize for matching one red ball ALONE. If you match the red ball and one or more white balls, you win some other prize, but not this prize. The odds of matching one red ball ALONE are less than 1 in 39 because there is some risk that you will also match one or more white ball numbers.

" Some persons who enjoy statistics (they do really exist) will come up with odds of 1 in 17 billion for the jackpot prize. Remember that you don't need to match the numbers in exact order - we use combinations to determine the probabilities for the first five white balls and not permutations. "

(the above quote is from Powerball - Contact )

If it's any consolation, the multiplier for the powerplay option will be up to 10x during the month of May.

[IBrakeforTailgaters]

I know this sounds crazy, but I live in NC but I would buy lottery tickets in SC because there were Powerball winners in Fort Mill and Clover some years back. I figured I'd have better luck if I purchased in the Palmetto State.

Well, I was wrong. I don't mind buying a ticket every now and then, but that's about it. Sometimes I see numbers in my head, but mostly I let the machine pick them.

[naeem5]

numbers drawn may 12th....
[CENTER]May 12, 2010[/CENTER]
37 - 51 - 52 - 53 - 58 - 38 PowerPlay:2
odds against 51-52-53 being drawn are incredible.