How to Choose Lottery Numbers? Smart Picks & Strategies

Everyone has a lottery routine. Some may choose birthdays, lucky numbers, important dates or even random picks. But does any of it make a real difference? In this guide, we cover what actually works and what’s just superstition. Let’s see the role of odds and how you can make smarter choices!

Make Sure You Understand the Lottery Game

Before you get started on your quest to buy a winning lottery ticket, there is one thing that is very important that many seem to ignore. Just like any other game, it is important to know how to play and learn the rules before you get started.

Seeing that there are lots of lotteries to choose from, it is that much more important to get to know the one you decide to play on, as rules can vary. In addition to the rules being different, the odds will also vary between different games.

The chances of picking the numbers that will be drawn will be based on the numbers needed to win, as well as the size of the pools of options. Usually, the odds are very low, and no matter which numbers you end up choosing, they will all have the same odds. Yet, you have better chances to improve your scratchcard gaming sessions if you’re looking for a simpler game.

Decide Between Random or Meaningful Numbers

Generally, players have two main ways to approach picking their numbers. Some use the quick pick method, where random numbers are selected, either by random number generators or automatic pickers. This leaves the decision up to a machine or somebody else. Others prefer to go for meaningful numbers, which can be lucky numbers for different reasons, birthdays, anniversaries, or other numbers with a specific meaning.

Both ways of selecting numbers are equally valid, as it will not really matter in the end. Technically, the odds will remain the same no matter how you pick your lottery numbers or which set of numbers you pick.

If You Go for Random, Give Hot and Cold Numbers a Go

Many lotto players enjoy using another way to choose numbers, in this case, by having a look at previous draws. This is usually done to see the frequent winning numbers from previous draws. This way of picking lotto numbers is based on going for the “hot” numbers, rather than the “cold” numbers.

While there is no mathematical or technical reason why certain numbers seem to be picked more often than others, there is no doubt that there are certain drawn numbers that are more common. Even so, it is important to keep in mind that past results will not affect upcoming draws, and the odds will remain the same no matter what combination of numbers you select.

Avoid Common Number Patterns

When you are ready to pick your numbers, there are many who choose a number of different patterns. These can be popular patterns such as consecutive numbers or numbers that all have the same digits.

As we have mentioned earlier, the odds of winning the jackpot will remain the same, no matter which numbers you choose or whether you use patterns or not. Avoiding the patterns is about not sharing the jackpot.

As there are a number of players who choose to follow these exact ways to pick numbers, we would suggest doing the exact opposite. By avoiding such patterns, you will be able to slightly increase your chances of winning, as it will result in fewer people playing them. This also means that the jackpot will not be split among a large number of people.

Don’t Forget that the Odds Are Not in Your Favour Statistically

The odds are against you when playing the lottery, and it is important to always keep that in the back of your mind. If it were easy to win, everyone would be winning left, right, and centre. So, let’s say one of the lotteries has odds as high as 1 in 139,000,000. This means that the odds are you will probably never win.

A very important part of every lottery draw, perhaps even the most important, is to ensure that you gamble responsibly. The aim of playing the lottery should always be to focus on the fun and entertaining part, not much else. In order to ensure that you gamble responsibly, it is important to always remain in control. While famous gamblers like Niko Tosa found loopholes to improve their odds, the lottery is not a game you can rig in your favour.

Online Lottery Games: How Are They Different from the National Lottery?

A lotto game you find online technically works the exact same way as the ones you find in a national lottery. Yet, there are still some very clear differences between them.

One of the most important differences to note is that by playing online lotteries, you will have a much larger selection available. You can choose between lotteries from all over the world, including Italian, Polish, British and German lotteries. It is also important to know that when playing on online sites, you will not be purchasing a ticket in the official draw, and will instead receive your prize directly from the site.

A number of sites that offer online lotteries will even have their very own lotteries you can play on. Often, these will have an innovative and somewhat different approach than your traditional lottery. And if you look closely, you make even find casino bonuses that work for lottery games.

What is the Best Lottery to Play in the UK?

• Lotto: You choose between a quick pick or selecting your own 6 numbers. As you fill them up, additional lines and payslips will be added if you wish to play more. After this, you will be able to choose which days to play on and also for how many weeks, up to a maximum of 4 consecutive weeks. Finally, you hit “Play” and you will be good to go.
• EuroMillions: You start off by selecting 5 numbers between 1 and 50 and 2 additional Lucky Stars between 1 and 12. You can also choose to go for a Lucky Dip to have your numbers randomly selected for you.
• Thunderball: A popular lotto game, taking place four days a week. For just 1£, you can purchase your ticket and select your 5 main numbers between 1 and 39 as well as a Thunderball between 1 and 14. The jackpot you will be playing for is set at £500 000 and the odds of getting the jackpot are 1 in 8,060,598.
• Set For Life: A unique game where you can receive £ 10,000 every month for 30 years. Get started by selecting 5 numbers between 1 and 47 in addition to 1 Life Ball between 1 and 10. The game is drawn every Monday and Thursday, and you can play up to 7 lines at a time. The odds of landing the jackpot here is 1 in 15.3 million, while getting the 2nd prize is 1 in 1.7 million.
• Lotto HotPicks: You will be selecting how many numbers you wish to try to match in the main Lotto draw. By choosing fewer numbers, you will have better odds on the smaller prizes. You will be able to use the Lucky Dip or select your own numbers, select the days you wish to play and the number of weeks before you confirm your selection. Should you manage to match 5 main numbers, you will be looking at a jackpot of £ 350,000, which you have odds of 1 in 834,398 of doing.
• EuroMillions HotPicks: Works similarly to the Lotto HotPicks where you have to select how many numbers you wish to try and match in the main draw. After choosing your numbers, selecting which days you wish to play and the number of weeks, you will be ready. Here, the jackpot is at £ 1,000,000, a jackpot you have odds of 1 in 2,118,760 to win.

No matter how you choose to pick your numbers, the goal should be enjoying the game. If you are looking for the right way to select the winning combination for the game, unfortunately, there is no secret route.

So, among our top tips is that you should play responsibly and enjoy the game while it lasts. You can start out by choosing one of the best online gambling sites in the UK that also offers lottery options. One such website is Lottoland Casino, which is one of the pioneers of online lottery gaming.