How to Choose Lottery Numbers and Win: 6 Things to Consider, Myths, and Best Lotteries

When it comes to selecting lottery numbers, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Ask five different people, and you’ll likely get five distinct methods – each person has their own unique strategy! Our experts have compiled a comprehensive guide to help you navigate the world of lottery number selection. We’ll break down six foolproof methods that could potentially increase your chances of winning, debunk common myths, and even recommend the best lotteries to play based on their odds and prize pools.

#1 Make Sure You Understand the Lottery Game Beforehand

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, both betting-related and even board games, 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. This means that your chances will be better in games where there are fewer numbers to choose from.

In general, the odds of winning are low, and no matter which numbers you end up choosing, they will all have the same odds. You have better chances to improve your scratchcard gaming sessions if you’re looking for a simpler game.

#2 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 to pick 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.

#3 Avoid Common Number Patterns

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

As we have mentioned earlier, the odds to win 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.

#4 Stick to the Same Lottery Numbers, or Don’t

Sticking to the same numbers when you play the lottery is a popular method among many players. This is a simple but popular strategy and an approach that will allow you to select numbers that you feel comfortable with, or connected to in some way. There are certain benefits that follow this kind of strategy, such as the long-term potential.

Also, once you have decided to stick with the same numbers, we think that you should keep on doing it. One of the reasons for this is that your odds will remain the same. Another good point is that it’s important to keep in mind how you would feel should you suddenly decide to go for a different range of numbers, and your original numbers would come up. That is not a situation any player would take lightly.

#5 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.

Events That Are More Likely to Happen Than You Winning the Lottery

• Dying in a tornado – 1 in 13,000,000
• Being hit by a meteor – 1 in 250,000
• Finding a four-leaf clover – 1 in 10,000
• Being born on leap day – 1 in 1,461
• Getting an Olympic medal – 1 in 662,000
• Killed in a plane crash – 1 in 11 million
• Finding a pearl in an oyster – 1 in 12,000
• Getting attacked by a shark – 1 in 3,748,067
• Being struck by lightning – 1 in 1,000,000

If you feel like buying lottery tickets is always on your mind, that might be a sign of addiction, which can turn into more serious problems. We believe it’s important for you to seek help or use responsible gambling tools like self-exclusion to help manage the issue.

#6 Look into Lottery Syndicates, or Lottery Pools

A lottery syndicate is a group of people who pool their money to purchase lottery tickets. This is another popular strategy amongst players both online and in person. If any of the tickets have the right combination on them, the prize will then be divided among all the members of the group.

It is very easy to start your very own syndicate, either with family, friends, colleagues or join in on one you find online. The advantage here is that each player will have a greater chance to have a winning ticket, but of course end up with a smaller prize seeing it is shared. In fact, a total of 20% of all lottery jackpots have been won by syndicates.

This is without a doubt the best tip, and not choosing the perfect numbers.

How Do Lottery Syndicates Work?

Being part of a syndicate will allow you to play a number of lines, which in some cases can be over 1000 lines for any amount of lotteries. Should the syndicate hold a winning ticket, then the prize will be divided among the group.

Of course, the larger the number of lines in the syndicate, the higher your chances of winning will be. Each syndicate will have a dedicated amount of shares, which means if you choose a syndicate with 100 shares available and buy one of them, you will receive a prize of 1 million euros if a 100 million euro jackpot is won. If someone has purchased two shares, then this will result in a prize of 2 million euros.

When selecting a syndicate to join, it is highly advised that you stick to organized pools to avoid any issues when a win comes up. There have been several cases, both in the US and the UK, where members have taken each other to court after disputes over shares.

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, however, there are still some very clear differences between them.

One of the most important differences to note is that by playing on 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. Of course, you can also play world-famous games such as the US Powerball or the Euromillions. 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 and not the official lottery provider.

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, making it a perfect choice for those looking for something out of the ordinary.

What is the Best Lottery to Play in UK?

In the UK you will find a wide variety of lotteries to choose from, no matter if you wish to play in-store or online. However, if having a wide selection of games is an important factor to you, then playing online is highly recommended. This will allow you to gain access to hundreds of different lotteries around the world.

In the end, the best lottery to play in the UK will completely depend on your own preferences. There is no right or wrong here, so the choice is yours.

How to Play National Lottery Games?

What players seem to love about national lotto games is that they are so simple to play. Most games follow the same setup, rules, and mechanics, making it even easier for players to switch between them.

When playing Lotto, you will be able to 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.

If you prefer to play on EuroMillions, the process is fairly similar. You start off by selecting 5 numbers between 1 and 50 and 2 additional Lucky Starts between 1 and 12. You can also choose to go for a Lucky Dip to have your numbers randomly selected for you.

Thunderball is another 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 is 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.

In the Lotto HotPicks, you will be selecting the amount of 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.

Finally, the EuroMillions HotPicks works similarly to the Lotto HotPicks where you have to select the amount of number you wish to try and match in the main draw. After choosing your numbers, selecting which days you wish to play and the amount 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.

As you can see from the games we have mentioned above, the size of the jackpots and the odds of winning, there is a clear trend going. The bigger the jackpot is, the lower the odds of winning will be.

Online Lottery Games We Like and Why

• US Powerball – The US Powerball is among the most popular and famous lotteries in the world. Jackpots from this game have previously gone up to $2 billion, which a lucky winner in California won back in 2022. The draws take place every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday with tickets at a cost of just £5 per line.
• Irish Lotto – When looking at the history of the Irish Lotto, the highest jackpot ever paid out was €19 million which happened in January of 2022, where one lucky player had the winning ticket. Draws take place every Wednesday and Saturday, with tickets costing just £2 per line.
• EuroJackpot – You will be able to play on the EuroJackpot for as little as £2 per line, with draws taking place every Tuesday and Friday. The largest jackpot to be won from this game was €120 million, where a lucky player in Denmark was the winner in July 2022.

There are a number of great reasons for playing lotteries online, such as pure convenience, security and quick notifications. Of course, one of the main reasons is that you will have access to different lotteries, making it possible to change up which game you play from time to time.

Also, different sites, such as LottoMart, offer additional features and different ways to win. These can be promotions such as giveaways, discounts on tickets, or even extra prizes.

Our Final Thoughts on Lottery Winning Numbers

In the end, no matter how you choose to pick your numbers, the goal should always be to have fun. If you are looking for the right way to select the winning combination for the game, unfortunately, there is no secret quick route. The result of any lottery is completely random and will, in reality, depend on whether you’re lucky or not.

There is no scientific evidence out there when it comes to picking the right numbers, not even from the top lottery experts. However, having a method of choosing numbers will give most players a personal and meaningful touch to the game. Of course, this will not affect the chances of winning, and the results will remain completely random, no matter your number selection.

So, among our top tips is that you should play responsibly, enjoy the game, and celebrate if you are lucky enough to win. 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.