Lottery Scratch Games

[zog]

Not really . . .

The more buying power, the bigger difference it can make.

While spending more can increase your probability of acheiving a winning ticket, your true odds do not change.

If the jackpot is $1 million, your one dollar ticket (for example) could win you the full million if you hit the right numbers. If you enter a pool of 20 players, your $1 "investment" will win a maximum of $50,000. The chances of hitting the win are (very) slightly higher but the return on your ticket is (considerably) lower.

The only way to really make money with the syndicate idea is if you take a rake off the top or (even more profitable) take the money and run. As both of these options are illegal in Canada, I am not recommending either to anyone.

 

[Fred Zed]

While spending more can increase your probability of acheiving a winning ticket, your true odds do not change.


The only way to really make money with the syndicate idea is if you take a rake off the top or (even more profitable) take the money and run. As both of these options are illegal in Canada, I am not recommending either to anyone.

There are indeed some things that you can do with the lotto numbers to improve the odds slightly. What a syndicate does is it allows you to run bigger lotto wheels
for instance. But there are other strategies that I myself have tried succesfully.
Just as recently as last week I got 6/6 ( two lines - same draw)
on Keno using a software package that I downloaded on the net. I had only been using the software for less than a week
but the basic concepts underlying the software seemed to make sense to me
What you state is theoretically true, but the reality is a little bit different, so I would say don't be intimidated by the insurmontable odds -- try different approaches and software packages or whatever intuitively makes sense to you. You never know.
.

 

[bluebinary]

For those that play regularly, which Ontario scratch games do you find gives out more small prizes more often.

One way I stumbled upon by a tip from a store owner was you can check which instant win/scratch games still have small and large prizes unclaimed. So if your looking to still win the jackpots in certain games you can actually check how many are left.

They update it weekly on the OLG Website.
Click on "Download INSTANT lotteries unclaimed prize information."
Instant Odds & Prizes

I'm not sure how to check for the Cash For Life since there are different sections, but for Ontario Instant Millions here are the latest stats as of February 22nd, 2007.

First row is the total prizes or those already claimed, and second row is
the prizes still up for grabs. Instant Millions doesn't look so good unless
your looking to pick up a $1000.

OIM
$1,000,000.00 5 2
$100,000.00 2 0
$25,000.00 3 2
$10,000.00 4 3
$1,500.00 26 10
$1,000.00 41 27
$100.00 51 19

 

[Ref]

On the front of a ticket there are usually different sized scratch areas. Are the biggest prizes only located in the large scratch areas or are they randomly printed?

I received a crossword or bingo scratch ticket at Christmas and I hated it! It took me forever to scratch the stupid thing! I would rather just scratch one box - Either you win or you don't.

BTW, the gift set I received "guaranteed" a winning ticket - there was one - for $2. I thought these tickets were random and the lottery people had no idea when or where a winning ticket was bundled?

Also, years ago I worked at a company that sponsored a winning scratch ticket in a promotion. The actual winning ticket was identified and it was placed in a random package on a skid of tickets and photographed.

 

[goalie000]

SO, likes the Bingo and Crosswords, most she ever won was $50. The first time I ever heard of anyone winning the $50,000 from a Bingo card was in this thread.

 

[Fred Zed]

SO, likes the Bingo and Crosswords, most she ever won was $50. The first time I ever heard of anyone winning the $50,000 from a Bingo card was in this thread.

Go up to the Lottery Office at he Atrium on Bay..you will find quite a few people cashing in winning scratch tickets. Bad as the odds of winning are, some people seem to win.

 

[Scenicdrive]

Go up to the Lottery Office at he Atrium on Bay..you will find quite a few people cashing in winning scratch tickets. Bad as the odds of winning are, some people seem to win.

Don't ask the good doc why but some people are luckier than others. *Wink, wink* LOL!!!

 

[Keebler Elf]

There's absolutely nothing wrong with playing the lottery, unless you have a gambling addiction or you're deluded about your chances of winning. Most people play the lottery for a chance to win. Which is exactly what they have. They don't expect to win and they don't think they have good odds. People saying, "Oh, you're wasting your money. Do you know what your odds of winning are?" are completely missing the point. Everything people do in life doesn't have to be rational. And it isn't. When I play the lottery, I'm paying for a brief fantasy about what I'd do with the money if I won. The (slim) chance of winning is just a bonus.

But I'll tell ya, if I ever won the lottery, the first peoples' faces I'd be waving the ticket in front of would be the naysayers who nagged about odds and probabilities.

 

[Scenicdrive]

There's absolutely nothing wrong with playing the lottery, unless you have a gambling addiction or you're deluded about your chances of winning. Most people play the lottery for a chance to win. Which is exactly what they have. They don't expect to win and they don't think they have good odds. People saying, "Oh, you're wasting your money. Do you know what your odds of winning are?" are completely missing the point. Everything people do in life doesn't have to be rational. And it isn't. When I play the lottery, I'm paying for a brief fantasy about what I'd do with the money if I won. The (slim) chance of winning is just a bonus.

But I'll tell ya, if I ever won the lottery, the first peoples' faces I'd be waving the ticket in front of would be the naysayers who nagged about odds and probabilities.

Indeed!!! What a piece of existential thinking!!! Very close to 'A Dollar & A Dream' theory. It can be very inexpensive fantasy entertainment. LOL!!! Although the good doc will not say all those who use mathematical models and wheeling techniques are delusional. Perhaps they are more serious and optimistic about winning but nonetheless non-delusional. Now, may the good doc invite Freddie to jointly invent a time machine to identify all future jackpot winning numbers? Would that be delusional rationalism??? Lets rephrase that. How about 'Logic in Fantasy Land' or 'Alice In Wonderland, Lotto Style'??? LOL!!!

 

[itsallgood]

Every scratch ticket has a letter on it if you win
A triangle if you loose
The grand prize has the triangle upside down


Most I ever won was 50 bucks on a bingo ....when they first came out
I agree the pick 3 is ok I won 6 times a few years ago in one year .4 of those times were from numbers I picked the nite before for the first time .Other 2 were my regular numbers .My friend played all year the same numbers and is in the whole.

Just to clarify the above quote. Prizes up to $ 200 ( $200 are the letters BB )have letters. Any prize beyond that do not have letters but have double triangles with the apex on top including the grand prize. Double triangles with the apex on the bottom are non winners