Why lottery systems work?

I've got lazy and didn't let you know the final result of my challenge. Remember I bet with a guy over the internet that I am going to get more second prizes than him using the same amount of money. He used $200 for a "Cash 5" game and didn't manage to get any second prize (4 numbers on the same row) for 200 draws in a row. Instead of using random numbers I used a few lottery systems and, as I let you know, I managed to catch 5 second prizes and the challenge was not over at the time. Now it's over (it stopped a few months ago) and meantime I managed to get another 3 second prize winners. So in total I've got 8 second prize winners compared to zero for the other guy. You can argue that I've got lucky once or twice but 8 times compare to nothing can't be a coincidence. If you don't believe me do the same thing, pick some random numbers or use some of the systems I presented on this site and see which one is going to get you more results. 

The question you may ask is WHY lottery systems work? The answer it's easy: mathematics. Let's say I am choosing the 15 numbers system I show you in the other posts. If you want to play all the combinations  possible you need to play 15*14*13*12*11/1*2*3*4*5 which is 3,003. You need to spend 3,003 dollars to play all these combinations. This is a huge amount of money. Of course if 5 numbers draw are among the 15 you chose you are guaranteed the jackpot. But if you miss a number you are going to get say 5-10 second prizes valued at around 100 each. But you can miss 2-3 or all 5 numbers and you lost a huge amount of money for only one draw. Instead of using 3,003 dollars to play all the combination possible out of 15 chosen numbers you can pick a lottery system that let's you play the same 15 numbers but in a reduced form using, 15, 27 or 118 dollars. The beauty of the lottery systems is that you use very little money compared with he original amount but the chances to get the second or the third prizes is not diminished considerable. How is this possible?

Assume you pick the first 15 numbers. If you play the full system you will have the following combinations;

1) 1-2-3-4-5
2) 1-2-3-4-6
3) 1-2-3-4-7
... and so on.

As you can see 1-2-3-4 is going to appear 11 times and the same goes for any other 4 numbers combination. When you are designing the system you can ask to computer that no given 4 number combination should appear more than once. So your reduced system is going to cost you 11 times less, yet the second prize is guaranteed. The systems I used for my challenge were cheaper, I spent only 27 dollars for 15 numbers system. These system actually guarantees only the third prize (3 numbers on the same line), yet I managed to get 4 numbers in a row (second prize) a few times. I also used a 10 numbers system that guarantees the second prize.  

I know in principle how this systems are created but but I don't know enough programing so I can create them myself. If you know programing and you can explained in a language I understand a little bit (C or Perl) I'll be grateful. 

I don't encourage anybody gambling since the odds are against you but if you do play lottery play reduced systems, if you go to a casino learn the rules and play blackjack (or poker if you're good), if you put money in stock market learn a little bit of technical analysis.

Another winner

I haven't check my numbers for a while and I was pleasantly surprised to see that on July 9th I've got the fifth "second prize" winner at "Cash 5". The winning numbers were:  2   4   6   23   30. I've got four of them (2, 6, 23, 30) in system number 3), play 18.

I've also got many "third prizes" winners (3 numbers in a row) but I don't count them anymore since the point was to get at least one "second prize" winner.

I am working on two expensive systems but with good chances at winning.

All the best!

babaro

Fourth second prize

The challenge continues, almost 3 months left and I already hit the second prize for the 4th time. The numbers drawn at "Cash 5" (Pennsylvania lottery) on Friday, June 10th were:

1-10-16-30-31.

I've got 4 numbers (1-10-30-31) in two different systems, system 6) and system 8). In system 8) I managed to get only 3 numbers on the same line. However, on system 6) I've got all of them in one line (play 14). This is for the 4th time I am getting 4 numbers out of 5 and I think I already proved my point that is much better to play a system than random numbers.

I've hit the second prize!

As you remember three months ago I accepted a challenge, that I am going to hit the second prize at "Cash 5" a game that picks 5 random numbers out of 43. The idea was to prove a point, that you have a better chance to get a lottery prize if you play a reduced lottery system than just randomly picking some numbers. The guy that challenged me said that he randomly picked 200 sets of 5 numbers between 1 and 39 and watched them for two years and never managed to get 4 numbers on the same line (the second prize). I told him that I can use the same $200 but play them my way, using a few reduced lottery systems and I am going to hit the second prize. Since "California cash 5" was played twice a week, that would mean I was going to watch my numbers for 200 consecutive draws. The odds were actually against me, since my "Cash 5" has 43 numbers, not 39. To make it a little bit more fair I decided to watch my numbers for an extra 50 draws. Even this way the odds were against me.

Anyway, a few days ago (on March 28) I've got TWO second prizes on "Cash 5", a Pennsylvania lottery game. The numbers were: 3, 7, 10, 16, 37.

You can have a look at the article published on January ("I accept the challenge"). Those of you who watched the challenge and saved the numbers as I adviced you back then so I cannot be accused of cheating realize now that it's for real. Of course one can argue that this doesn't prove anything, it was just luck. So I am going to push my "luck" further and say that I am going to hit at least one second prize by the end of the 250 draws.

Please note that I've got many more third and fourth prizes. Yet, the losses are devastating so far and if I don't hit the jackpot I am going to lose (this is only on paper, I am not actually spending $200 per day on lottery). This should not come as a surprise since we all know that the odds against the lottery players are staggering.

However, there are many people that play together, using only a few bucks per day (lottery pools) so nobody is going to get broke by playing. For these people playing $50-100 or more at random or using reduced lottery systems makes a huge difference.

14 numbers system for "6 out 49"

Here is the system. Replace these 14 numbers with your favorit ones.

Play 1	1 4 6 7 8 11
Play 2	2 3 5 8 10 14
Play 3	1 5 9 10 11 13
Play 4	1 2 6 7 13 14
Play 5	6 8 10 11 12 14
Play 6	4 5 6 7 10 12
Play 7	1 3 7 8 12 14
Play 8	2 3 5 6 9 11
Play 9	2 4 6 8 9 13
Play 10	4 5 7 9 11 14
Play 11	1 2 3 4 6 10
Play 12	3 4 9 10 12 14
Play 13	3 4 7 8 10 13
Play 14	2 3 11 12 13 14
Play 15	5 6 9 12 13 14
Play 16	1 4 5 8 12 13
Play 17	2 7 8 9 11 12

With no miss you have 9% chance to hit the jackpot, 39% chance to get the second prize and 52% chance to get the third prize so it only guarantees the third prize. If you miss one number you have 25% chance to get the second prize and 55% to get the third prize.

Good luck!

15 numbers system for "5 out of 39"

This is a system similar to one I posted before. It's a bit cheaper, only 15 plays instead of 27. This system guarantees 3 numbers in a row. The one with 27 plays guarantees 3x 3 numbers in a row.

Here are the numbers.

Play 1	1-5-11-12-15
Play 2	7-9-12-13-15
Play 3	1-6-7-10-12
Play 4	2-3-4-8-14
Play 5	8-9-10-11-13
Play 6	3-4-5-6-13
Play 7	2-5-7-9-14
Play 8	2-6-11-14-15
Play 9	1-3-4-10-15
Play 10	1-6-7-8-9
Play 11	3-4-10-11-12
Play 12	1-2-7-13-14
Play 13	5-8-10-12-15
Play 14	1-3-4-6-9
Play 15	7-8-11-12-13

With no miss you have 21% chance to hit the first prize, 47% chance to get the second prize and 32% chance to get the third prize.

With one miss you have 38% chance to get the second prize and 50% chance to get the third prize.

With two misses you have 67% chance to get the third prize.
Good luck!

14 numbers system for "5 out 39"

A 14 numbers system for 5 out 39 (5 out of 43 in my case). Substitute these numbers with your favorite number. This is a "minus 2" system, it guarantees the third prize (3 numbers in a row).

Play 1	1-3-4-9-13
Play 2	4-6-9-10-13
Play 3	2-7-8-11-14
Play 4	1-2-5-10-12
Play 5	3-5-6-8-12
Play 6	1-6-7-11-14
Play 7	3-7-10-11-14
Play 8	4-5-9-12-13
Play 9	2-3-5-6-12
Play 10	1-5-8-10-12
Play 11	1-2-3-7-8

With no miss you have 21% chance to hit the jackpot, 47% chance to get the second prize and 32% to get the third prize.

With one miss you have 45% chance to get the second prize, 45% chance to get the third prize and 10% chance to get the 4th prize.

With two misses toy have 75% chance to get the third prize

Good luck!

I accept the chalenge!

I just had a discussion with somebody about lottery in general. He said it's a total waste of money which by the way I do agree since the odds are against you. Then we talk about improving your chance to win the second or the third prize and I've got a total rejection of "my" idea (it's not mine, of course) that there are lottery systems that can give you a better bang for your buck. The argument was "numbers are totally random so there is no way you can increase your chances". He said he took 200 sets of numbers and virtually played the California SuperLotto and checked them twice a week for two years and never even got 4 numbers, not to mention 5 or the jackpot (5 plus the mega number). I am not actually surprised! If you pick them randomly that's what could happen. Now I am taking the challenge and use the same 200 dollars and play them my way, with a few lottery systems. I am going to use "Cash 5" a game we have in Pennsylvania where you need to pick 5 numbers out of 43. I do this because I am more familiar with their website and if I forget to check the numbers a few days in a row I can go even two years back to look at them. I don't know how to make the challenge fair, California Superlotto is 5 out 39 plus another number out of 27 possible. Let's ignore the "meganumber" and focus only on the 5 out of 39. In this case the odds are against me because "Cash 5" is 5 out 43 not 5 out of 39. California lottery is twice a week, multiplied by two years means 208 draws. To make a little bit fair I am going to watch my numbers 250 draws instead.

I am going to use two types of system, a 10 numbers system at "minus 1" (guaranteed 4 numbers if all 5 numbers draw are among the 10 numbers I have picked) and another one with 15 numbers at "minus 2" (guaranteed 3 numbers). Let's see if I can get at least one second prize in 250 draws and how many times I am going to get 3 numbers. "Cash 5" also pays one dollar if you get two numbers. I am going to update this post every day. Unless I am going to hit the jackpot, at the end of the 250 draws most likely I am going to be on the losing side but this is not the point, the point is to see if I can beat the "random" approach.

Here are the numbers. Save them so I won't be accused of cheating.

1) 1, 7, 9, 11, 12, 25, 30, 33, 37, 41

Play 1	7 9 33 37 41
Play 2	7 12 30 33 37
Play 3	1 7 9 25 30
Play 4	1 11 12 30 37
Play 5	1 25 30 33 41
Play 6	11 12 33 37 41
Play 7	1 7 11 25 37
Play 8	1 9 25 33 37
Play 9	9 12 25 30 41
Play 10	7 9 11 12 37
Play 11	7 12 25 33 41
Play 12	1 11 12 25 41
Play 13	9 11 25 30 33
Play 14	1 9 11 37 41
Play 15	7 11 25 30 41
Play 16	1 7 12 37 41
Play 17	1 9 11 12 33
Play 18	1 7 11 33 41

2) 3, 6, 9, 10, 12, 16, 23, 24, 25, 37

Play 1	6 9 24 25 37
Play 2	6 12 23 24 25
Play 3	3 6 9 16 23
Play 4	3 10 12 23 25
Play 5	3 16 23 24 37
Play 6	10 12 24 25 37
Play 7	3 6 10 16 25
Play 8	3 9 16 24 25
Play 9	9 12 16 23 37
Play 10	6 9 10 12 25
Play 11	6 12 16 24 37
Play 12	3 10 12 16 37
Play 13	9 10 16 23 24
Play 14	3 9 10 25 37
Play 15	6 10 16 23 37
Play 16	3 6 12 25 37
Play 17	3 9 10 12 24
Play 18	3 6 10 24 37

3) 2, 6, 12, 23, 24, 25, 28, 30, 31, 32

Play 1	6 12 30 31 32
Play 2	6 24 28 30 31
Play 3	2 6 12 25 28
Play 4	2 23 24 28 31
Play 5	2 25 28 30 32
Play 6	23 24 30 31 32
Play 7	2 6 23 25 31
Play 8	2 12 25 30 31
Play 9	12 24 25 28 32
Play 10	6 12 23 24 31
Play 11	6 24 25 30 32
Play 12	2 23 24 25 32
Play 13	12 23 25 28 30
Play 14	2 12 23 31 32
Play 15	6 23 25 28 32
Play 16	2 6 24 31 32
Play 17	2 12 23 24 30
Play 18	2 6 23 30 32

4) 1, 2, 11, 21, 22, 23, 28, 32, 34, 41

Play 1	2 11 32 34 41
Play 2	2 22 28 32 34
Play 3	1 2 11 23 28
Play 4	1 21 22 28 34
Play 5	1 23 28 32 41
Play 6	21 22 32 34 41
Play 7	1 2 21 23 34
Play 8	1 11 23 32 34
Play 9	11 22 23 28 41
Play 10	2 11 21 22 34
Play 11	2 22 23 32 41
Play 12	1 21 22 23 41
Play 13	11 21 23 28 32
Play 14	1 11 21 34 41
Play 15	2 21 23 28 41
Play 16	1 2 22 34 41
Play 17	1 11 21 22 32
Play 18	1 2 21 32 41

5) 1, 4, 8, 14, 15, 18, 21, 23, 30, 35

Play 1	4 8 23 30 35
Play 2	4 15 21 23 30
Play 3	1 4 8 18 21
Play 4	1 14 15 21 30
Play 5	1 18 21 23 35
Play 6	14 15 23 30 35
Play 7	1 4 14 18 30
Play 8	1 8 18 23 30
Play 9	8 15 18 21 35
Play 10	4 8 14 15 30
Play 11	4 15 18 23 35
Play 12	1 14 15 18 35
Play 13	8 14 18 21 23
Play 14	1 8 14 30 35
Play 15	4 14 18 21 35
Play 16	1 4 15 30 35
Play 17	1 8 14 15 23
Play 18	1 4 14 23 35

6) 1, 2, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 18, 21, 24, 25, 30, 31, 32, 37

Play 1	10 11 21 25 32
Play 2	1 2 10 14 32
Play 3	2 11 25 30 37
Play 4	2 11 18 24 31
Play 5	1 9 11 18 31
Play 6	2 14 24 25 37
Play 7	9 15 24 30 32
Play 8	14 15 21 30 31
Play 9	10 15 18 21 37
Play 10	1 9 21 24 37
Play 11	9 10 14 18 25
Play 12	1 15 25 31 32
Play 13	14 18 30 32 37
Play 14	1 10 24 30 31
Play 15	2 9 21 31 32
Play 16	1 9 11 14 15
Play 17	1 18 21 25 30
Play 18	9 10 11 31 37
Play 19	2 10 15 18 24
Play 20	11 14 21 24 25
Play 21	2 9 15 21 30
Play 22	1 15 24 32 37
Play 23	2 9 25 31 37
Play 24	10 11 15 30 32
Play 25	14 18 24 31 32
Play 26	2 11 18 21 25
Play 27	1 2 10 14 37

7) 3, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 16, 22, 23, 24, 30, 33, 37, 41

Play 1	9 10 22 24 37
Play 2	3 6 9 11 37
Play 3	6 10 24 30 41
Play 4	6 10 16 23 33
Play 5	3 7 10 16 33
Play 6	6 11 23 24 41
Play 7	7 12 23 30 37
Play 8	11 12 22 30 33
Play 9	9 12 16 22 41
Play 10	3 7 22 23 41
Play 11	7 9 11 16 24
Play 12	3 12 24 33 37
Play 13	11 16 30 37 41
Play 14	3 9 23 30 33
Play 15	6 7 22 33 37
Play 16	3 7 10 11 12
Play 17	3 16 22 24 30
Play 18	7 9 10 33 41
Play 19	6 9 12 16 23
Play 20	10 11 22 23 24
Play 21	6 7 12 22 30
Play 22	3 12 23 37 41
Play 23	6 7 24 33 41
Play 24	9 10 12 30 37
Play 25	11 16 23 33 37
Play 26	6 10 16 22 24
Play 27	3 6 9 11 41

8) 1, 2, 4, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 18, 21, 25, 30, 31, 32, 37

Play 1	8 9 18 25 32
Play 2	1 2 8 10 32
Play 3	2 9 25 30 37
Play 4	2 9 15 21 31
Play 5	1 4 9 15 31
Play 6	2 10 21 25 37
Play 7	4 14 21 30 32
Play 8	10 14 18 30 31
Play 9	8 14 15 18 37
Play 10	1 4 18 21 37
Play 11	4 8 10 15 25
Play 12	1 14 25 31 32
Play 13	10 15 30 32 37
Play 14	1 8 21 30 31
Play 15	2 4 18 31 32
Play 16	1 4 9 10 14
Play 17	1 15 18 25 30
Play 18	4 8 9 31 37
Play 19	2 8 14 15 21
Play 20	9 10 18 21 25
Play 21	2 4 14 18 30
Play 22	1 14 21 32 37
Play 23	2 4 25 31 37
Play 24	8 9 14 30 32
Play 25	10 15 21 31 32
Play 26	2 9 15 18 25
Play 27	1 2 8 10 37

9) 2, 3, 6, 8, 11, 12, 16, 22, 24, 28, 31, 32, 34, 37, 41

Play 1	8 11 24 31 37
Play 2	2 3 8 12 37
Play 3	3 11 31 32 41
Play 4	3 11 22 28 34
Play 5	2 6 11 22 34
Play 6	3 12 28 31 41
Play 7	6 16 28 32 37
Play 8	12 16 24 32 34
Play 9	8 16 22 24 41
Play 10	2 6 24 28 41
Play 11	6 8 12 22 31
Play 12	2 16 31 34 37
Play 13	12 22 32 37 41
Play 14	2 8 28 32 34
Play 15	3 6 24 34 37
Play 16	2 6 11 12 16
Play 17	2 22 24 31 32
Play 18	6 8 11 34 41
Play 19	3 8 16 22 28
Play 20	11 12 24 28 31
Play 21	3 6 16 24 32
Play 22	2 16 28 37 41
Play 23	3 6 31 34 41
Play 24	8 11 16 32 37
Play 25	12 22 28 34 37
Play 26	3 11 22 24 31
Play 27	2 3 8 12 41

Here are the numbers drew at Cash 5 starting with today, January 8th, 2011

1) 16-19-23-32-38 (Jan 8, 2011)

As you probably noticed I am not playing all 43 numbers in my systems. I missed 19 and 38. I've got 20 times two numbers in a row which is paid as $20.

2) 5-17-25-31-37 (Jan 9)

Missed 5 and 17. However, I've got two third prizes (3 numbers on the same row) for 11 dollars each. I've also got 18 times two numbers for 1 dollar each. In total I've got 40 dollars today. The goal is to get 4 in a row after 250 draws.

3) 12 -13 -34 -35 -39 (Jan 10)
Missed 13 and 39. Got only two times 4th prize. Total two dollars! Very bad day.

4) 3-8-19-20-26 (Jan 11)

Three times 4th prize. Three dollars in total 5) 8-21-27-28-41 (Jan 12) Missed 27. One third prize and 20x 4th prize. 6) 3-14-16-35-40 (Jan 13) Missed 40. 11x 4th prize 7) 1-4-21-23-29 (Jan 14) The challenge continues. I haven't got all 5 numbers yet. Missed 29 today.  Very close to get 4 numbers in one row. I've got 4 of them in system number 5. However, I've got only 3x 3rd prizes. I've got 3 of them in system number 8). In total I've got 7x3rd prize and 25x 4th prize. The best day so far. I've got 91 dollars. 8) 23-32-36-40-43 (Jan 15) Missed 36, 40, 43. Got 4x 4th prize. 9) 10-17-29-38-40 (Jan 16) Got only one number, 10.No prize today. 10) 4-29-35-37-43 Missed 29 and 43. I've got 8x 4th prize 11) 8-24-28-29-39 8x 4th prize 12) 1-3-23-30-42 (Jan 19) Missed 42. 2 third prize + 30x 4th prize 13) 1-4-9-42-43 (Jan 20) Missed 42,43. 2x third prize and 7x 4th prize 14) 3-17-21-26-33 (jan 21) Missed 17 and 26.  3x 4th prize 15) 1 -10 -20 -22 -38 16) 4 -5 -23 -39 -41 17) 8 -17 -35 -37 -43 18) 6 -17 -18 -41 -43   19) 20- 23 -35 -37 -42 20) 2 -10 -35 -38 -43 21) 4 -7 -20 -27 -39     22) 14 -18 -21 -38 -42  (Jan 29) 23) 06  22  23  36  41 24) 04  09  13  17  31 (Jan 31) From January 21 to January 31 I've got 5x third prize and 97x 4th prize. From January 8th to January 31st I've got 15x third prize. No second prize yet but I am pretty sure that I am getting at least one second prize. 25) 26) 27) 28) 30) 31) 32) 33) 34) 35) 36) 37) 38) 39) 40) 01  02  08  21  25. The closest I've got to the second prize. I've got all 5 numbers in system 8). Unfortunately, I've got no second prize, only 4x third prize. I already got the second prize three times! See new entries. Another second prize on July 9th 2011