Lottery Tips – What Works and What Doesn’t

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Last updated on February 22, 2024

Some lottery tips online are substantially bad advice. It’s not easy to win the lottery. That’s the whole truth.

The probability that you will win the next draw is almost like wishing for a miracle. If you play the lottery despite the terrible odds, you might as well play it right. So, I might as well share my two cents from a mathematical perspective.

The Best Lottery Tips

The greatest lottery tip I can think of is to never look at the lottery as a path to a better life.1 You play the lottery just for fun, and winning the jackpot is simply a byproduct of being “in it to win it“.

Always remember that the lottery is a gambling activity. Realize that the lottery is designed to have a negative expected value. That means you will most likely spend rather than profit in the long run.

Some people advocate frequently getting small lottery wins to keep you in the loop until you hit the big one. Of course, frequently winning small prizes is possible. The ugly truth, though, is that it’s also misleading and dangerous to your wealth.2

People pay attention to small wins but forget to consider the majority of losses they’ve accumulated over time. This thinking leads them to an illusion of control.3 Then they stand firm with confirmation bias that their strategy works each time they win.4

Truth be told, playing the lottery is always a losing proposition on average.

Let’s ask, “What is the likelihood that my tickets will not win any prize?

We answer the above questions by calculating the probability of winning nothing. The calculation takes the following formula:

P(winning none) = 1 – P(winning)

Of course, the formula above can be useful if we know the payout scheme. Each lottery game offers a different payout scheme. So, for the purpose of illustration, let’s use the Philippines Lotto 6/49 with a simple payout scheme as shown below:

Philippine Lotto 6/49's sum of all probabilities is equal to 0.0186375. When giving lottery tips, I always use math to prove my point. In this case, the probability of winning is too miniscule.

Based on the sum of all probabilities, we can now solve the probability of winning nothing, as shown below:

P(winning none)
= 1 – P(winning)
= 1 – 0.0186375450020223
= 0.98136245499

The probability calculation means that when you buy 100 tickets, more or less 98 of those tickets are losing tickets. Only two will be winning tickets; chances are they are likely prizes for matching three numbers because the probability is leaning towards winning the smallest prize.

So, no matter what everyone promises, the math says you are losing on average, and your small wins are not enough to recoup your losses. The expected value of the lottery is always negative. Therefore, run away if someone sells you lottery tips and promises to give you frequent small wins.

That’s why I always advise players to join a lottery syndicate.5 If you want to play solo, one ticket is enough.

Given the negative expected value of the lottery, you can never use the lottery as an alternative source of full-time income. And given that numbers are drawn quite randomly, you cannot trick the lottery to win so easily.6

When you play lotto, your goal should be to win the jackpot with your best shot possible and have fun with it. The tease of “what if” you win that comes with it will take you to a world of fantasy. And for me, the fun begins with the number selection process.

But even if you want to improve your number selection strategy, you don’t want to waste ten years of your life trying to crack the lottery code.7

Lottery tips are usually bad advice. The man from the cartoon image is trying to hack the lottery and the wife said - You've been cracking the lottery code since we got married

No one can claim to have a sure-fire hack to win the lottery. Not even the greatest of mathematicians. There will be no formula or math equation that can predict the next winning combination.

Taking it from a popular “Winning The Lottery vs. Getting Struck By Lightning” scenario, the odds always favor electricity.8 But that’s only true when you choose to be hit by lightning when you intentionally go outside during a thunderstorm. You want to avoid lightning as much as possible because it’s not fun.

It’s like the probability that a shark will attack you is zero when you don’t swim in the middle of the ocean. Similarly, you don’t win if you don’t play the lottery. It’s your choice that dictates what’s going to happen to you.

If you choose to play the lottery, you must accept that the odds are stacked against you.

But despite the odds, there is hope by which you can improve your winnability. And mathematics remains the only tool you can use to help you get the best shot possible. (no guarantee, just the best shot possible).

Lotto players are the target of fake promises. And that’s the hard part because Lotterycodex cannot compete with false lottery tips. The most difficult challenge for me is separating the lotterycodex website from all these big leagues.

Lottery Tips Must Be Supported by Evidence

Unfortunately, new guys keep popping up online, purporting to have a new winning formula with big talks about their shiny, expensive car, a huge mansion, even a photo of a pretty lady beside them, etc.

Photo is not a reliable proof. Sometimes a photo can be directed with props. Lottery tips are sometimes mixed with this insidious manipulations.

Don’t lotto players deserve better proof?

Let me clarify some of the most important issues. Right here. Right now.

The “only way” to increase your chance of winning is by buying more tickets, and Lotterycodex is built upon that foundation. I go all the way to improve that strategy further with mathematics. It’s not enough to have hundreds of lotto tickets; you have to have the right hundreds of tickets.

To simplify it, your job as a lotto player is to get more favorable shots. Fortunately, we can calculate the number of ways you get favorable shots by studying the composition of different combinatorial groups. (See The Winning Lottery Formula Using Math)

The lotterycodex method is based on the premise that lotto combinations are not created equally. Combinations have different compositions. Since composition varies, different combinatorial groups with varying ratios of success to failure exist. You don’t hear lottery tips like this elsewhere online.

According to many experts, a 1-2-3-4-5-6 combination is equally likely because all combinations have the same probability. Hence, one of the lottery tips you always hear is to avoid it.

Of course, all combinations have equal probability because there’s only one way to win the jackpot.

Probability is the number of favorable combinations over the number of total combinations.

But this way of looking at the lottery one-sidedly will kind of restrict you from seeing the lottery’s randomness from a different perspective.

Many lotto experts suggest against betting on 1-2-3-4-5-6 because of the possibility of sharing your jackpot with others. It’s the same reason you hear repeatedly from one guru to another. Of course, they are telling the truth, but that is not the exact mathematical reason why you should avoid an all-straight consecutive combination. For one, you cannot use the same reason for combinations such as 5-10-15-20-25-30, 11-22-33-44-55, or 10-20-30-40-50.

Explaining things in English is nice, but I want to provide lottery tips based on mathematics.

We seem to forget the concept of odds or the success-to-failure ratio. We use odds to measure the number of ways you get favorable shots against the number of ways you don’t. To do that, we use this equation instead:

Odds compare the number of favorable events with the number of ways you don't get favorable events.

Now, realize that odds and probability are not the same and not mathematically equivalent.9 Using combinatorics, we can calculate all the possibilities and finally make the right choice to get the most favorable shots.

For example, in a Lotto 6/49 game, there are 177,100 ways you can combine six numbers where there are no high numbers.10 Let’s call this group the 6-low-0-high group. Since there are almost 14 million playable combinations in a Lotto 6/49 game, you get 13,806,716 possible ways you don’t get favorable shots.

Odds_favor(6-low-0-high) = 177,100 / 13,983,816 – 177,100

Therefore, with the 6-low-0-high group, you get one favorable shot after playing 100 draws. The line 1-2-3-4-5-6 belongs to that group. I don’t recommend buying a ticket with these numbers simply because you don’t want to waste your money playing 100 draws to get one favorable shot.

You can do better than that if you consider other combinatorial groups. For example, there are 4,655,200 ways to combine six numbers with three low and three high numbers. Let’s call this group the 3-low-3-high group. So you get 9,328,616 ways you don’t get favorable shots.

Odds (3-odd-3-even) = 4,655,200 / 13,983,816 – 4,655,200

With the 3-low-3-high group, you get 33 favorable shots in 100 attempts. The probability calculations accurately describe the behavior of a lottery game. That means a truly random lottery draw tends to pick numbers evenly across the number field. If you divide the numbers into two groups equally, a random draw will pick from both sides for the majority of the time.

Notice that there are more 3-odd-3-even in the Lotto 6/49 playable combinations. Naturally, the probability leans towards this group. Your job as a lotto player is to follow this behavior of a truly random draw to get the most favorable shots possible.

Your goal is to win the lottery, and the first thing you should know before you play is to calculate the number of favorable shots you get and this is possible to interpret using the success-to-failure ratio.11 You cannot change the underlying probability and you cannot beat the lottery’s odds, but as a lotto player, you have the power to make an informed choice. Even choosing not to play is a strategy by itself if you think the odds are too monumental.

So when a true lottery strategy is involved, you don’t worry about all combinations having the same probability. Your worry must focus on whether you get more favorable shots. Start minding your success-to-failure ratio. That’s exactly what a Lotterycodex calculator does.12

The internet is loaded with too many lottery tips. Anyone can lurk on lottery forums; before you know it, a new lottery guru is born.

As usual, it’s easy to throw away nice-sounding sentences in English and make someone appear sensible. It’s easy to say this one or that one doesn’t work. But to show calculations and prove statements from a mathematical perspective is a lot harder.

As for me, sometimes you have to swim against the tide. Whenever I speak of a controversial statement, I use math to prove my point and kick it up by comparing theory with the actual results.

And I am here to show you proofs (not a photo of a pretty lady beside me or a shiny new car). A truly random lottery is predictable to an extent.13

Free Lottery Tips

This website offers a dedicated section where I show you the results of my lottery research for free. It contains many premium information; everything published there is not for sale. It can be accessible to the public without a password, and you don’t need to subscribe using your email.

If you disagree with everything I wrote in the free guide section, you’ll be glad you didn’t spend a single cent on it.

But I am an entrepreneur, and somehow, I have to make things sustainable, so I created the Lotterycodex calculators to provide lotto players with a lottery wheel based on the combinatorial and probability calculations I preach.

The Lotterycodex calculator is an optional tool. Some people don’t want to be bothered by complex math calculations, so I offer my lottery calculator as a handy tool.

Buying a Lotterycodex calculator is only discretionary entertainment spending. It’s an extraordinary calculator with a unique lottery number generator program that separates combinatorial groups based on the success-to-failure ratio.14 This is the only lottery calculator that combines combinatorics and probability theory in one system. This program helps you play the lottery with complete awareness of what works. It’s your choice if you think my calculator is worth the price.

Either way, the lottery guide section is free. Love it or hate it, you have nothing to lose. How you use the information is up to you.

Lottery Tips Must Not be Based on Statistics

What separates my calculators from other lotto calculators is the method behind the calculation. I use the methods of combinatorics and probability. These two branches of mathematics are powerful enough to make your lottery wheel more effective. The calculator separates the dominant groups. Now, you don’t spend money on combinations that occur only occasionally or rarely.

I don’t use statistics, as data from past lottery results will only give inaccurate conclusions. Most lotto players fumble around this particular approach as they think the past results will provide clues for picking good numbers. It won’t.

Statistics and probability are two different tools that approach problems in different ways. When data are limited, and some values are unknown, any questions we ask are a statistical problem to solve. For example, in a cabinet with red, black, and blue sacks inside, and we don’t know how many pairs each color has, we use statistical sampling to infer the cabinet’s composition.

We know the pick size and the number field’s size for lottery games with finite structures. We know that there are 24 even numbers and 25 odd numbers in a Lotto 6/49 game. We can divide the number field into two groups to separate low and high numbers. Therefore our knowledge of the game is adequate to calculate the many possibilities involved. Any questions we ask are, therefore, probability problems to solve.

For example, we ask:

“What is the probability that the next winning numbers will be 1-2-3-4-5-6?”

Well, we simply rephrase the question to:

“What is the probability that the next winning combination will be three odd and three even numbers, and all numbers are coming from the low group?”

So, regardless of your point of reference, the lottery always follows the probability dictate. And we can always use the tools of probability to make calculations and make better choices.

The Lottery Follows the Dictate of the Law of Large Numbers

Mathematically, each ball in the lottery’s number field has the same probability of getting drawn. In the same way, each lottery draw is independent, so much so that the previous draws will have no direct effect on the outcome of the succeeding draws. In probability theory, this is called an independent event.15

However, the lottery is also governed by another mathematical principle. When you analyze the lottery by a large number of draws, you are already entering the realm of the law of large numbers or LLN. Therefore, each lotto draw being independent is no longer relevant.

The information provided by LLN helps lotto players understand how the lottery works from a big perspective. So, the last thing you want to do with your money is to spend it on an improbable group of combinations.

The lottery is a long shot, and you need persistence to win. But persistence is useless if you keep doing the wrong thing. You’ve got to look at the lottery in a different light if you want to get the best shot possible. Once you see how math works in the lottery, you’ll never play the lottery the same way again. (Read this: How to Win the Lottery According to Math)

There’s More to the Lottery Than Meets The Eye

Lotterycodex exists to analyze the lottery from the perspective of combinatorics and probability theory. Other aspects of the lottery beyond that are way out of my expertise.

If you have been following Lotterycodex, you probably know I am not a native English writer. I write my stuff but decided to stick with what I do best.

So, for other areas I don’t cover, it’s good that other lottery blog sites or websites come to fill the gap.

However, lottery tips abound online, and theories vary among experts. Opinions differ even in the scientific community; the lottery community is no exception. It’s you who will choose the best method that you think will work for you.

Below is a list of other lottery blogs or websites for further reading.

They offer you different choices to approach your game and educate you about the real stuff, lottery scams, and everything in between in the most ethical way possible. And to be honest, some of them are my competitors, but I don’t mind because it’s best to give you a lot of choices.

Disclosure: I am not an affiliate marketer and don’t receive commissions or benefits from the websites listed below. I believe that these websites will provide some perspectives. Use your discretion when interacting with these websites.

Here is the list:

LotoRainbow by Renato Gianella

Renato Gianella created the LotoRainbow website as complementary support for his combinatorics study of the lottery. In Gianella’s study called The Geometry of Chance, he proved mathematically that number combinations don’t have equal probability.

Lotterycodex derived much of its inspiration from Gianella’s work.

In Gianella’s method, the sets are grouped by tens. So, the first set is 1 to 9. Another is from 10 to 19, and another is from 20 to 29. His method is impressive, except that it comes with a critical weakness. His system ignores the balanced selection of odd and even numbers.

I created Lotterycodex to improve Gianella’s concept and offer a better balance for low and high numbers and odd and even numbers in a single system.

The Tinkermen Lotto Report by John Francis

Here’s another lotto website that stands up against the crowd to prove that lotto combinations are not created equally. The Tinkermen Lotto Report was conceived when John Francis observed predictable patterns in the past draws of the California Super Lotto in March of 2002.

Today, he offers free lottery tips and live Lotto Probability Draw Pattern Mathematics p(a) Reports on his lottery forum site with number combination generators for major lotteries, which include California Super Lotto, the Mega Millions Lotto, The Lucky for Life, Powerball, Lotto America, and the Euro Millions Lottery.

Remember that matching the draw pattern does not win you anything. You only win when you match the exact numbers. But don’t underestimate the power of patterns. Understand that patterns can help you get closer to the winning combination.

Lottery Books

Combinatorial Lottery Systems (Wheels) with Guaranteed Wins – This is a book by Dr. Iliya Bluskov. I don’t have a copy of his book. Still, according to the description from Amazon, the book is about advanced methods of combinatorics and optimization to design the most economical lottery system (wheel) for any given guarantee. It must be a good book if it is based on combinatorics.

Against All Odds – Looking for no-nonsense lottery tips? Finally, a sensible book that is in line with the principle of “lose less” is clearly explained by a mathematician. This book by G. Rubin Thomas, Ph.D., explains the true nature of randomness from a mathematical perspective. The mission is to provide a clear understanding of a reasonable expectation of the lottery and eventually guide players on playing the game with the right mindset. Check out Dr. Thoma’s Playhow.net website dedicated to lottery games.

Questions and Answers

Can past winning numbers help predict future lottery results?

No. Each lottery draw is an independent event, meaning one draw’s outcome does not influence the next. Therefore, past winning numbers do not offer any advantage in predicting future results. The lottery operates on a principle of randomness, making the lottery draw unpredictable.

What is the role of probability and combinatorial math in lottery games?

Probability describes the likelihood of different outcomes, helping players gauge their chances of winning. Combinatorial math analyzes the possible combinations of numbers in a lottery. Together, these mathematical tools evaluate groups of combinations with varying success-to-failure ratios, aiding in more informed number selection and offering the best shot possible in lottery play.

How can one increase their chances of winning the lottery?

One can increase their chances of winning the lottery by purchasing more tickets using mathematical principles. This often involves participating in lottery syndicates and employing a lottery wheel, allowing players to pool resources and buy more tickets, thereby strategically improving success-to-failure ratios. However, due to the lottery’s inherent randomness, it’s important to remember that no strategy can guarantee a win.

What is the best mindset to have when playing the lottery?

The best mindset for playing the lottery is viewing it as a form of entertainment, not a financial investment or a reliable path to wealth. It’s important to play responsibly, which means only spending what you can afford to lose. This approach keeps the experience enjoyable and avoids the pitfalls of viewing the lottery as a solution to financial problems.

Can mathematics guarantee a lottery win?

No. While understanding probability and combinatorics can aid in more informed number combination selection, the lottery remains a game of chance. Each draw is an independent event, rendering every lottery draw unpredictable. Consequently, no mathematical strategy can consistently overcome the lottery’s inherent odds.

Additional Resources

  1. Top 10 Lotto Betting Do’s and Don’ts    []
  2. The Truth About Winning Small Prizes in the Lottery    []
  3. Illusion of Control    []
  4. Confirmation Bias And the Power of Disconfirming Evidence    []
  5. Lottery Syndicate and the Mathematical Advantage You Don’t Want to Miss    []
  6. Is There a Trick to Winning the Lottery?    []
  7. Chinese man lives under a bridge for 10 years to crack lottery code    []
  8. Winning The Lottery vs. Getting Struck By Lightning    []
  9. Odds, Probability, and the Lottery    []
  10. How to Win the Lotto 6/49 According To Math    []
  11. The Lotto Secret: Three Math Strategies for Winning Revealed    []
  12. Lottery Calculator: A Mathematical Guide Beyond Number Selection    []
  13. A Truly Random Lottery with a Deterministic Outcome    []
  14. A Lottery Number Generator That Works    []
  15. Further Concepts in Probability    []
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