Lady Luck Lotto
Professional lotto play for everyone.
HENRI SANT-CASSIA
‘All
the most powerful lotto systems in one easy guide.’
A POWERFUL ENGLISH
PAPERBACK
First published in Great Britain in 2001 by Powerful
English
Copyright © 2011 Henri Sant-Cassia
The right of Henri Sant-Cassia to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs, & Patents Act of 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, internet, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the owner.
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
ISBN: 978-99957-36-00-2
Typeset by Powerful English in Garamond & Myriad Pro
SPECIAL LIMITED EDITION
Part One
Basic Lotto Strategy
True Life Lotto Stories – Inspiration & Scandal
Part Two
Expert Lotto Strategy
Bonus
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Liability
No responsibility or liability is assumed or accepted by the author for any claimed financial losses and/or damages sustained to persons from the use of the information in this publication, personal or otherwise, directly or indirectly. While every effort has been made to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the information within, all liability, negligence or otherwise, from any use, misuse, or abuse of the operation of any methods, strategies, instructions or ideas contained in the material herein, is the sole responsibility of the reader. By reading past this point, you are accepting these terms and conditions.
Table of Contents
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
For the legendary Ian Brown, whose freethinking spirit infuses this book.
Introduction
My name is Jamie Right, and I’m going to share with you a secret that will allow you to identify the winning numbers of the UK national lotto. By simply removing a few numbers from the equation, you will improve your odds of winning by 1048%.
I’ve played and won the lotto for many, many years, and during this time, I’ve accumulated a lot of real life play experience, as well as a lot of wisdom. I’ve broken down every aspect of the game, transitioning my acquired knowledge into the various theories and techniques presented in this book. My goal is to convey to you my expertise and understanding of the lotto, so that you will recognise how to pick winning numbers – making lotto plays that work for you.
Many people play the lotto blind, with a limited set of numbers and little idea of how to make the best use of their money. Not only do I share the secrets of great lotto techniques; I work through a range of examples from it’s around the world.
I hope you enjoy this book;
it was fun to write and a great way to refresh the best bits of my
game.
Thanks for reading!
“Professor” Jamie Right – Lotto Insider
The Lotto Dream
Winning the lotto is a dream held by millions the world over. Some believe they will win because of a special, meaningful set of numbers they’ve picked. Others believe that winning requires external luck. Some look to the rules of the game, reviewing all aspects and fundamental properties, utilising them to their advantage. Furthermore, a few claim to have found systems that lead to success.
Many intelligent people with logical, scientific minds claim this is nonsense. With fixed odds and rigid regulations, they assume that there is no shortcut to success. However, the lotto is rooted in numbers and mathematics; therefore, there are techniques that can be brought into play.
The techniques in this book can prove to be paramount when playing the lotto. First, they can ensure that you have maximised your chances of winning. Second, they can help you predict the combinations and permutations that have the greatest likelihood of success. Finally, they provide valuable insight to winning the lotto based on facts.
Like all forms of chance or gambling, the analysis required to understand the lotto system requires a competent understanding of maths, as well as the ability to handle numbers. Luckily, holding a PhD in maths isn’t a prerequisite for success. Instead, the skills you will need can easily be learned, and by using them, it’s possible to look at more esoteric lotto systems to decide if they are viable.
Perhaps the most important piece of advice in this book is to stay organized. With so many numbers, picks, and possible wins on your mind, it's easy to become swamped. Nearly every week, in many countries throughout the world, there is a story about unclaimed lotto wins. This typically results from carelessness and disorganization. Therefore, organization is paramount – don’t be the one whose hard work goes down the drain because of a forgotten ticket.
About Lotto Games
The lotto can be traced back to pre-Biblical times, and the simple nature of the game has probably been around – in some form or another – since numbers and counting were first introduced.
In the Elizabethan era, the lotto was regarded as a great way to raise money to assist in national prosperity. In Italy and the UK, big it’s were established, especially during times of war. The first UK national lotto was created in 1567 and over a quarter of a million people are said to have played these early games.
Not only does the lotto serve to excite players and create millionaires, nations around the world use the lotto to raise money for many great causes.
The word lotto is actually an Italian word meaning fate. Consequently, it’s a very appropriate word, as I can show you how to regain control from fate in many new ways.
Some Lotto Facts
Like all games of chance,
the lotto is filled with weird numbers, often with little
significance. Here are some examples.
On average, 98% of all tickets played lose the jackpot the moment the second winning ball is drawn.
Less than 2% of all tickets played survive the early stages of the draw (i.e., the first and second winning balls).
Winning the lotto is much more likely to occur than being struck by lightning. Therefore, take heart and remember this when cynics try to question why you play!
People from all walks of life play the lotto and the myth that only the poor enjoy the game is just that, a myth.
On average, you will find two consecutive numbers in 9 out of every 10 lotto draws!
TIP: Consider adding a pair of consecutive numbers to your number selections.
A Warning
Be very wary of any system that claims to know what will actually be drawn during the lotto. This is (by most people’s definitions of the word) impossible. In fact, it's clear that if someone had the power to do this, he or she would be spending time enjoying their winnings, rather than passing on “secrets” to other people. Moreover, with many systems employing a shared jackpot, it's never wise to share an absolute certainty, as this will genuinely cut down on winnings should anyone else play the same predicted numbers.
This e-book will advise you to do one simple thing – to predict. Predicting some of what may happen will shorten the odds in your favour. I know of no way to predict everything; however, I know of plenty of ways to manipulate the odds of winning the lotto in my favour.
Every successful gambler must play the game at hand utilizing his or her maximum skill set. In addition, he or she must attempt to manipulate the odds of the game accordingly. Knowing how to calculate odds, while shifting things into your favour, is the key to winning big.
The National Lotto
The National Lotto is the
UK’s big lotto organization and the only official creator of lotto
games for the public. Since it first began in 1994, the lotto has
been very popular and is one of the most popular games worldwide.
Over 70% of UK adult residents are said to play regularly.
Over 94% of the UK adult population has played at least one game.
£1,000 + of tickets are sold online every second.
The National Lotto is a combination of serious lotto games, including the massive multimillion EuroMillions game, fun games like instant scratch cards, and entertainment through its televised draws.
Over 40% of the players are part of a syndicate.
The highest EuroMillions jackpot was won in Ireland at almost £80,000,000 for a single win.
Over £37,000,000,000 has been paid out since the game launched.
More than 4 million people win prizes every week.
Over 2,400 millionaires have been created since 1994.
A syndicate wins one in 4 jackpots.
The main games in the lotto are:
Lotto – standard big-ticket lotto draw with a 6 to 49 format.
Lotto Plus Five – add-on to the main lotto draws.
EuroMillions – an enormous big-ticket lotto draw that uses a main board and a lucky stars supplementary selection.
(All games have an option for players to have their selections automatically generated).
The Virtual Lotto
Not only is the lotto a game, it’s a game where the results are published – making it possible to see what happened in previous draws. There are also lotto simulators and other gadgets that will allow you to experiment without spending a fortune on tickets.
With every possible theory or system, it's vital to do ongoing testing in a highly organized fashion. To begin with, it's best to have a simple book or electronic spreadsheet that will allow you to experiment.
Keeping good records of the following is vital:
The dates and numbers you have picked for trials.
The dates, sequences, and numbers that were actually drawn.
Records of prizes and returns for each draw.
An example of a simple tracking system for numbers you have decided to try could look like this:
|
Date |
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
Win |
Notes |
|
12th March |
|
34 |
11 |
12 |
8 |
9 |
44 |
N |
Good |
|
19th March |
|
34 |
12 |
11 |
8 |
9 |
44 |
N |
Error |
|
22nd March |
|
34 |
12 |
11 |
8 |
6 |
33 |
Y |
HK |
Zooming in and adding actual numbers requires more columns:
|
Date |
|
1 |
1(act) |
2 |
2(act) |
3 |
3(act) |
|
12th March |
|
34 |
22 |
12 |
8 |
9 |
36 |
|
19th March |
|
34 |
13 |
11 |
2 |
9 |
14 |
|
22nd March |
|
34 |
34 |
11 |
11 |
6 |
6 |
This chart gives you an idea of the volume of data needed to stay on top of the game. It also reinforces the importance of keeping records and prevents you from losing the vital thread.
In addition, you will need a good diary or calendar to mark upcoming draw dates and to guide your research.
Number Accuracy
Remember, the lotto is a very precise game to play. Either numbers match or they don’t, and prizes are awarded or not at all. There is no point in being nearly right and being vaguely in the right direction. So when keeping records and tracking campaigns, a single error in your calculations could potentially undo all your hard work.
In fact, one of the first lessons to be learned is that a near miss often means absolutely nothing at all. You may believe in the significance of numbers or fate and coming close to a winning combination may give you goose bumps. However, the reality is that in most cases, this is just as bad as being miles off in your calculations.
Near misses are actually a serious red herring in lotto gaming. They give the sense that a system may work with a little fine-tuning, but because of the precision and accuracy needed in the game, are a foolish distraction.
Types of Lotto
Many experienced players look for ‘pick 5’ model it’s. These include games such as Powerball, Mega Millions, and EuroMillions, and are all very common. Most of the examples in this book follow a pick 5 format, or use very simplified pick 3 or pick 4 models. Just remember, the more numbers used equals more maths.
For beginners, it's recommended that simple games be chosen. Other types like Keno, with up to 20 picks and a large pool of possible numbers, are more popular in casino settings and outside the UK. More experienced players generally prefer these.
Players shop around for the best odds and the best games, looking globally for the best places to put bets. Be certain, especially when playing foreign games, that you are eligible to receive a prize AS WELL as to play. Don’t be caught out by terms and conditions that specify a particular nationality.
Types of Lotto Systems
There are many ways to analyse the lotto and an equal number of lotto systems. Of the major types, the most common include the following:
Lotto Wheels & Trees
Lotto wheels and trees are not a type of prediction; this should be clear from the outset. They are ways of taking predictions or hunches and turning them into solid plays. They are all about analysing the best way to buy lines and tickets, in order to ensure your strategy has proper game coverage.
They are the most common tool for real players, and all the maths and science behind wheels, or blocks, is tried and tested. We’ll learn more about these in detail shortly.
Filtering Systems
Filtering is simply finding ways to cut down on choices. By filtering out, and occasionally using additive filtering, a big list of possible choices becomes more manageable.
Filtering also removes numbers and combinations that you are certain won’t be useful from the remaining part of your possibilities. It improves quality. There are hundreds of types of possible filters, so let’s investigate the most important.
Statistic Systems
Some systems rely on the sheer volume of data generated worldwide. All the results, wins, and stories can be fed into massive spreadsheets and databases for analysis. As computer power increases, the emergence of new technology has made this field increasingly popular.
In fact, by using the Internet it’s possible to look at huge amounts of lotto data and investigate what has happened in the past. Statistical systems have two purposes. The first is to find patterns in the past. Unlike predictive systems, the sole focus is on what has happened, rather than what will happen. Perhaps certain numbers are more likely to be picked, and that certain combinations seem to attract the big prizes. The second purpose is to identify quirks and statistical anomalies that might help players. It might be found, for example, that more players win per 1000 players during weekend draws as opposed to mid-week draws.
Rule Tweaks
Looking for rule tweaks is a type of play that looks at the detail of regulations in the hope of a breakthrough. With rule tweaks, the basic strategy is to look for extra breaks that might be built into games but not form part of normal play.
One very simple type of rule tweak is playing multiple lines or combinations. Where this is allowed, it means that players can play with odds and make choices.
Predictions
Predictions that utilize techniques such as numerology and astrology are a very risky way to play the lotto. Putting aside personal beliefs, it’s very difficult to find strong proof of success, and even harder to be able to make predictions with real certainty. Remember, good lotto systems are based on mathematics.
Predictions usually rely on external factors to decide what numbers are likely to come up in a draw. For example, in the doctrine of numerology, letters and meanings are ascribed to numbers and combinations. As a result, these are used as the basis for predictions.
We’ll look briefly at numerology to make an effective comparison with the non-esoteric techniques and systems.
Syndicate Systems
Syndicates may use all the same techniques as individual players. The advantages of a syndicate are:
Pooled Capital: With many players, each with his or her own funds, the total capital available for the game is higher than any one player could put it. This means more tickets, more numbers, more combinations, and in theory, more wins.
More Hits: Part of the appeal of syndicates is that they play more often and with more numbers and combos. This means the chances of winning something, if not the jackpot, are increased. Syndicates are good for people who enjoy a steady stream of regular winnings.
Remember that like many things in the lotto world, there is need for balance. The amount of people involved in a syndicate usually parallels the amount of prizes awarded. A syndicate is not a quick fix to get rich, however, as everything is in proportion.
Case Study – Malaysia Win
An event that occurred in March 2011 serves as a practical example of someone following good lotto strategy, and winning big. On this date, a Malaysian executive from Kuala Lumpure won a $7,300,000 jackpot in a Magnum 4-D Jackpot competition.
He used chart based forecasting and other techniques to pull off his win. In fact, his win was a long-term play. He had been reinvesting smaller lumps of winnings, steadily pursuing the big jackpot. He followed a practical, non-theoretical approach, with Fibonacci numbers and such that require a degree in maths to understand.
The lotto website had help on chart forecasts and this particular player was very focused, using everything to his benefit. After many games and a little success he won with a combination of 6282 (2nd Prize) + 2251 (3rd Prize) which combined to make his big total pot.
'I have been buying Magnum 4-D Jackpot since it was launched. I had multiple small winnings in the 4th and 5th prize categories and I continued to buy. Now, this is the biggest win,' he said, 'I will also expand my business and keep some money aside for my family.'
His strategy was to eliminate the numbers he knew weren’t going to come up, and using chart predictions, he was able to add some degree of certainty to his potential picks. The result was that he gradually shaved the odds in his favour and was able to make it work and translate it into a massive, life-changing win.
Interesting Lotto Maths
Imagine that you have £52 to spend on your lotto play over the next year. Now, it’s actually better to play the whole lot on one strategy, or to spread it over a year and play once a week.
In general, the formula for calculating the answer to this problem for a lotto game is:
n! / (n - r)! r!
N = the highest value of a draw number.
R = the number of picks.
The! = ‘factorial’
where we manage a set of numbers by multiplying them all by each
other.
So imagine that we have 40 balls and six picks. If we run the numbers through this equation, we get 2,763,633,600. Therefore, for every play, we have this enormous number representing our chance of hitting the jackpot.
Therefore, we would have to play over 2,500,000,000 times to be certain of a win —that’s billions of games!
The true answer to our question involves a higher degree of mathematics; yet, it’s fair to say that:
There isn’t a lot of difference between the two plays.
Overall, it’s better to play big once, exerting as much control as possible over one play, as opposed to playing numerous smaller plays.
Expected Return
Thinking about our goals, let’s look at our expected return. Here, we are looking for a situation in which our expected return exceeds the cost of the play and is more probable than losing.
Wow! That's quite a statement, so let’s break it down:
Potential Win = our prizes.
Probability of Winning = the odds.
Probability of Losing = the downside.
Potential Cost = our stake and possible losses.
With a
million dollar jackpot, the potential win is 1 million, the
probability of a win is 0.0000002605..., the potential cost is $1,
and the probability of losing is 1!
The expected return is
0.2605 - 1 = -0.7395, or a loss of 74 cents.
Covering Pools
Many people have a favourite set of numbers. As a result, many players will often have a pool of their favourites that they will dip each week. For various reasons, they will mix and match these numbers when buying their tickets. They hope that one week they won’t only be lucky in that their pool of numbers forms part of the draw, but they are lucky enough to pick the correct combination for the draw as well.
For example, you might like the numbers 4-6-9-11-17-21-29-31-38-39-42-45. Each one has some meaning, and you may have experienced some luck with one or two of them before. Therefore, when buying your tickets, your weekly purchases might look a little like this:
|
Date |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
W |
|
12th March |
4 |
6 |
9 |
17 |
31 |
39 |
N |
|
19th March |
4 |
9 |
11 |
21 |
38 |
45 |
N |
|
22nd March |
1 |
9 |
11 |
29 |
31 |
45 |
N |
What often happens is disappointment, as some numbers seem to come up but never often enough. Furthermore, it's frustrating when ticket purchases neglect to cover enough permutations, allowing the player to discover he had picked the right pool numbers, but not the ones needed to win.
This is actually a simple, but very random system. It’s easy to play and seemingly favourable; yet, it does nothing to really the odds of winning. Therefore, the solution is to cover numbers.
What covering numbers does is it takes a favourite pool and ensures – that with the minimum number of tickets – the maximum number of combinations is booked.
How to Cover Numbers
Covering numbers is designed to take care of pairings through permutations and combination theories. The example above shows that it's possible to pick a more sensible sequence of tickets.
If you were to play with a pool of 12 favourite numbers, this equates to a large number of possible pairs. If we look at a sample in a table, we can see some of the possible combinations as follows:
|
2 |
49 |
2 |
45 |
2 |
39 |
|
4 |
2 |
4 |
49 |
4 |
49 |
|
5 |
4 |
5 |
2 |
5 |
2 |
|
9 |
5 |
9 |
4 |
9 |
4 |
|
13 |
9 |
13 |
5 |
13 |
5 |
|
17 |
13 |
17 |
9 |
17 |
9 |
|
19 |
17 |
19 |
13 |
19 |
13 |
|
25 |
19 |
25 |
17 |
25 |
17 |
|
32 |
25 |
32 |
19 |
32 |
19 |
|
39 |
32 |
39 |
25 |
39 |
25 |
|
45 |
39 |
45 |
32 |
45 |
32 |
|
49 |
45 |
49 |
39 |
49 |
45 |
|
2 |
25 |
2 |
45 |
|
|
|
4 |
32 |
4 |
39 |
|
|
|
5 |
45 |
5 |
49 |
|
|
|
9 |
39 |
9 |
2 |
|
|
|
13 |
49 |
13 |
4 |
|
|
|
17 |
2 |
17 |
5 |
|
|
|
19 |
4 |
19 |
9 |
|
|
|
25 |
5 |
25 |
13 |
|
|
|
32 |
9 |
32 |
17 |
|
|
|
39 |
13 |
39 |
19 |
|
|
|
45 |
17 |
45 |
25 |
|
|
|
49 |
19 |
49 |
32 |
|
|
Now, with a clever system for covering numbers, we can pick a set of six possible draws, as well as selections that cover all of the above possible pairs.
Greed
Greed is never good in lotto play. Despite Gordon Gekho’s maxim that ‘greed is good,’ you will find that a more sensible, more long-term strategy is better than the enjoyment from short-term gain.
The key principle of
combating greed is to use a reinvestment strategy. Here, winnings are
reapplied to a fund pool that keeps your play going. The idea is to
leverage investments, making more and more, while being able to make
increasingly greater plays with an increasing pool of capital.
Some of the key strategic points are:
Reinvesting many smaller prizes may be better than taking a payment out. However, notice that in the reverse, greed is tempting you into a chain of bad plays that occur repeatedly.
What matters are the odds, not how you ‘feel’ about a particular game. To keep a sense of perspective, use comparative odds and financial analysis to ensure you aren’t making crazy bets.
Multi Stage Draws
Every seasoned lotto player knows that where there are multiple draws, any ticket or line that gets through the first round is more likely to succeed in later stages. In fact, without an early stage win, it's impossible to get a jackpot or a major prize, because the ticket or line would be disqualified.
For example, in a Powerball system:
Players pick a set of ball choices from the pool in stage one. At the end of this stage, we know whether players are eligible for any jackpot, as well as information regarding their chances of winning.
At stage two, ‘extra balls,’ the Powerball or lucky stars are selected. If choices are successful, the jackpot multiplies for the lucky winner. If not, levels are much lower.
If a player matches nothing from Stage 1 but does well at Stage 2, he or she wins nothing. The system is not equal.
Multi-Line Plays
Every lotto operator knows that people like to play many options on a single draw. To make it easier than buying many tickets, most operators will allow players to play multiple lines at the same time.
Each line is a bet on a single ticket. This makes it easy to see your choices spread out on a single slip.
Mechanical Tweaks
Let’s forget all the theory and look at a real draw. First, a choice must be made over a set of numbers for the draw.
Already, some form of compromise replaces the pure theory. Do we draw by computer? What program will we use? Do we use a wheel? How big? Etc.
What mechanical tweaks do is they look at the real process and try to find a tiny edge somewhere.
You may have seen films where a team carefully watches a roulette wheel a thousand times before pulling off the bet of a lifetime. This is fictional mechanical tweaking; however, it's based on real life tales.
Real Randomness
In sport, there are many variables, and while the result of games or races may seem random, it can be traced back to many antecedents. Consequently, a player’s fitness, the other team, the weather, the game rules, the spectators, the scandals, and the referees, all provide influence that is not random.
Now imagine another game – something ridiculous like weighing grains of sand and then gambling on the results. Here, if we studied the sand we could work things out like average grain size and make a few educated guesses about ranges. However, we could never know exactly what weight would come up next, as there is an infinite variety of guesses.
A perfect lotto game should be truly, truly random, where each draw has absolutely no link to past draws. In a perfect lotto game, there is very little we can do predicatively, because at the end of the day, we can’t predict random events. A lotto game based on nature like the sand would work like this.
The trouble is lotto is a game that is organized artificially, and isn’t truly based on natural randomness. Thus, at the very core something doesn't conform to natural expectations. There are little, specific quirks in each game which make it unique but also in some way predictable. This is normally a tiny, tiny effect, and only noticeable after some extreme research.
Types of Flaw
If we assume then that mechanical draw methods aren’t perfect, it's fair to say that some common flaws might creep in from time to time. These could include:
Problems with Balls. These may be of slightly different weights, textures or smoothness. This is often actually seen in roulette wheels too which also rely on balls and are similar random number generators. This could even include the ink on the balls themselves. One number, in theory has more ink as it has two digits and is therefore heavier than one with a single digit.
Cheating. It has been known to happen that people organizing the game cheat. They may have their own bets on the games (even though this is strictly precluded by the rules); they may also be helping syndicates and others to gain an edge.
The Human Factor. Imagine a lotto which uses a big wheel or in which a lovely presenter delves into a spinning drum. With every spin of the wheel or grope inside the box, there is a human factor. If the presenter has limited arm length and can’t go all the way down, or always spins with similar force – is this something we can use to help us?
Puzzle Type Analysis
For some players there are methods of looking at lotto numbers like a series of clues that should lead to success. This is an interpretative system, using elements of number theory, numerology and common sense to look for significance and patterns.
From the world, puzzles, and games there are ways to look at numbers to make the game itself entertaining and generate semi random numbers. Note that these are novelty pool generators and not serious techniques.
Number Squares
These are an interesting way to try to pinpoint numbers using date ranges or using Sudoku or other similar puzzles.
Word Numerology
This comes from numerology. The alphabet is used to label each number, with obvious bias for the numbers 1 to 26:
|
A |
1 |
N |
14 |
|
B |
2 |
O |
15 |
|
C |
3 |
P |
16 |
|
D |
4 |
Q |
17 |
|
E |
5 |
R |
18 |
|
F |
6 |
S |
19 |
|
G |
7 |
T |
20 |
|
H |
8 |
U |
21 |
|
I |
9 |
V |
22 |
|
J |
10 |
W |
23 |
|
K |
11 |
X |
24 |
|
L |
12 |
Y |
25 |
|
M |
13 |
Z |
26 |
Once we have encoded our numbers we can look for:
Words
Proper Nouns
Letter Patterns and Groupings
Using The Calendar
When picking pools of numbers and deciding when to make draws, it may be helpful to look at a calendar to see if there are significant dates on the horizon. Of course, due to the way the calendar is constructed in the West, the range of available numbers is lower than numbers used in standard lotto draws.
For example:
We could use dates from the calendar to form a pool like 21,22,1,4,28.
We could use the calendar dates of draws as the basis for analysis.
We could use days of the week numbers like 1,2,3,4,5,6,7
Esoteric Techniques
While I don’t endorse esoteric techniques, it's worth learning a little about them. Esoteric techniques include things like:
Lucky charms and spells. Items like gemstones, gold, and silver are used to both predict number sequences and to bless choices that have already been made. The idea is to imbue numbers with some form of external luck.
Astronomy or astrology is used to divine things like lucky dates, patterns, or even beneficial states of mind. This is an external prediction system.
Numerology uses ancient number theory, not maths, but pure esoteric explanations, to make predictions and imbue numbers with external values.
Esoteric techniques are what superstitious people rely on when they have exhausted all other possibilities.
Nevertheless, it’s fair to say that there might be a time for esoteric thinking. If you have really done your homework and just need a final push to make a few critical last choices, then pick the ones that feel good or have an EXTERNAL significance.
If you base the whole
strategy on esoteric techniques, this could be said to be lazy;
therefore, it doesn’t have enough science and rigor for my
liking.
Number Sequences
Sequences are
mathematical patterns that form chains of numbers. The easiest one of
all is the standard 0,1,2,3,4,5, etc. We simply add 1 each time to
predict the sequence. Others include:
Multiplication tables – 3, 6, 9, 12, etc.
Jumps – 10, 20, 30, 40, etc.
These sequence patters are very tempting for a player. When we spot a sequence, we can understand it’s hard not to be convinced that we can predict the next number. Hence, when we spot these patterns in lotto results we jump to conclusions.
Every player loves the stories, from people winning unimaginable sums with a single ticket, to the stories of dedication of people who have played the lotto over the long term and finally got their big win. These stories inspire people but also cause them to ask the question, ‘is this all just luck?’
A Game
1 3 6 10 15?
1 1 2 3 5 8 13?
6 19 29 32 34 39?
2 3 5 7 11 13 17 19?
Try Marcus De Sautoy’s little game above. See if you can correctly predict the next numbers in each sequence.
The first is a triangular sequence and uses triangles, stones, and rows to predict the next one.
The second is a Fibonacci sequence, a very famous type of sequence, often found in nature.
The fourth is a sequence of prime numbers, linked to a famous problem called the Riemann Hypothesis.
And the third?
A set of winning lotto numbers from 2008.
Did you guess?
Some
Easily Avoided Errors
I can’t stress enough the importance of common sense in good lotto work. With a wealth of theory, thousands of numbers and combos, combined with dizzying prizes, it’s all too easy to get lost. Some people get muddled in one particular theory; others are bogged down in attempting to take into account too many factors simultaneously.
Common sense cuts down a lot of vague nonsense and makes sense of previously unexplainable blockages in your lotto pick process. Some basic lotto errors are discussed below. These are straightforward pieces of advice, learnt through experience, basic maths and from following the lotto for many years. They will serve helpful when choosing numbers to eliminate.
Birth Dates
Birth dates are inherently a risky strategy. Some simple maths will prove that the chances of players sharing a birthday, or using a date related play, are actually much higher than you would expect. Picking dates actually may lead to lots of shared prizes and banal combinations.
Previous Combinations
Hmmm, if the odds of winning the lotto once are small, then winning twice, with exactly the same set of numbers is a very rare thing indeed. Picking a repeat of all the previous numbers, even if this goes back a while, is a sure fire way to failure. You can go a lot further and start eliminating previous picks in many ways but remember not to go too far. There is a point at which the equation swings the other way and you have eliminated too many numbers.
Consecutive Numbers
A pure consecutive lotto pick has never been drawn anywhere in the world, in history. Indeed, picks such as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 + 28 (Powerball) are very risky selections. In fact, it’s worth noting that the most popular global lotto selection is predictable with the digits 1 to 6. So many people play this combo that prizes would be tiny if ever it came up; this is so unlikely, however, that it matters little in practice.
Grouped Numbers
Like anything in the picking game, too much of a good thing can be harmful. Sticking to ultra long odds like consecutive numbers can be painful and so can any repetitive or over developed sequence pick. Thus, if you like to group numbers in 10s, don’t make selections from the same group of 10 for every number in a draw; this is too selective.
Low Sequences
Many top players believe that a sequence that contains no high numbers, that is to say is usually under 10 or even under 19 – is very unlikely to come up. Statistically, this has shown to be true. So picking sequences like 1,4,5,7, and 9 is inherently risky.
Financial
Strategies
The most common financial strategy is very simple, and it works too. Financial strategy holds that there is an optimum way to invest money in lotto play. This involves selecting the right number of games, the right amount to invest in each game, and then the number of tickets or sequences that will be played.
The first strategy involves buying additional number combinations. At first, this seems like a very good idea.
If the odds on picking a winner are 1 in 1000, but if we buy two tickets, this means the odds are shortened to 1 in 500, for us. We can keep doing this, buying more and more tickets, clipping odds as we go.
In theory, this works every time, and if we had enough money we could buy up ALL the tickets on the lotto and ALL the combos and be certain of winning. Lotto organisers have long been aware of this and there is an easy way to see that this type of ‘buying up the market’ won’t work today.
There are stories of giant syndicates buying up tickets and winning like this. In fact, this has been known to happen in the past. Today, however, two big security measures stop this from happening.
Prizes are often shared. Therefore, although the scheme makes sense when you buy the tickets, after you win, you find your calculations are screwed up badly because your prizes are much lower than you expected.
Odds, ticket prices, and payouts are carefully calculated to make sure this is impossible within most games – or if not impossible, not profitable. Many times, you may spend hours working through and scheme only to find that win is not actually profitable.
State of Mind
Often, winners have not made a deliberate effort to play the game scientifically. Many winners are also very relaxed about their success and seem calm despite what they have achieved. It’s true to say that state of mind during play does have an impact on winning.
Winning begets winning and books like The Secret have shown than positive thinking and frame of mind are vital for success. Many believe that our internal feelings can be drawn into our game play and actually influence the outcomes.
One major tip is that you should not focus on the massive win, huge yacht, and the retirement dream each time you play. Big wins and the great payoffs are what excite players, but at this professional level, it's necessary to look at wins in a more ruthless, financial manner.
In one sense, a good player must become like an accountant. Thus, it may be better to focus on winning two smaller amounts than a larger one. This is all part of gauging the odds. In poker, players are not always looking for a straight flush; they also make good money by using pairs.
What you need to do is minimise the gambling element and all the potential mental harm involved and channel your energies into positive ways of pulling off wins with a more thoughtful approach.
Filtering
Filtering is a reductive tool. Given all the possible combinations and numbers, a filter will remove certain values based on a system or algorithm. A computer software program usually does this.
By eliminating bad or undesirable numbers, the player can check existing selections or form pool that has only ‘valid’ numbers or combinations before selecting. Broadly, there are two types of filter systems: number orientated filters and grouping filters.
Number Filters
Every number is a value, and a number filter looks at values and compares them to a set of rules. The system tests each number and asks questions like, ‘is this number allowed according to my parameters?’, or ‘is this number of a value which is prohibited because it appears on a list of bad numbers?’ It accepts or rejects numbers as it moves through the whole pool.
So number filters look at things like values, comparisons of values, hot and cold lists, key number lists, and so on to include or exclude a particular number.
To go through huge lists of numbers with lots of parameters, it’s best to use some kind of software. In fact, software is used to design and test lotto games. So use the tools of the profession if you really want to play at your highest possible level.
Grouping Filters
Grouping filters should in theory lead to better accuracy and enable you to undertake precise lotto tasks. Say that you need to find 5 numbers from a pool of 100, this looks tricky at first, but with a few filters, we can soon chop it down to size.
So:
We filter out all the odd numbers over 50. This reduces our total to 76.
Now we want to get rid of any past wins. So we filter out a further 20 numbers. Already the job is more manageable.
We filter for our key numbers. This brings up 8 possible choices.
Finally, we filter all multiples of 5, this gives us 5 remaining and our job is done.
In this theory, multiple filters are very common, both for achieving complex tasks and for getting numbers and pools down to the right sizes.
The most common filter of all is ‘can I afford this number of plays?’ This cuts most games down to a useable size immediately!
Pros and Cons of Filtering