I read once that 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 was a very popular combination but I never figured any other sequential group would be also.

I bet a lot of those people thought that they had won big time. It must have been a shock to learn that there were over 200 winners for the second prize.

I once knew somebody who played 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 because he figured it seemed like a combination that nobody would play. I can only assume that thousands of people think the same thing about every sequence and pattern there is. The last time I knew of a lottery offering information on the common combinations the diagonals starting from the top left and top right of the play slip were the most heavily played.

I'd assume that  there might be 1 or 2 people who won with QP's, but  237 people or so all played the full sequence, and got lucky that the bonus number wasn't something other than 43. What I'm really curious about is the thinking of the 106 people who got 5 numbers, but not the bonus. They either played 40, 41,42,44,45, choosing something other than 43 (I'd guess that a lot of them played 46), or they played only 4 of those and the 23. The only thing that makes sense to me is that they realize a straight sequence is likely to have many winners, but figured skipping a number from the sequence gave them a good chance at having a jackpot to themselves. I'm guessing the results offer a lot of clues about the kind of combinations that are popular.

BTW, 5+0 paid almost twice as much as 5+1.

Ten years ago I won 250,000 playing the Michigan Keno game with the numbers 68,69,71,72,73,74,76,77,78,79. I was very happy that it was not para mutual, until more than ten people have played the same number. It showed me that any number combination, may not be likely, but it sure is possible!!

It reminds me of a episode of the tv show Martin. The one where Martin wins the lottery, quits his job, goes out and buys new furniture, and fancy clothes and furs only to find out that a lot of people had won and his high dollar winning ticket was only worth about $500. Then he has to go back and beg for his job back.

here in oz one of our smaller lotto's had  wining numbers  almost all divisable by 5, ie

2 15 20 25 35 40 

it had the largest number of winners ever and they got something like $6k ea, i said it sure would have sucked,,, but they still won more than me, which was a zero.  i can easily imagine telling my boss. landlord, mother,?GF and everyone else in life who may not even have deserved it, to go %^$$^ themselves, only to find i had won $6k.

which leads me to the opinion that untill u know the prize, no parties , no celebrating, no nothing. wait till the amount is determined and  maybe the cash is in your bank.  

 "Had there only been one second prize ticket, however, the ticket-holder would have won more than $285,000. Instead, 239 people will split the cash and claim just under $1,100 a piece. "

Ouch!  That got to hurt!  I would be very upset if I won that.

Heh, reminds me of Bruce Almighty...

My MM easy pick that I got yesterday gave me 38, 39, 40... At least I got one number (40) but that was it and I already had that on numbers I picked..