Lotto Gazette reporter:

So, Casmir, tell us about this new Pick-4 system of yours.

Casmir: Well, I land on a number I really like and play it straight for $1.

LG: And if you hit?

Casmir: Well, that's the beauty of my system. When I hit (I'm still waiting to), I'm going to play the entire payoff right back on the same number. When I catch that one it will be a doozie!

I think of it as BET IT TILL IT HITS AND THEN PARLAY IT!

LG: Good luck, Casmir

Casmir: Thank you!

LG: Das vadanya

I agree, Jarasan.  That's generally the case, but since the midday drawings began only on May 19th, any research on averages wouldn't be conclusive. But what are you saying?  That you agree with BobP many people bet the same number that hit the night before?  Since there were 6 pre-tests conducted before the second drawing, then someone would have to pick the 7th drawing, not the next one.  Most people aren't even aware of the pre-tests.  As I previously wrote, since this is very rare and the top prize is $5,000 the person who does that might win, but only after losing as much as he lost (or more)  If someone wants to look at the past few year's results, go ahead and let me know.  I couldn't find any others.

Also, did anyone here take into consideration that there was a very bad storm hitting Florida at this time?  On Mon we were asked not to leave our homes on Tues, except in an emergency.  All government offices were closed in my county.  By Wed many areas in FL were flooded and without electricity.  Governor Crist declared a State of Emergency.  500 National Guard troops were activated, etc.  I bet many people bought advanced plays and won twice.  Don't people often bet their numbers for the week even when the weather is nice?  Unless I misunderstand the comments that make predictions on LP, members often post numbers for the week.  So I assume they are saying "play this pick-3 or pick-4 all week."   If 1958 is a popular number like 777, then it only makes sense that there were a lot of winners on both days. 

"the average payout was just $87,769 with 281 winners"

Just one more question - if the reason for the unusually large payout on Wed morning is that many people decided to play Tues evening's winning numbers, then what explanation is there for the $1.8M payout on Tues?   It was because, as the article says, some combinations are just more popular than others. 

No, I just think as a general thing "day" gets played less.  There is no system to playing birthdays, IMHO, if you hit a bday it is probably because you play it again and again ad infinitum until you get tired of handing money over and give up so that it will finally drop the day you stop playing it.

I can guarantee the day I stop playing the number I've been waiting on for over year that it'll drop the next drawing or within a couple of days.   It has happened to me at least 6 times this year on derived plays.

       OK I DIDNT REALIZE THIS HAD HAPPENED AS I RARELY PLAY THE CASH 3 PLAY 4 GAMES ... but for the CASH 3 Evening drawings of MARCH 12 & MARCH 13TH 2008 both were 1 - 2 - 7 (IN THAT ORDER) Now , this is not consecutive BUT as I also recently found out yes, PRE TESTS are done so truly not rndom....and the first thing  thought when i saw the highpayouts (on 1958)  is......BIRTH YEAR   

    payouts for cash 3 evening draws MARCH 12 = 1 - 2 -7 (9762 WINNERS) = $1 163 135

                                                           MARCH 13 = 1 - 2 - 7 (11,216 WINNERS) = $1 235 555

  ANYONE want to speculate on WHY the payouts of these 2 draws so high>and soo many winners !!! Rarely is the payout on a cash 3 draw over 1 MILLION

  ALSO i agree less people are playing the afternoon draws !

  amin

Jarasan,  I said I agree that day drawings get less play than evening drawings.  That's easy to prove, although FL has only had midday plays for 3 months.  But nobody is answering why, if the reason so many people won on Wed is because they bet the same numbers from Tues evening, there 5 to 10 times the winners on Tues night as well? 

Look at yesterday's numbers.  Same night (Tues) and there were 256 winners, payout $79,250.  Today the drawing (Wed midday) there were 137 winners, payout $43,400.  Look at the numbers I pasted in my above comment from the same days last week when 1-9-5-8 was drawn. 

Sometimes there are just 4 number combinations that are more popular than others, which is what the article points out, and maybe the upcoming storm had something to do with it too.  I was guessing 1-9-5-8 was played so much because a lot of people were born that year or graduated high school or college in 1958 or got married in 1958.   To me that makes sense.  In any case, I was never disagreeing that more people usually buy tickets for the evening draw, because it's true.  I was only saying that both the Tues evening and the Wed midday drawings both had several times the average number of winners. 

@amininflorida -  Pick-3 has lower odds and repeat numbers are more common, however, I still think that it's possible that many people play the same numbers all the time or play them for the week.  In March there was no midday draw, but I think many people continued to just play "the next game" without understanding the change.  As members of LP, I think we pay much more attention to these things than the average player.   Just my opinion.

BTW, I don't usually play pick-3 or pick-4 games, but when the Lottery reports the number of winners and the payouts, they're not breaking them down, right?  So the total includes the people who play the numbers straight, boxed, etc.  (is this correct?)

BTW, I don't usually play pick-3 or pick-4 games, but when the Lottery reports the number of winners and the payouts, they're not breaking them down, right?  So the total includes the people who play the numbers straight, boxed, etc.  (is this correct?)

Yes The number of winners includes all types of bets.

It's a known fact that people play the pick 3/4 numbers that were just drawn in the next draw. A lot of people know a repeat is possible for 50 cent box in most states that equals 100 bucks pick 4.

40 bucks pick 3 boxed more money if it's a double most states.

Pick 4 is also increased payout if it's a double or triple.

I sometimes play the last drawn number for a 50/50 bet (straight / boxed)

"But nobody is answering why, if the reason so many people won on Wed is because they bet the same numbers from Tues evening, there 5 to 10 times the winners on Tues night as well?"

It looks like some of the Tuesday winners used some of their winnings and played the same number again multiple times. The average payout on Tuesday evening drawing and the Wednesday midday drawing are almost the same and that's sort of strange unless they all used the same straight to box ratio they used the night before.

If the Florida site shows how much is wagered on each drawing, it might show that when there is large payout on an evening drawing, there is a higher than wager on the next midday drawing. If players had the straight bet and box bet on separate tickets, they could cash the box ticket almost anywhere and play a little extra on the next drawing. Then go to the lottery office and collect the $5000 straight win.

"So the total includes the people who play the numbers straight, boxed, etc.  (is this correct?)"

The total is the number of winning tickets sold and includes both straight and boxed wins.

Also, since the FL Lottery conducts 6 pre-tests before the second Play-4 drawing, it really wasn't consecutive in the true sense. (which is why I don't like them!!)

They also do that with Fantasy Five and Lotto. So you've got to hate these as well....lol 

I forgot to mention that a driver at work was so distressed over this because he plays that number all the time, and didn't play it that first night, especially when it came out the next day...lol He was married in 1958.

His wife won the MA JP back in the early 80s. It wasn't millions, but she had about $800,000, or something like that over 20 years payout.