Why do people try to pick numbers...Previous TopicNext Topic

When mostly quickpicks win?  This mostly refers to pick 5 and 6 games, there do seem to be some that can pick 3 or 4 on a fairly consistent basis.

That is the question.

When mostly quickpicks win?  This mostly refers to pick 5 and 6 games, there do seem to be some that can pick 3 or 4 on a fairly consistent basis.

That is the question.

The difference between the number of winners using quick picks and manual selection isn't that great. And it also depends upon the number of people that play quick picks vs the number that select manually.

When mostly quickpicks win?  This mostly refers to pick 5 and 6 games, there do seem to be some that can pick 3 or 4 on a fairly consistent basis.

That is the question.

Au contraire. That's just your opinion.

These are the results of the Illinois Pick 5 game for 2008 and thus far in 2009, which I'm using as an example because there is a drawing every day. This includes shared jackpots. QP = Quick Picks, PS = Player's Selections.

These were the 2008 results:

146 Jackpots

120 QP    82.19%

91 PS       75.8%

2009

To date:

144 Jackpots  

121 QP    84.02%

80 PS       55.55%

So for the last year and 11 months combined;

290 Jackpots 

241 QP     83.10%

171 PS     70.95%

If you go to the Mega Millions or Powerball websites on the FAQ page you will see it stated that 70% or more of the winners, and ticket sales, are quick picks.

Granted that's one state and one game, but pick a lottery game amnd track it and see what you find.

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Re: the question of the OP, I'd say one of the biggest reasons people try to pick numbers is simply ego. One example of that is someone hitting a jackpot and saying they played birth dates and ages of every one in their family. People hear that and think, "If it worked for them, it will work for me."

Gambling is gambling....when I worked in casinos and we had known "Georges" (good tippers) come up to a cold table we'd tell them the table had been cold all night and the players were getting slaughtered. Next thing they would say is, "Give me the dice, I'LL CHANGE THAT!"

Invariably, $500 or $1,000 later the same players would say, "Why didn't you !@#$%^& tell me the table was cold!"

Any gambling establishment is in the ego business just as much as whatever games they offer. This is why gamblers blow so much money chasing a losing bet. The person that had $40 play money in a casino will blow $300 trying to recover the original $40.A person who blew $10 on scratchers will spend another $40 trying to get the $10 back.

Another is the superstition that if you stick with a set of numbers and skip playing them one day that's the day they will hit.

Another reason people play numbers they've picked is because they themselves have either developed a system or they are using someone else's system and are in absolute denial about the fact that it just doesn't work.

Whether a lottery player wins with their own numbers or a quick pick when it comes right down to it it's just luck, nothing else.

Au contraire. That's just your opinion.

These are the results of the Illinois Pick 5 game for 2008 and thus far in 2009, which I'm using as an example because there is a drawing every day. This includes shared jackpots. QP = Quick Picks, PS = Player's Selections.

These were the 2008 results:

146 Jackpots

120 QP    82.19%

91 PS       75.8%

2009

To date:

144 Jackpots  

121 QP    84.02%

80 PS       55.55%

So for the last year and 11 months combined;

290 Jackpots 

241 QP     83.10%

171 PS     70.95%

If you go to the Mega Millions or Powerball websites on the FAQ page you will see it stated that 70% or more of the winners, and ticket sales, are quick picks.

Granted that's one state and one game, but pick a lottery game amnd track it and see what you find.

______________________________________

Re: the question of the OP, I'd say one of the biggest reasons people try to pick numbers is simply ego. One example of that is someone hitting a jackpot and saying they played birth dates and ages of every one in their family. People hear that and think, "If it worked for them, it will work for me."

Gambling is gambling....when I worked in casinos and we had known "Georges" (good tippers) come up to a cold table we'd tell them the table had been cold all night and the players were getting slaughtered. Next thing they would say is, "Give me the dice, I'LL CHANGE THAT!"

Invariably, $500 or $1,000 later the same players would say, "Why didn't you !@#$%^& tell me the table was cold!"

Any gambling establishment is in the ego business just as much as whatever games they offer. This is why gamblers blow so much money chasing a losing bet. The person that had $40 play money in a casino will blow $300 trying to recover the original $40.A person who blew $10 on scratchers will spend another $40 trying to get the $10 back.

Another is the superstition that if you stick with a set of numbers and skip playing them one day that's the day they will hit.

Another reason people play numbers they've picked is because they themselves have either developed a system or they are using someone else's system and are in absolute denial about the fact that it just doesn't work.

Whether a lottery player wins with their own numbers or a quick pick when it comes right down to it it's just luck, nothing else.

When mostly quickpicks win?  This mostly refers to pick 5 and 6 games, there do seem to be some that can pick 3 or 4 on a fairly consistent basis.

That is the question.

It really does come down to luck in the jackpot games. I pick my own numbers for 2 reasons. Because I like to "play" with the numbers, and I don't want to take a chance with a QP that's a weird combination like 1-2-3-4-5-50.

In fact, there are times that I will use LP's RNG to play numbers. But, I can pick which combinations I want to use. Can't do that when buying a QP. What you get is what you get.

I think most people that buy QP's are just in the game so to speak, and don't have or want to take the time to do number workouts. At work there are about 15 or 20 people in a Tx Lotto pool, which I haven't participated in. I told the guy running it that he should make sure to put all the numbers in the matrix in play. He said he just doesn't have time to fool with it. He has a hard enough time just collecting the money. (Which is why I don't participate, LOL).

Well Put!  In the past I've spent $100 chasing down $20 that I'd lost....without even realizing it.  After reading your post, it really put me to thinking....geez....never considered the fact that EGO could be the reason for my stupidity.  I always looked at it as just winning my money back...lol...but you are so correct.  Thanks for posting that.  I think I really needed to read it.

dopey1779,

It's not anyone's stupidity, it's just the nature of a lot gamblers. People who play and lose and say, "I want my money back" should have never played in the first place.

rcbuckeye,
I think most people that buy QP's are just in the game so to speak, anddon't have or want to take the time to do number workouts

ca dreamin*,
I agree that most people "are just in the game so to speak". Everyone I know who plays the lottery is more concerned that they have their ticket(s) for the upcoming drawing  than what their actual numbers are.

You guys have me wondering how many people who play only QPs even know how to fill out a playslip!

When mostly quickpicks win?  This mostly refers to pick 5 and 6 games, there do seem to be some that can pick 3 or 4 on a fairly consistent basis.

That is the question.

LOL Coin Toss! The mystery has been solved! More people play QP's because they don't know how to fill out the playslip!!!OMG LOL

Seriously I think rcbbuckeye had it right when he said people "don't have or want to take the time to do number workouts". It seems like everyone plays the Mega game but I have never heard anyone talk about what numbers to play. They focus on the jackpot amount and just make sure they have their ticket.  More than once I've been at the gas station behind people who will have a long list of numbers to play for pick 3 and then will ask for a QP for MM. Go figure!