I read that the Lottery machines bring the store owner additional revenue from the state and customers who come in to buy tickets will most likely purchase other items, that guy who bought your brother-in-law's store doesn't sound like the sharpest knife in the drawer!
Anyway, I picked my own numbers in SM Thursday's drawing and didn't do so well, not even on the Free $3, I used some strategy tips I read on-line which would have worked to get me at least 3 numbers, but I did't pick the right numbers. The tip said pick one number from the prior drawing because it will usually repeat on SM, so I did, but I didn't pick the right one. As a matter of fact, on Thursday, 2 numbers repeated from Monday's drawing. 9 and 32. Another tip was to pick at least one long shot, and I did, but the not the right one, it turns out two long shots came out, 6 and 13, both were on the cold and overdue lists. I intentionally did not throw in my birthday (25), because I don't have much luck with that number, but it came out, much to my dismay! I used some other criteria I read about, like how to play odd and even numbers and the total sum of all the numbers, and that strategy did work for Thursday's drawing, so I am encouraged that I might be on the right track here and feel more confident picking my own numbers now, instead of getting all quick picks all the time, the trouble is takes so long to figure out a few lines, never mind all five!
I have to finish cleaning my house now, then I will start my analyzation of SM numbers so I can pick my own numbers tonight, and then I have to decide which lottery retailer to patronize to get my $3 free, it's a good thing I live in NYC metro area where there is an endless number of lottery retailers, but it actually makes it harder to decide where to purchase the tickets, too many lottery store locations to choose from..