VIDEO: Why we hate computerized drawings

Jan 28, 2022, 5:48 pm (29 comments)

Video

You'll never want to watch an animated lottery drawing again

By Kate Northrop

MARTINSVILLE, NJ — If you know Lottery Post, you know we hate computerized drawings, but it's not that we dislike computers and technology... so why all the hate?

There are far too many documented incidents that prove again and again why computerized lottery drawings are too risky, no matter how many safety precautions and procedures are in place.

Lottery players overwhelmingly prefer traditional ball machine drawings because the drawing process can be witnessed easily by any layman, minimizing the potential for fraud. If you've seen our video about Eddie Tipton, you'll know that this is entirely possible.

WATCH: Why we hate computerized drawings

This may also surprise you, but we'll say upfront that computerized drawings do have a place in some lottery games. Do you know which ones?

Whether you're a lottery veteran or are taking the first plunge into the exciting world of gaming, the debate surrounding computerized drawings is a common topic that you'll see come up time and time again.

In our latest video, we compiled plenty of examples and reasons that illustrate the tremendous downside of digital drawings. To watch and hear our thoughts on why we strongly dislike computerized drawings so much, visit Lottery Post's official YouTube channel.

We've also included a link below to Lottery Post's archive of computerized drawing news stories, spanning nearly 20 years of history on the subject.

News story photo

Lottery Post Staff

Comments

rdgrnr's avatarrdgrnr

Great story, great video, very informative, very interesting, very well written, very well presented.  Thumbs Up

MADDOG10's avatarMADDOG10

Kudos on the presentation. Very well done, and also I do agree with all being said about computerized drawings. Thanks. 

konane's avatarkonane

Great information well presented. Enjoyed watching and agree about computer draws. Cool

Pick3master3838's avatarPick3master3838

I wish there was more outrage on performing 7 pre-tests or 7 or more post tests with ball machines. Not to mention the constant rotating of tubes and machines.

I don't buy that BS about checking for tampering. Or whether the machines are working properly. If a machine is not working properly it will fail, and they will do a redraw. What makes them think that even after a few tests, a machine can't break? What if the machine did break after the tests? They would do the exact same thing, do a redraw. Ridiculous!

grwurston's avatargrwurston

Quote: Originally posted by Pick3master3838 on Jan 28, 2022

I wish there was more outrage on performing 7 pre-tests or 7 or more post tests with ball machines. Not to mention the constant rotating of tubes and machines.

I don't buy that BS about checking for tampering. Or whether the machines are working properly. If a machine is not working properly it will fail, and they will do a redraw. What makes them think that even after a few tests, a machine can't break? What if the machine did break after the tests? They would do the exact same thing, do a redraw. Ridiculous!

I Agree!    There are videos on you tube showing the whole testing process. The security they have is incredible with cameras, wire tabs with serial numbers on the door locks, and separate badge scanners just to get into the room with the equipment. The cabinets with the balls are locked also. Then they weigh and drop test all the balls and have video tape of every thing that happens from start to finish. 

Do they really need all those pre/posts tests for each drawing too? No!!  No No  Thumbs Down

Hermanus104's avatarHermanus104

I have lived in California for almost five years. I have never played their state lottery because they use a random number generator. I still play the Virginia Lottery when I visit my parents for Christmas (because that state uses ball machines).

Hermanus104's avatarHermanus104

Quote: Originally posted by Pick3master3838 on Jan 28, 2022

I wish there was more outrage on performing 7 pre-tests or 7 or more post tests with ball machines. Not to mention the constant rotating of tubes and machines.

I don't buy that BS about checking for tampering. Or whether the machines are working properly. If a machine is not working properly it will fail, and they will do a redraw. What makes them think that even after a few tests, a machine can't break? What if the machine did break after the tests? They would do the exact same thing, do a redraw. Ridiculous!

Texas puts their pre-test results on their website, including the machine, ball set, alternate machine, alternate ball set, and results. They usually do four pre-tests, and they'll change something and do more pre-tests if the machine pops out the same number in the same location in all four test draws.

Nikkicute's avatarNikkicute

When you go to the store and choose Quick Pick, is that not considered a Computer DrawWhat?

Bleudog101

Quote: Originally posted by Pick3master3838 on Jan 28, 2022

I wish there was more outrage on performing 7 pre-tests or 7 or more post tests with ball machines. Not to mention the constant rotating of tubes and machines.

I don't buy that BS about checking for tampering. Or whether the machines are working properly. If a machine is not working properly it will fail, and they will do a redraw. What makes them think that even after a few tests, a machine can't break? What if the machine did break after the tests? They would do the exact same thing, do a redraw. Ridiculous!

One name comes to mind:   Eddie Tipton.

 

Not sure who our Director is.   Guy from Florida retired.   Then came the pandemic and now we're stuck with CNG or RNG and looks like Kentucky has no desire to go back to mechanical ball drawings. (that's what they say to my inquiry).  It really sucks for the players I think.

Bleudog101

Quote: Originally posted by Nikkicute on Jan 29, 2022

When you go to the store and choose Quick Pick, is that not considered a Computer DrawWhat?

You are 100% correct, it is a computer draw which is OK in my book.   It is the drawing itself that I can safely say 100% of players are against.   Often I wonder when you hit QP or clerk does if the request goes through their satellite dish to the lottery place or does the machine have a chip inside?  May never know that answer...but next week may just send a message to KLC to ask them that.

Todd's avatarTodd

Quote: Originally posted by Nikkicute on Jan 29, 2022

When you go to the store and choose Quick Pick, is that not considered a Computer DrawWhat?

It's a random set of numbers generated by the lottery ticket machine, but not a computerized drawing.  The drawing is what determines the numbers for everyone.  Your quick pick is just for your one ticket — and you are given the choice of whether to pick the numbers yourself or not.

Besides, I don't think it would be practical for every lottery retailer to have a full ball drawing studio behind the counter just to pick the numbers on your ticket.  🤪

CDanaT's avatarCDanaT

Imagine TN had a problem with their draws under the leadership of RPH(aka Becky)....It's unfathomable.

Thanks for the treasure trove of info.

noise-gate

Quote: Originally posted by Hermanus104 on Jan 29, 2022

I have lived in California for almost five years. I have never played their state lottery because they use a random number generator. I still play the Virginia Lottery when I visit my parents for Christmas (because that state uses ball machines).

Hmm, to the best of my knowledge H, Superlotto Plus is not a RNG game. Apart from MM & PB, the other games- yes.

Stack47

Quote: Originally posted by Nikkicute on Jan 29, 2022

When you go to the store and choose Quick Pick, is that not considered a Computer DrawWhat?

I knew a guy that thought winning a 6/49 game jackpot with a quick pick was the same as beating odds of 14 million to 1 twice in one drawing. I guess he was loosely saying there were two random drawings, but his logic also applied to self picking six numbers or any other method to create six numbers. Though PB has a tongue-in-cheek explanation of winning QPs, never saw the actual ratio of QPs to SPs sales for any game. And play slips have QP options so we can't really call that method a self pick.

Not sure that players would dislike and not trust a random terminal computer generated QP for the same reasons as RNG drawings, but if they don't trust either or both, maybe they should consider not playing those games.

bigbuckswede

I am pro wheel draw, but it don't always are a sucess. The clip below is from when the Swedish tv-show Zick-Zack had live drawing of swedish lotto. They ended the drawing live after this... 

Lotto Drawing gone bad

What goes wrong is that the machine draws to bonus balls at the same time, the presenter gets confused. It's not that visible in the clip.

Soledad

Quote: Originally posted by Pick3master3838 on Jan 28, 2022

I wish there was more outrage on performing 7 pre-tests or 7 or more post tests with ball machines. Not to mention the constant rotating of tubes and machines.

I don't buy that BS about checking for tampering. Or whether the machines are working properly. If a machine is not working properly it will fail, and they will do a redraw. What makes them think that even after a few tests, a machine can't break? What if the machine did break after the tests? They would do the exact same thing, do a redraw. Ridiculous!

Air time is very expensive. In NY the drawings are live. Nobody's gonna care if there was a mistake, and give them the time to fix it. It has to be done on time and then back to regularly scheduled programming.

Todd's avatarTodd

Quote: Originally posted by Soledad on Jan 29, 2022

Air time is very expensive. In NY the drawings are live. Nobody's gonna care if there was a mistake, and give them the time to fix it. It has to be done on time and then back to regularly scheduled programming.

Air time is expensive on TV, which is why it is perfectly acceptable -- and perhaps an even better solution -- is to stream drawings online, which is very cheap to do.  Most lotteries have started doing it, and it eliminates that excuse about "expensive air time" on TV.

Todd's avatarTodd

Quote: Originally posted by bigbuckswede on Jan 29, 2022

I am pro wheel draw, but it don't always are a sucess. The clip below is from when the Swedish tv-show Zick-Zack had live drawing of swedish lotto. They ended the drawing live after this... 

Lotto Drawing gone bad

What goes wrong is that the machine draws to bonus balls at the same time, the presenter gets confused. It's not that visible in the clip.

LOL, you gotta love the music still blaring away with faux excitement as the hosts go silent! 🤣🤣

lakerben's avatarlakerben

Nm supposedly is computerized.  I have had a misprint of my tickets with these machines.    Last year before thanksgiving I won $1200 on pick 4.  I gave gave the same slip to the clerk twice.  The machine printed out two tickets one with November 20th and the other with the 27th.  The wining draw on the 20th was 1117 I had 1711 straight box. 

The Nm lottery refused to acknowledge that the machine printed out the error as a result they only paid for one ticket. 

 

Drum

STell743

Live draws, my butt. Those things are pre-recorded. They fool you into thinking they are drawing the number right then but they have checked the payouts of the numbers and do at least two "live" drawings then they air the number with the lowest payout. Why do you think there is a 8 minute delay in the draw during the day and a 14 minute delay at night (VA). Most lottery offices have 9 to 5 hours plus they are closed on Sundays. So you mean to tell me there is a guy that goes to the office at 10:59pm every night and Sundays just to draw numbers. Yeah right. And I'm not debating this. The lottery system is rigged.

DunLeavy

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L J1's avatarL J1

Thanks for reporting on a great topic regarding computerized drawings.

I always wondered if and when the winning numbers are drawn from an RNG process, if the winning numbers are selected in a chronological order format. Or, are they selected in a random order and then rearranged in chronological order for public viewing.

Also, in Bonus Number Lotto games, would the Bonus Number be selected from the same computer, or a different computer?

Hermanus104's avatarHermanus104

Quote: Originally posted by noise-gate on Jan 29, 2022

Hmm, to the best of my knowledge H, Superlotto Plus is not a RNG game. Apart from MM & PB, the other games- yes.

Thanks - I was aware that California had one state game that had ball drawings. I don't play Superlotto, Powerball, or Mega Millions because I disagree with the prize structure. Example from last night's Superlotto drawing:

4 numbers $88 1 in 7,585

I can win more money with much better odds playing the Pick 3. This is from last night's drawing (the pari-mutuel for this afternoon's drawing isn't in yet):

Straight $490 1 in 1,000
Todd's avatarTodd

Quote: Originally posted by Hermanus104 on Jan 30, 2022

Thanks - I was aware that California had one state game that had ball drawings. I don't play Superlotto, Powerball, or Mega Millions because I disagree with the prize structure. Example from last night's Superlotto drawing:

4 numbers $88 1 in 7,585

I can win more money with much better odds playing the Pick 3. This is from last night's drawing (the pari-mutuel for this afternoon's drawing isn't in yet):

Straight $490 1 in 1,000

The odds alone do not tell the story, of course.  Pick 3 did not offer a chance to win $12 million last night.  SuperLotto Plus did.

Mata Garbo

Yet another great video Kate. I remember the Tennessee duplicate numbers scandal. The press in Nashville was calling for the resignation of Lottery director Rebecca Paul. A lot of people would come into the store I worked at and just buy scratch-offs. After a few months everyone forgot about it when the Powerball jackpot got huge. Love your videos, I always learn something.

US Flag

LottoIntuitive's avatarLottoIntuitive

The real question is, what's the best strategy to get all lotteries to be required to only use ball machines and show their drawings live online?

 

I'll never play a lottery that uses a computer to get their drawings results.

 

I'm sure the solution will include staging the largest boycott of state lotteries that use computerized drawings ever.

LottoIntuitive's avatarLottoIntuitive

Quote: Originally posted by rdgrnr on Jan 28, 2022

Great story, great video, very informative, very interesting, very well written, very well presented.  Thumbs Up

I Agree!

Rigged50

Quote: Originally posted by STell743 on Jan 30, 2022

Live draws, my butt. Those things are pre-recorded. They fool you into thinking they are drawing the number right then but they have checked the payouts of the numbers and do at least two "live" drawings then they air the number with the lowest payout. Why do you think there is a 8 minute delay in the draw during the day and a 14 minute delay at night (VA). Most lottery offices have 9 to 5 hours plus they are closed on Sundays. So you mean to tell me there is a guy that goes to the office at 10:59pm every night and Sundays just to draw numbers. Yeah right. And I'm not debating this. The lottery system is rigged.

Two Towers GIF

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