How much do the odds increase by buying more tickets?

Reply #10

elmoo168 — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 21:31:09 GMT

Is there a way to calculate at which point it's no longer worth buying more tickets? What we do in the office is that when MA Megabucks (pick 6 of 42, jackpot odds 1 in 5,245,786) gets high, we pool our money for some tickets. So say we managed to get together $100 for a draw, and some more people want to join and we can possibly get up to $150, I never could figure out if the extra $50 would be worth putting in for that draw, or we should hold off and use the $50 for the next draw (assuming no... [ More ]

Reply #9

diamondpalace — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 09:09:55 GMT

Let's try to get the right numbers, even with 1 ticket you're good to go

Reply #8

time*treat — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 08:03:08 GMT

Each ticket increases your odds of winning, but by less than the amount of each previous ticket did.

2 tickets doubles your chances vs. 1 ticket, but 3 tickets only gives you a 50% boost over 2 tickets.

4 tickets raise your odds by 33% vs. 3 tickets. Diminishing returns, all the way up.

Reply #7

Coin Toss — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 05:48:42 GMT

Sure. Then why not take it to buying 200 tickets, which by your theory would make the odds only 2878 to 1 (odds are expressed as 2878:1), or better yet, 2,000 tickets would make them merely 287:1, Why not just keep going til you had a lock ? What's $75,000 when it would take the odds to 7.5:1

NO MATTER HOEW MANY TICKETS YOU BUY EACH TICKET IS UP AGAINST ODDS OF 575,757:1. ONLY ONE SET OF WINNING NUMBERS IS DRAWN. ONE OF 575,757 COMBINATIONS WINS A JACKPOT (and that's if anyone has it). ALL TH... [ More ]

Reply #6

RJOh — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 22:53:03 GMT

It isn't the player with the most money that wins, it the player with the winning numbers. You're not competing with players who buy more tickets, like them you're trying to guess the right combinations.

Reply #5

Elizabeth03 — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 22:41:06 GMT

I have seen people buy up to 6 tickets at a time, frankly I can't afford to compete with these people, they have more money than I have..

They have a better chance of winning then I do, unless by the small chance that I have the right combination..

I get pretty discouraged with the lottery numbers alot

Reply #4

billbled — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 22:37:12 GMT

Right - I was planning too.

I'm trying to study on this concept of wheeling - so each of the 20 lines would be different and individual picks.

Reply #3

RJOh — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 22:33:09 GMT

What if I spend $20 and buy 20 tickets?

Are my odds then 1 in 28,788 (575,757 divided by 20)?

Only if you buy 20 different combinations.

Reply #2

billbled — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 22:23:37 GMT

Thanks

Reply #1

JimmySand9 — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 21:51:09 GMT

Yes, those are your odds. Some people on this board don't get the law of ratios and will disagree with that, but ask any legitimate mathematician and they will tell you that buying 20 tickets for a 5/39 game will give you 1 in 28,787.85 odds for the jackpot.

How much do the odds increase by buying more tickets?

billbled — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 21:46:15 GMT

Hi,

I'm trying to understand a math thing in the NC Cash 5 game.

They say the odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 575,757

OK - so what if I buy more than one ticket?

What if I spend $20 and buy 20 tickets?

Are my odds then 1 in 28,788 (575,757 divided by 20)?

I've searched the Forums and haven't found the answer to this - just wondering if one of you all knows - I figured someone out there probably does!

Thanks,

Bill