Southwest Florida United States
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November 6, 2007
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I'm wondering if these things matter when playing any lootery game:
1. Does it matter what store you buy your tickets from? Like, are there any odds for or against certain lottery retailers...volume, last time someone won there, etc
2. What time of day is best to purchase the tickets? Like, waiting till the machine is ready to close before buying them or just anytime...
3. If you were spending say $60 in quick pics, would you buy them all at the same time?
4. If you were buying $60 in quick pics, would you be better off getting 60 individual tickets, 5 on a sheet or 10 on a sheet?
5. Does it matter what city you buy the tickets at? For example, if you live in XYZ city and work in QRS city, does it really matter what city the tickets are purchased in? Are some areas more likely to win than others?
I know this may sound kinda dumb, but, I have found myself going to different stores in different areas and spending like $10 at each place. I'm just wondering if there is any sense to me continuing to do this or am I just wasting time and money (especially at $3.40 per gallon!)?
MD United States
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June 18, 2003
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I'd have to say technically no to all your questions. However some people are superstitious like buying tickets at the last minute and going to different places etc.
The lottery numbers drawings have no idea where the winning ticket will be sold prior to the drawing. It could be the mom and pop soda shop the rinky dink candy store or any one of thousands of lottery retailers throughout the states.
BigJohn says. You don't hit the number. The number hits you!!!!
I'm not Big John, I'm Four4me, Big John's a friend.
United States
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February 26, 2007
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Quote: Originally posted by Rainmaker101 on Nov 23, 2007
I'm wondering if these things matter when playing any lootery game:
1. Does it matter what store you buy your tickets from? Like, are there any odds for or against certain lottery retailers...volume, last time someone won there, etc
2. What time of day is best to purchase the tickets? Like, waiting till the machine is ready to close before buying them or just anytime...
3. If you were spending say $60 in quick pics, would you buy them all at the same time?
4. If you were buying $60 in quick pics, would you be better off getting 60 individual tickets, 5 on a sheet or 10 on a sheet?
5. Does it matter what city you buy the tickets at? For example, if you live in XYZ city and work in QRS city, does it really matter what city the tickets are purchased in? Are some areas more likely to win than others?
I know this may sound kinda dumb, but, I have found myself going to different stores in different areas and spending like $10 at each place. I'm just wondering if there is any sense to me continuing to do this or am I just wasting time and money (especially at $3.40 per gallon!)?
Finally someone has the guts to call it what it really is. The lootery.
United States
Member #6,363
August 20, 2004
5,110 Posts
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Quote: Originally posted by Rainmaker101 on Nov 23, 2007
I'm wondering if these things matter when playing any lootery game:
1. Does it matter what store you buy your tickets from? Like, are there any odds for or against certain lottery retailers...volume, last time someone won there, etc
2. What time of day is best to purchase the tickets? Like, waiting till the machine is ready to close before buying them or just anytime...
3. If you were spending say $60 in quick pics, would you buy them all at the same time?
4. If you were buying $60 in quick pics, would you be better off getting 60 individual tickets, 5 on a sheet or 10 on a sheet?
5. Does it matter what city you buy the tickets at? For example, if you live in XYZ city and work in QRS city, does it really matter what city the tickets are purchased in? Are some areas more likely to win than others?
I know this may sound kinda dumb, but, I have found myself going to different stores in different areas and spending like $10 at each place. I'm just wondering if there is any sense to me continuing to do this or am I just wasting time and money (especially at $3.40 per gallon!)?
5. Does it matter what city you buy the tickets at? For example, if you live in XYZ city and work in QRS city, does it really matter what city the tickets are purchased in? Are some areas more likely to win than others?
I was once told by someone that the larger prizes on the scratcher games are kept in largely populated areas to make a bigger impact on future sales. Large wins in sparsely populated areas do little to increase sales, the very thing the lottery offices want. If there is any truth to this at all, and I am not saying there is, they could legally get by with that because even if they know and manipulate the location of the larger prizes they do not know who the buyers will be, still making it a random game.
Charlotte North Carolina United States
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July 9, 2002
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Quote: Originally posted by Dead_Aim on Nov 23, 2007
5. Does it matter what city you buy the tickets at? For example, if you live in XYZ city and work in QRS city, does it really matter what city the tickets are purchased in? Are some areas more likely to win than others?
I was once told by someone that the larger prizes on the scratcher games are kept in largely populated areas to make a bigger impact on future sales. Large wins in sparsely populated areas do little to increase sales, the very thing the lottery offices want. If there is any truth to this at all, and I am not saying there is, they could legally get by with that because even if they know and manipulate the location of the larger prizes they do not know who the buyers will be, still making it a random game.
I think someone told you correct dead aim, I noticed that most of the winners for the North Carolina games (big tickets) are won in the Durham, Raleigh area. I emailed the lottery and they said that they had more ticket buyer in that area. I thought this was strange because Charlotte is a large city but I guess Charlotte is not buying a lot of tickets. Only the lottery knows for sure.
United States
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December 7, 2006
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If your havig fun, going to different stores, and you feel pretty good about what you ended up with, then by all means continue, Gas aint cheap these days. (something to think about)
Sometimes I'll go to different stores and get a few quickies, and if I like what I see, I'll replay a few key numbers, and q-pick the rest.(in the same play)
Southwest Florida United States
Member #56,181
November 6, 2007
75 Posts
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Quote: Originally posted by x1kosmic on Nov 23, 2007
If your havig fun, going to different stores, and you feel pretty good about what you ended up with, then by all means continue, Gas aint cheap these days. (something to think about)
Sometimes I'll go to different stores and get a few quickies, and if I like what I see, I'll replay a few key numbers, and q-pick the rest.(in the same play)
Anyway... try to make it fun.
Yep, that's what I've been trying to do...make it fun! But, I was just wondering if I could turn the extra time, effort and gas $$ into more quick pics!
United States
Member #48,044
December 7, 2006
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Oh ....I see,
Personally; I 'usually' go to the same store most of the time (close to the house)
and about a few of your tactics..... Yes after a while the store clerk got to know me, and it's not unusual for them to run my ticket, mabey 30- 15 seconds before deadline time. (even if there are people in line). It only takes a few seconds to run a ticket.
( the terminals at the store have clocks)
I'm kinda funny though.... I like filling out the playslips other than saying: give me three quick-picks.
Zeta Reticuli Star System United States
Member #30,469
January 17, 2006
11,789 Posts
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Quote: Originally posted by Rainmaker101 on Nov 23, 2007
I'm wondering if these things matter when playing any lootery game:
1. Does it matter what store you buy your tickets from? Like, are there any odds for or against certain lottery retailers...volume, last time someone won there, etc
2. What time of day is best to purchase the tickets? Like, waiting till the machine is ready to close before buying them or just anytime...
3. If you were spending say $60 in quick pics, would you buy them all at the same time?
4. If you were buying $60 in quick pics, would you be better off getting 60 individual tickets, 5 on a sheet or 10 on a sheet?
5. Does it matter what city you buy the tickets at? For example, if you live in XYZ city and work in QRS city, does it really matter what city the tickets are purchased in? Are some areas more likely to win than others?
I know this may sound kinda dumb, but, I have found myself going to different stores in different areas and spending like $10 at each place. I'm just wondering if there is any sense to me continuing to do this or am I just wasting time and money (especially at $3.40 per gallon!)?
Raimaker101
1. Whether it matters or not, everyone probably has places they feel lucky or jinxed at buying their tickets from.
2. Personally, I don't think it matters at all, and might only lead to missing a drawing because you were too late. There is no psyching out the terminals, believe me I've tried!
3 & 4. Someone buying $60 in quick picks needs to call GA!, if you mean $60 a day or a drawing. That's $6,240 a year for MM or PB, that is way over "recreational play". Just my $.02.
Granted everything lotto is relative to one's bankroll, but half a large a month is half a large a month.
5. "Are some areas more likely to win than others?"
You betcha! In Illinois it's Chicago and the Chicago area, and in Florida it's Miami. Granted that's where the population bases are, but it's still enough of a propenderonce to make you wonder.
Just pick a state lottery, go to their website, pick a game and subscribe to the list of winners e-mail for a while, see where the winners come from.
"I know this may sound kinda dumb, but, I have found myself going to different stores in different areas and spending like $10 at each place. I'm just wondering if there is any sense to me continuing to do this or am I just wasting time and money (especially at $3.40 per gallon!)?"
The luck factor. If you're going to hit, you're going to hit. Let's say you get $10 in QPs at one place and head for another and the next QP out of that machine produces that night's winner.
(Sounds like it contradicts the comments about Chicago and Miami but it's just not practical to drive hours to play lotto in the same state.)
Those who run the lotteries love it when players look for consistency in something that's designed not to have any. So many systems, so many theories, so few jackpot winners.
There is one and only one 'proven' system, and that is to book the action. No matter the game, let the players pick their own losers.
Charlotte NC United States
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June 18, 2005
4,074 Posts
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Quote: Originally posted by wpb on Nov 23, 2007
I think someone told you correct dead aim, I noticed that most of the winners for the North Carolina games (big tickets) are won in the Durham, Raleigh area. I emailed the lottery and they said that they had more ticket buyer in that area. I thought this was strange because Charlotte is a large city but I guess Charlotte is not buying a lot of tickets. Only the lottery knows for sure.
Charlotte is conservative and don't give a hoot about the Lottery. They don't even care if the drawing aren't broadcasted.
It's annoying when you can't see the drawings at the usually time on Friday and Sunday nights because of football. High School football at that. They could at least flash it on the screen. I have to come on LP to see if someone from another area saw the drawing.
MD United States
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June 18, 2003
10,731 Posts
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Rainmaker101 wrote: I'm wondering if these things matter when playing any lootery game.
Well leave it to me to miss this part ANY.
when playing scratch offs i would defiantly go to places that sell high volumes of tickets. I would buy scratchers from the front of a book or the rear of a book and sometimes from the middle of a book.
I would rarely buy more than 5 tickets from any one book. If in the store and people are scratching tickets i wish to buy if they have bought losers i tend to go behind them and buy 2 or 3 tickets just in case.
Maryland United States
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July 30, 2006
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Quote: Originally posted by lottolaughs on Nov 23, 2007
None of those things matter really. The only thing that matters is that you have the right numbers!! Best of luck to you!!
Yep, you gotta have the right numbers, but they are worthlessif they aren't played.
I think this discussion is about QPicques and Scratchies. I don't think it matters where you play, as long as you play.
I sometimes EXCLUDE certain locations to play at because of any of the following reasons:
1. Bad karma for eg. snarly, jerky, or rude employees or players frequenting the location, making my playing experience uncomfortable.
2. Improperly maintained or unreliable terminal equipment. For eg. poorly printed tickets (bar code can't be read), paper running out while your tickets print (I ask them to check now), dirty scanners when playslips can't be read reliably, (I've trained some to clean scanner it is the same technology as a fax scanner), and down terminals getting locked etc.
The bar code being bad is a closer, that is the one that is hard to resolve cause a lottery tech has to come on site to clean or replace thermal head which prints the image. No one remembers or calls to get it fixed when the rep. shows up. I may show them how to print a test image and show it to the rep. when they come the next time.
Southwest Florida United States
Member #56,181
November 6, 2007
75 Posts
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I agree with the bad karma/attitudes of some of these counter people! It can take the "fun" right out playing the lottery! If I take the time to come into the store any buy something, then at least be pleasant and say "thank you" or "good luck" or something!