$20 tickets are your best bet. I have consistently won the most from them. As far as buying whole rolls, I would not do it too often. I have never gotten more than $240 back from a $300 roll, and the least was $120. I also got $135 and $180. I have won $75 and $150 on single $5 tickets, numerous $100 winners on $20 tickets, as well as $250, $300 twice, and the biggest so far was $500. Those were all single ticket purchases. As a new lottery player, look around on this site. There is much helpful information.
When I was new (about three years ago), I drove myself crazy trying to analyze patterns and figure out how to win big, but after enough people telling me, and based on my experience, you just have to be at the right place at the right time. I spent $60 on Mega Millions the other day, and did not win a penny back. One thing to watch for is certain stores. In my record keeping, I found that I won two times as often, and had better winners from one retailer than another. In some cases the clerks play. They watch someone buy five $20 tickets and throw them in the trash, and then they know it is a good time to buy a ticket. Some people buy tickets from the counter or machines, and keep buying until they win, and stop. There have been retailers that I have NEVER won a single ticket from. Needless to say, if you go somewhere five times and don't win, the clerk is most likely playing, and avoid that place.
That is not necessarily the best strategy, even though it usually works that way. I have had multiple wins with three or more consecutive winners. My very best advice to you: buy from clerks in busy stores when there are lines. This keeps the clerks and players from counting tickets to a certain extent. I will give you another bit of advice. If you started at the end or beginning of a roll, and have a bunch of losers mixed in with free tickets, you might want to keep -playing. Some people call those rolls duds, but they have to put out a bunch of losers to pay for a big ticket.
Luck, timing and being at the right place at the right time are how you win.
