United States
Member #134,621
November 2, 2012
1,175 Posts
Offline
Places that sell lottery are entitled to financial reward when people win big. In an effort to make more diverse lottery combinations played at their place, and ensure some big win, would they not hint people in case their combination was already chosen in this place? They should encourage people somehow to pick new combinations. It can be helpful to people and to them.
In any case, since they have an access to information on all the combinations bought prior to the game for that game, should they not make a list of combinations not played to at least advice to the buyers, or give to them as a quick pick option. If I'd be a clerk selling lottery, I'd even have all possible combinations sorted, so none have been played before in history of particular lottery. I'd find a way to make machine beep if it happens, and discard the ticket, and then I'd ask person to change combination. That be a smart selling technique. People, learning of my extra service, would flock to my place. Soon enough in my place someone would win big and I'd get a reward! ;)
Idaho United States
Member #94,279
July 17, 2010
2,453 Posts
Offline
Card counters are smart blackjack players, but they get kicked out of casinos. I have a feeling a retailer doing what you outlined would not be allowed to sell lottery.
But I do think it would be helpful. Nightline reported that on that last huge PowerBall jackpot, only 60% of possible combos were sold, which means there were a LOT of duplicate tickets sold.
Nutley, New Jersey United States
Member #131,052
August 1, 2012
904 Posts
Offline
"I'd find a way to make machine beep if it happens, and discard the ticket, and then I'd ask person to change combination"
the problem with this idea is that duplicate ticket might be a winner. There are times where the jackpot is won by more then one ticket with the same number combination. Take last weeks powerball drawing as an example, two winning tickets were sold, one in AZ and the other in MO.
Lets say a winning ticket was sold in MO first, if people used your idea and decide not to play combinations that have already been sold, then someone from AZ would not have won half the jackpot.
Zeta Reticuli Star System United States
Member #30,469
January 17, 2006
11,788 Posts
Offline
Uluska,
"If I'd be a clerk selling lottery, I'd even have all possible combinations sorted, so none have been played before in history of particular lottery."
How many peole are going to be on your staff to have this done before the drawing?
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.
Michigan United States
Member #22,394
September 24, 2005
1,583 Posts
Offline
Quote: Originally posted by Uluska on Dec 2, 2012
Places that sell lottery are entitled to financial reward when people win big. In an effort to make more diverse lottery combinations played at their place, and ensure some big win, would they not hint people in case their combination was already chosen in this place? They should encourage people somehow to pick new combinations. It can be helpful to people and to them.
In any case, since they have an access to information on all the combinations bought prior to the game for that game, should they not make a list of combinations not played to at least advice to the buyers, or give to them as a quick pick option. If I'd be a clerk selling lottery, I'd even have all possible combinations sorted, so none have been played before in history of particular lottery. I'd find a way to make machine beep if it happens, and discard the ticket, and then I'd ask person to change combination. That be a smart selling technique. People, learning of my extra service, would flock to my place. Soon enough in my place someone would win big and I'd get a reward! ;)
There, I fixed it:
"In any case, since they have an access to information on all the combinations bought prior to the game for that game, should they not make a list of combinations not played to at least advise the buyers, or give to them as a quick pick option."
or
"In any case, since they have an access to information on all the combinations bought prior to the game for that game, should they not make a list of combinations not played to at least give advice to the buyers, or give to them as a quick pick option."
To answer your question, yes, it would be a great idea. The problem is that is it impossible to do. At the moment on the home page of LP, there is an article entitled:
There is no possible way for a person to keep up with the current sales. You couldn't read the numbers fast enough, let alone play what hasn't been played. Any paper you printed with the numbers would have to be replaced every minute and even then it would not be up to date. Also what happens if you purchase your ticket early and it happens to be played multiple times a couple minutes/hours later? Besides the lotteries won't give out that information and that would be the only source. Stores (lottery agents) do not have or know that information.
COLUMBUS United States
Member #136,051
December 2, 2012
10 Posts
Offline
If a place that sells lottery tickets focuses any time or resources on letting people know that certain number combinations have been picked I'd bet the business is in big trouble or will be down the line. Not due to any law violations, but because they arent focusing on things that really matter to their business. LOL Business owners wish tyhey could waste their time at such meaningless things.