Hi Elizabeth,
Since you are playing the same type of lottery, only on different shore, I'd like to share with you some thoughts about QPs. Why I don't play them, to be precise.
Let's start from the concept of hits. Let's assume that you play groups of X numbers per draw and in the run of 50 latest draws you had Y number of hits (total number of matches). Now you can easily compute your average of hits per draw. It is important to know that because you cannot win more than you hit. So the better the score the greater the chance of winning. Plain and simple arithmetics.
There is a straightforward relationship between X (the size of the group you play) and Y (the number of hits you are going to get). In your 649, as in mine, the average hit ratios are as follows:
7 1.00 15 2.14 23 3.29 31 4.43
8 1.14 16 2.29 24 3.43 32 4.57
9 1.29 17 2.43 25 3.57 33 4.71
10 1.43 18 2.57 26 3.71 34 4.86
11 1.57 19 2.71 27 3.86 35 5.00
12 1.51 20 2.86 28 4.00
13 1.86 21 3.00 29 4.14
14 2.00 22 3.14 30 4.29
Again, no fancy calculations, simple arithmetics.
In 649 the minimum win is set at 3. Therefore the more 3s you hit the more chances you have to win that minimum. Now, how many numbers in your X group you need to have an average chance of hitting 3? 21 numbers, about 43% of the matrix. Again, statistical average, no matter what system (QPs or your own) you play. How many times we heard complaints "I play my numbers and I can't win anything". Check your average hits, buddy, and you will know why. Below 3? You are wasting your money.
So you need 21 numbers to have an average chance to hit (and possibly win) 3. You can select these numbers in 2 ways: your own system or QPs. When you use your own system, no matter what it is, you have a full control over the selection. You decide what goes into the 21-number group.
Not so with QPs. You get what the machine gives you, whatever it is. In order to cover 21 unique numbers you need at least 6 tickets (6x4 = 24 numbers). In these numbers, in order to have 21 unique, you can afford only 3 repeats or you will fall below 21 required for the average. You don't have any control how many duplicates you will get, could be anything. It is possible to buy a fairly large number of QP tickets and still not meet the 21-uniques criteria thus still having lower than average chance of hitting/winning 3.
This is the first reason why I don't consider QPs for playing.
21-number groups make wheeling necessary, there is no other way around. Wheels are the ones that convert hits into wins. If you play your own numbers you can design wheels to your liking and test their efficiency. Contrary to common belief you don't need full wheels to be successful. Many customized wheels may not provide any guarantees but still can increase probabilities of winning; they just need to be tested for performance. By using your own wheels you fully control the number distribution.
With QPs you don't have this capability. You get what they give you. Their distribution methodology is anybody's guess and you have no control over this process. You find out how efficient this distribution is - after the draw, you cannot test it beforehand. Next time you play QPs the distribution will be different with no consistency. You have no influence over the process.
This is the second reason why QPs are not for me.
What is the most interesting in all this is the fact that most people don't even realize that such relationships between numbers and hits/wins exist. But be no fool - LCs know that, in any jackpot lottery. Can they take advantage of this? Ever wondered why some lotteries give QPs instead of cash for minimum wins? Nothing illegal here but it's not to your advantage and LCs are in business of making money for whoever owns them.
For the record: I play 24-number groups (49% of the matrix) and there is a compelling statistical reason for doing this. Wheels were designed using CoverMaster and modified for balance (Stat$ has already learned what it means playing unbalanced wheels and he is most likely not alone).
Long post but hopefully sheds some light on futility (IMO) of playing QPs.