What's the best strategy with scratch off lottery tickets?

[Baz]

Never been a big lottery guru.

I'm still interested in the whole concept though.

It's called a "stupid tax" but on the other hand what is the harm in spending a buck or two a week - especially if you have a decent strategy for winning.

Which brings me to my question - in buying scratch-off tickets - is it better to buy several at a time? They come in a roll so you could say you are getting consecutive tickets, if that somehow helps your odds.

I bought one today - the top prize is $1K per week for the rest of your life. I know the odds are slim but hey someone has to win and you sure won't win if you don't play, eh?

[stomachmonkey]

There is no strategy.

Nothing helps your odds.

[masraum]

The tickets with the best odds usually have the lowest pay outs so buy tickets that only pay $5k - 10k.

[masraum]

Besides that the best strategy is to just send me a couple of bucks a week and I might send you a bunch of money later

[scottmandue]

Swallow the tickets whole...

Scratch them off after you poop them out...

Really increases your odds!

trust me!

[dan88911]

A guy I use to work with said he purchased an entire roll for 250.00 bucks once.
He said he had some winners but not the big money. He didn't say if he broke even and I did not ask.

[Baz]

I've actually made money in a calendar year using the the Florida lottery's LOTTO (6 number drawing) but I lost those "magic" six numbers so sorta gave up on that game - until I get those numbers back....

[Baz]

Originally Posted by dan88911

A guy I use to work with said he purchased an entire roll for 250.00 bucks once.
He said he had some winners but not the big money. He didn't say if he broke even and I did not ask.

I would never do that - I think you just but 1 ticket per week and if it happens it happens....

[Baz]

Originally Posted by masraum

The tickets written the best odds usually have the list pay outs so buy tickets that only pay $5k - 10k.

Steve:

Huh?

Please translate!

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Baz

Steve:

Huh?

Please translate!

oops, should have proof-read, silly auto-correct on the phone.

It should have said

The tickets with the best odds usually have the lowest pay outs so buy tickets that only pay $5k - 10k.

So, and I'm just making these numbers up, but, you buy a ticket that pays out $5k, the odds might only be 1:500, a ticket that pays $10k might be 1:800 or 1:1200, or you buy a ticket that pays 4 million and your odds will be 1:eleventy-billion.

I'm not a gambler, I'd prefer a small payday with better odds.

[Baz]

Originally Posted by masraum

oops, should have proof-read, silly auto-correct on the phone.

It should have said

The tickets with the best odds usually have the lowest pay outs so buy tickets that only pay $5k - 10k.

So, and I'm just making these numbers up, but, you buy a ticket that pays out $5k, the odds might only be 1:500, a ticket that pays $10k might be 1:800 or 1:1200, or you buy a ticket that pays 4 million and your odds will be 1:eleventy-billion.

I'm not a gambler, I'd prefer a small payday with better odds.

OK thanks - that makes perfect sense now.

I'll give it a try.

[speeder]

Your odds are about the same whether you play or not.

[motion]

I got suckered in once a few years ago when the CA lottery was some crazy amount. I think I bought $200 or so in lotto tickets. Out of the seven numbers, I don't think any of my tickets had more than 2 numbers matching. Not even close!

[DARISC]

I use the same strategy that I use for flipping coins, depending, of course, on the denomination and country of origin.

[GH85Carrera]

It is just a tax on the math impaired. There is no strategy that improves your odds. If there was, the lottery would be invalid.

[johnco]

I might buy 1-2 scratchoff tickets a year. and yes, the odds of winning are clearly against you.. but... one day a guy I know bought $10 worth of tickets on his way to work.. won $5000.. went back during lunch and bought $10 worth again.. won another $5000.. bought $10 worth one more time on his way home after work.. won $2500.. all in the same day... can't imagine what the odds of this ever happening would be

[krystar]

there is no strategy that makes your overall odds better.
however, if u don't play at all, your odds are always going to stay zero.

that been said, if you play, your return on investment is going to be negative.

if u don't play, u can't win, but your return on investment is $0

[aigel]

You are only sure to win if you don't play. A few bucks here and there add up. And be honest, it usually isn't just a buck here and there. I see people always spending $5-10 and more. Only folks that apparently are spending their every cent buy singles. I can do a lot more fun things with that money than blow it on a scratch ticket. JMHO.

G

[porsche4life]

It is just a tax on the math impaired. There is no strategy that improves your odds. If there was, the lottery would be invalid.

Not for scratchers.... If you'd buy a little over 175million powerball tickets, each with a unique number, you would be guaranteed mathematically to win. .

Anybody want to loan me about 350 mill?

[Por_sha911]

My dad taught me this guaranteed winning formula:
Each day take $10 out of your wallet and put it in your left pocket. At noon, take the money out of your left pocket and put it into your right pocket. When they call out the winning numbers that evening, reach into your right pocket and put the $10 you won into your wallet.

Works every time.