An estimated $1 billion dollar Powerball jackpot will be up for grabs for the lottery’s Halloween night drawing.
After 37 consecutive drawings and no grand prize winners, including on Saturday night, the pot reached the billion-dollar threshold for the second time in the lottery’s 30-year history, Powerball said in a statement.
With more people playing with hopes of becoming a millionaire (or now a billionaire), the chances of picking winning combinations remain the same:1 in 292.2 million.
Many people play the lotto with “lucky numbers” – combinations of birthdays, dates, phone numbers, digits that come to them in dreams, and more.
While some select their own lotto numbers, others play Quick Picks, which are numbers that are randomly generated by machines.
So, is it better to play Quick Pick or to select your own numbers?
Chances of winning the lotto between playing quick picks or selecting your own numbers are both equal.
“Around 70 to 80 percent of Powerball players use Quick Pick tickets, and the same percentage of winning entries are Quick Picks,” one report said. “This shows that regardless of whether players choose to select their own numbers or not, the odds of winning remain the same.”
Despite having equal odds, both options have their pros and cons.
Playing Quick Pick is the fastest way to play, but leaves the possibility open for repeat numbers and combinations.
Selecting your own numbers gives you complete control over your numbers, but can take longer to play in stores, especially when the jackpot reaches enticing numbers for the non-regulars to want to participate.
For more information on how to play to the Powerball, click here.
FAQs
Picking your own numbers doesn't change the odds of winning. But, picking random numbers does increase the odds that if you win, no one else wins.
Is it better to pick your own numbers or quick pick? ›
your own numbers debate, which option brings the most lottery luck? No matter how you choose your numbers, the odds of winning remain the same.
How to increase the odds of winning Powerball? ›
To better your chances of winning any lottery, you have to buy more tickets, he said. The more tickets, the more chances of choosing the right combination of numbers.
Is there a strategy to picking Powerball numbers? ›
Some Powerball veterans and lotto winners employ a strategy of picking numbers that lottery data-gathering sites identify as the statistically “least drawn.” The theory is that numbers that have been drawn the least number of times will eventually become due or even “overdue” to be drawn.
Are most Powerball winners quick picks or chosen numbers? ›
Chances of winning the lotto between playing quick picks or selecting your own numbers are both equal. “Around 70 to 80 percent of Powerball players use Quick Pick tickets, and the same percentage of winning entries are Quick Picks,” one report said.
What is the best way to play the Powerball? ›
Experts suggest that you should add up the five numbers you pick and try to stay within a target range. The preferred range is between 140 and 240 after your five number are added together. More than half of the winning number combinations fall in that range.
Has a quick pick ever won? ›
In fact, 70% of past winners use Quick Pick, which reflects the greater number of Quick Picks vs selected numbers. Does quick picking lottery numbers help you win?
Do I have a better chance of winning the Powerball if I pick my own numbers? ›
Picking your own numbers doesn't change the odds of winning.
Is there a pattern to Powerball numbers? ›
There is no wrong way to choose Powerball numbers. There's also no magic formula to pick the winning numbers. But ... we went back and looked at the winning numbers for every drawing since the jackpot started at $20 million in April. We didn't find a particular pattern.
What is the best lottery number picking strategy? ›
With odds that slim, Glickman said it's best to focus on picking numbers that are completely random. That will help ensure you're not making the same picks as someone else — and that you won't have to split the prize money with anyone, should you win.
What are the most commonly drawn Powerball numbers?
- Number 63 - Drawn 91 times.
- Number 32 - Drawn 90 times.
- Number 36 - Drawn 85 times.
- Number 18 - Drawn 52 times.
- Number 13 - Drawn 53 times.
- Number 49 - Drawn 57 times.
- Number 29 - Drawn 58 times.
- Number 26 - Drawn 61 times.
Some players like to play "lucky" numbers while others like to spread their money around but to truly ensure a win you'd need to buy every possible combination. The odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are 1 in 292,201,338 -- that's the number of possible combinations of white balls and the red Powerball.
Is Powerball quick pick truly random? ›
Using Quick Pick to select your number functions in the same way. The five numbers and bonus selection are chosen at random by a computer. The numbers that you receive are merely pure chance and blind luck. These are the same factors determining the winning lottery numbers during the drawing.
What is the picking numbers strategy? ›
picking numbers refers to the process of picking numbers to represent things you don't know in the problem to arrive at an answer. d. if you have no idea how to solve a problem you can eliminate answer choices by looking at which answer choices do not fit the answer choice pattern.
What numbers are most likely to win the lottery? ›
If you plan to play the drawing, do you have numbers in mind? A new study reveals the lottery numbers you should play to win big: The number 28 is drawn most often across all lotteries, with an average frequency of 201.4. The numbers 16 and 39 are second and third, with average frequencies of 200.6 and 199, ...
