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Hacks To Improve Your Chances Of Winning The Mega Millions Lottery

How to choose the right lottery numbers

Many people choose a lucky number or date when playing the lottery. Has that number historically appeared more often than other numbers?

The Mega Millions lottery winner is determined by drawing five white balls numbered 1 through 70 and then a gold-coloured “Mega Ball” numbered 1 through 50. According to USA Mega Millions - the five numbers drawn most often in Mega Millions drawings over the last five years are 17 (drawn 48 times), 31 (47 times), 14 (47 times), 10 (47 times) and 4 and 7 (both drawn 44 times). The most common Mega Ball has been 22 (drawn 28 times), followed by 11 (26 times) and 24 (25 times).

Of course, this is just over the past five years: If we were to consider a longer time period and a larger data sample, every single number should be chosen an equal number of times; that's the whole point of randomly selected balls.

Still, if you pick one of these numbers or another “lucky” option, you could end up sharing the jackpot with other people who have chosen the same number — and people are more likely to choose a “lucky” number, such as 7 or a number between 1 and 31 because those numbers represent birthday. To improve your chances of winning the prize all by yourself, pick an uncommon or “unusual” number.

If everyone picks an unusual number for this reason, the chances of two people having the same birthday will increase significantly. It is better then to choose a usual number because those numbers are less likely to be shared.

States with the most lottery winners

Jackpocket reported that 26 states have a Mega Million jackpot since the game began. New York has seen 40 of them, followed by California, with 33, and New Jersey, with 22. It would seem that players in these states have a higher probability of winning than others.

That's not true. People in states with large populations, such as New York, New Jersey and California tend to win more often because there are more people participating in the lottery. The odds of winning the lottery are the same regardless of where you purchase your ticket.

Just buy more tickets

The odds of winning the lottery are extremely low, but the best way to increase your chances of winning is to purchase multiple tickets. If you have a 1 in 303 million chance of winning, buying a second ticket will double your odds to 2 in 303 million. Buying a third ticket increases your odds to 3 in 303 million; buying a fourth increases them to 4 in 303 million, and so on.

The lottery is a great way to give yourself a chance at winning a billion dollars. But, of course, while you’re improving your odds, your chances of taking home a billion dollars are still infinitesimal. To increase your chances of winning the lottery significantly, you would have to spend a large amount of money on tickets, and even if you spent a million dollars on lottery tickets, you are still most likely to lose.

The lottery is a great way to have fun and make money. As long as you play it responsibly and don't spend more than you can afford to lose, you should be fine.

The only thing that matters is that you play; therefore, choose a lucky number, choose an uncommon number, choose your birth date, or any other number. Buy one ticket or buy twenty. It doesn’t really matter. Just pick something and go with it!

[david-blogger]

EuroMillions Lottery Guide: Things to Know Before Playing

The EuroMillions lottery offers the highest jackpot prize on the continent. By reading our comprehensive guide to EuroMillions, you will become familiar with all of its features and be able to make informed decisions when buying your lottery tickets.

What Is the EuroMillions Lottery?

EuroMillions is a transnational lottery that offers jackpots starting at €17,000,000 and rising to a capped amount of €240,000,000. Players choose five main numbers (1-50) and two Lucky Stars (1-12).

EuroMillions is played in nine European countries: Austria, Belgium, Ireland, France, Luxembourg, Portugal, Switzerland, Spain, and the United Kingdom.

What are EuroMillions Superdraws?

The EuroMillions lottery announces special lotteries called Superdraws that replace the existing jackpot and guarantee a minimum jackpot of €100 million. The Superdraw is played exactly like a regular lottery, except that players choose five main numbers and two Lucky Stars. If not won, the Superdraw jackpot rolls over until it reaches its maximum cap of €240 million, similar to regular EuroMillions. If still not won, the jackpot remains at that amount for a maximum of four drawings.

EuroMillions Raffles

If you love EuroMillions, you’ll love its raffles even more! Players are automatically entered into these exciting lotteries whenever they’re held. Unlike lotteries in which the players select the numbers, all tickets sold in a raffle draw are assigned a specific number and a prize is always guaranteed to be awarded.

Austria EuroMillions, Austria Bonus

If you purchase Austria EuroMillions tickets, in addition to the chance of winning the EuroMillions jackpot, you can also win the Austrian Österreich Bonus. In July 2018, this special raffle was introduced to Austria, guaranteeing that a €100,000 prize would be awarded in every draw.

EuroMillions Spain, The Million Raffle

Since 2016, Spanish players have benefited from the El Millón raffle which awards its two winners €1 million each.

EuroMillions Prize Divisions & Winning Odds

EuroMillions has some of the biggest jackpots in the world and a prize range that includes thirteen divisions.

How to win EuroMillions jackpots

The EuroMillions jackpot is won by matching all 5 main numbers and the 2 Lucky Star numbers. If no player matches the winning numbers, then the funds in the pot are added to the jackpot for the next drawing.

In addition, there is a top jackpot limit of €240 million (the "jackpot cap"). If the jackpot exceeds €240 million, any amount above that is immediately allocated to the next prize category with winners. If the jackpot is not won four times in a row, the total sum is divided among the winners in the next prize category.

Over the years, EuroMillions has awarded some of the largest jackpot prizes in European lottery history. The largest EuroMillions jackpot to date was €230 million, which was won by a single ticket sold in the UK in July 2022. The prize had reached the jackpot cap after rolling over several times in a Superdraw series.

To buy a EuroMillions ticket, visit the lottery’s website or download the lottery app on your smartphone. Tickets are also available at local retailers. If you want to enjoy the excitement of winning a lottery jackpot, buy your ticket today.

[david-blogger]

What is a second chance lottery?

If you don’t win the main lottery, a second-chance lottery is when your ticket goes into a raffle where you can win other prizes, like airline tickets, hotel rooms, cars and sometimes even money. 

Second-chance lotteries are usually held by the state in which you buy the ticket, so the rules for each-second chance lottery, the method of entry and the tickets that are eligible differ from state to state.

But to be eligible you need to enter the main lottery first. 

How do I enter a second-chance lottery?

You're not typically entered into the second-chance lottery as soon as you buy a ticket and lose. Instead, you need to submit your losing ticket so that it can be entered into this special drawing.

The way to do this can vary by state. Many states allow you to enter lottery tickets into an online system. You will enter personal information about yourself and your ticket when prompted. They may ask for your information like your name, date of birth, and email address.

Some states make it easier for you by allow you to scan your ticket’s bar code or QR code on into the system using your phone's camera.

Other states make it a little harder by making you drop your tickets off at the lottery office or mail them in. 

Once you enter, you’re basically entering your name into a raffle rather than your actual ticket number. That’s why Powerball players, Mega Millions players and even scratch-off players can all be entered into the same second-chance drawing run by the state, rather than by the organizers of the original lottery.

What can you win in a second-chance lottery?

Second-chance lotteries can often have a wide range of prizes, ranging from a million bucks all the way down to a ‘swag bag’ of low-value prizes.

Here are some possibilities:

Cash prizes anywhere from $100 to $1 million

New cars

Airline tickets or fully-paid vacations

High-end appliances

Event tickets

A ‘swag bag’ of low-value prizes

Gift cards

There will usually be multiple winners winning a wide range of prizes in each second-chance lottery. But it’s really up to each state to determine what prizes are offered.

What are your odds of winning a second-chance lottery?

It really depends on how many people enter a state’s second-chance lottery, and how many prizes are on offer. 

But one thing’s for sure, the odds are probably a lot better than winning the original lottery you played (unless you played a scratch-off ticket)! Especially given that many people won’t have the time or patience to physically enter. 

How to increase your chances of winning a second-chance lottery?

Here are some ways to increase your chances of winning a second-hand lottery:

Enter the lottery. The best way to enter a second-chance lottery is to enter! Your ticket is usually not entered automatically, and that means many people won’t bother to enter. So by taking the time to enter the lottery, you drastically increase your odds of winning!

Know which tickets are eligible. It pays to know which tickets are eligible for a second-chance drawing and which are not. You might enter your losing Powerball ticket into a second-chance lottery but not be aware that your scratch-off is also eligible. Make sure you don’t pass up any opportunities to enter!

Enter as many tickets as you can. The more tickets you enter into a second-chance lottery, the higher your chances of winning! Don’t gamble more than you can afford to lose just to get more tickets, but make sure you enter every eligible ticket.

Know when the drawing is. A second-chance drawing often occurs much later than the original lottery, and the state won’t necessarily track you down if you win. So it pays to know when the drawing occurs so you can monitor the results and collect your share of the prizes should you win.

What happens if you win a second-chance lottery?

If you win a prize, you need to follow the instructions carefully if you want to claim it. If it’s a large prize, there may be tax implications, so you may want to consult a lawyer.  

To claim larger prizes, such as those over $600, you’ll probably have to visit your state lottery office in person with a valid form of government-issued ID. If you have won a prize, the clerk will give you claim forms to fill out.

Bottom line

I hope you've enjoyed this introduction to the world of second-chance lotteries. If your state has a second-chance lottery, go for it! Make sure to follow the rules for entering and be sure to enter all eligible tickets you have.

[david-blogger]

Lottery Guide - The Best Lotteries in Europe

The European Lottery offers some of the world’s most exciting lottery draws. The continent features several massive transnational lotteries, such as EuroMillions, as well as local draws with great odds and affordable tickets. Whether you want to play the lottery for a chance at a jackpot or simply for fun, Europe has a lottery for everyone.

Which European Lotteries Have the Biggest Jackpots?

EuroMillions is the largest European lottery in terms of jackpots. It began with a jackpot prize that started at €17 million and has grown to reach a record-breaking €220 million. The lottery’s current jackpot cap is set at €230 million.

Italy's SuperEnalotto, the largest national lottery in all of Europe, is most known for its incredibly difficult odds. While it only starts at €2 million, the jackpot can reach well over €100 million before being won. In August 2019, a SuperEnalotto jackpot of €209 million—the biggest European lottery prize ever awarded—remained the largest prize for over a year and a half.

EuroJackpot is Europe's biggest lottery, with jackpots reaching €120 million. Players from 18 European countries can participate.

What Types of Lotteries Are Available in Europe?

There are two kinds of lotteries offered in Europe: national and transnational. Transnational lotteries are lotteries that are available in multiple countries. These lotteries tend to have much larger prize pools because of the number of people participating in the draws. Some countries also hold raffles alongside their lottery draws. For example, Spanish EuroMillions players have a chance at winning an extra €1 million prize from the El Millon raffle each draw.

Currently, there are two transnational lottery draws in Europe:

EuroMillions

The Lotto Euro Millions, Europe's biggest lottery, was launched in February 2004 by France's Française des Jeux, Spain's Loterías y Apuestas del Estado, and the United Kingdom's Camelot.

Starting in 2012, the EuroMillions jackpot has reset to €17 million each time it is won. The amount continues to grow with each rollover until it reaches its new cap of €230 million. The jackpot cap increases by €10 million every time the jackpot is won until it reaches its new cap of €250 million.

EuroMillions is a multinational lottery that is currently held in 9 European countries: Austria, France, Luxembourg, Belgium, Portugal, Ireland, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. The draw takes place every Tuesday and Friday at 20:45 CET in Paris.

EuroJackpot

EuroJackpot—launched in 2012—is the largest lottery draw offered in Europe. With a multi-million euro jackpot and 11 additional prizes, it's often regarded as EuroMillions' little brother, although EuroMillions has larger jackpots and prizes.

The jackpot prize in the Eurojackpot lottery starts at 10 million euros, and if not won, it can eventually reach the lottery's 120-million-euro cap. The EuroJackpot lottery is drawn two times a week, on Tuesdays and Fridays at 19:00 GMT local time in Helsinki, Finland, and can be purchased online or through mobile apps.

National lotteries are only available within the borders of the country offering them. National lotteries tend to be much smaller than transnational lotteries which are offered in multiple countries, with a few exceptions like the SuperEnalotto in Italy and Spain’s La Primitiva. Spain’s La Primitiva is one of Europe’s oldest lotteries and remains a firm favourite among Spanish fans due to the jackpot cap-free policy that create enormous multi-million euro prizes. Another beloved draw is Poland’s Mini Loto, which offers daily lottery draws and some of the most affordable European lottery tickets out there.

European Lottery Raffles, Superdraws, and Special Draws

A unique aspect of European lottery games is the lottery raffles, special draws, and super draws that can bring players larger jackpots.

Which European Lott Games Offer The Best Odds of Winning?

When choosing which European lotteries to play, it is important to consider the odds of winning. Smaller lotteries tend to have better odds than larger ones due to lower guess ranges and prizes.

Are European Lottery Prizes Taxed?

Yes and no (European Lottery Prizes Taxed) Some European countries, such as Austria, Germany, France, and Hungary, exempt lottery winnings from taxes; however, most other countries impose tax rates that depend on which country the ticket was purchased in. In Romania, there are three tax bands; 1%-25% of the winnings are taxed depending on how much you have won. In contrast, Ukraine has a single rate of 19.5%.

Residents of some countries may be required to pay income tax on their lottery winnings. In addition, highly suggest you consult with an accountant and a tax specialist to determine the total amount you must pay in taxes.

Can Foreigners Play European Lottery Online?

You don’t have to be a European citizen or live in Europe to play these lotteries. You can buy official tickets through online lottery websites or apps.

If you are interested in playing the lottery to win big, then you should try a few European lotteries. Playing the EuroMillions lottery or various smaller European lotteries will give you greater odds of winning the jackpot prize. You might even end up being one of the lucky winners from a country that has multiple jackpot winners.