Most lottery players employ tactics they think (or hope) will improve their odds, from playing regularly to using a lucky number or only buying tickets at certain hours. But many of these strategies fail to increase a player’s chances, and some are even downright fallacies. One such fallacy is the ability to tell a winning ticket from all the duds.
Fortunately, it is possible to make some educated guesses about whether a ticket is a winner without scratching it. To do so, you need to know a little bit about probability theory. Probability theory is a field of mathematics that focuses on combinations and permutations, largely utilizing combinatorics.
If you’re interested in learning more about probability theory, there are plenty of books on the subject available. You can also take a course on the topic at an educational institution. Some colleges offer degree programs in probability theory.
The North Dakota Lottery encourages responsible gambling. If you feel you’re spending more than you can afford, please contact 2-1-1 or GamblerND.
The New York Lottery draws are held twice a day, once at 2:30pm and once at 10:30pm Eastern Time. Ticket sales close 15 minutes before the midday draw and 10 minutes before the evening draw, and reopen shortly after the results have been revealed. You can check the latest drawing results on the Lottery’s Results page. If you want to win a prize, be sure to have your ticket ready and sign it before leaving the retailer. You will also need a valid picture ID and IRS Form W-9 when claiming your prize.