The wife and I were discussing the UK Lottery. It seems to us that when we first started playing many years ago, we "often" got three numbers which earned £10, but nowadays it's increasingly rare.
My thinking is that, as people lose interest in the lottery, the prize money might drop, but the odds of getting the three numbers should be the same.
Are there any other factors I've not thought of, that might influence this seeming drought of winnings?
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Lottery wins rarer and rarer
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Direct questions and answers, this room is not for general discussion please
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- Lemon Slice
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- Lemon Slice
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Re: Lottery wins rarer and rarer
Lottery wins... Lottery WINS, for Heaven's sake...
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FTFY (chas49)
FTFY (chas49)
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- Lemon Quarter
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Re: Lottery wins rarer and rarer
The odds have changed over time:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Lottery_(United_Kingdom)#October_2013_changes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Lottery_(United_Kingdom)#October_2013_changes
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- Lemon Slice
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Re: Lottery wins rarer and rarer
In the beginning the odds of the big prize were 1:14 million
When they added the extra ten numbers a few years back, that increased the odds to about 1:45 million (what do a few extra numbers matter....)
I imagine the odds for lower prizes have also not worked in your favour.
It belongs to the Ontario Teachers Pension Plan. Probably better off putting your money in that
When they added the extra ten numbers a few years back, that increased the odds to about 1:45 million (what do a few extra numbers matter....)
I imagine the odds for lower prizes have also not worked in your favour.
It belongs to the Ontario Teachers Pension Plan. Probably better off putting your money in that
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- Lemon Half
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Re: Lottery wins rarer and rarer
With the extra ten balls your chances of getting 3 correct out of 6 approximately halved
- it was about 1:57 before and it's 1:96 now
C(6,3) * C(43,6) / C(49,6)
vs
C(6,3) * C(53,6) / C(59,6)
where C(n,k) = n! / (k! * (n-k)!)
-sd
- it was about 1:57 before and it's 1:96 now
C(6,3) * C(43,6) / C(49,6)
vs
C(6,3) * C(53,6) / C(59,6)
where C(n,k) = n! / (k! * (n-k)!)
-sd
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- Lemon Slice
- Posts: 973
- Joined: November 4th, 2016, 10:31 am
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Re: Lottery wins rarer and rarer
Ah! That's the missing information that's so crucial - I hadn't realised they'd added extra balls to the draw. Now I know that, it's obvious why the drought has occurred. Thanks all!
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