What Is The Most Popular Lottery Game?
Powerball is probably the most popular lottery game in the world, followed by Mega Millions. Both of these games have life-altering jackpots, but the chances of winning are stacked against you.
In most draws, lottery players need to match all six numbers to win and maybe a bonus ball. The odds of that happening are steep. So, we’ll break down the best lottery games to play to get a better edge.
Average Stats of Winning
Going by the odds, if you play the Powerball lottery game, you’ll need to match five winning numbers and the Powerball to win the jackpot. But the odds to win are 1 in 292 201 338 on average. Meanwhile, the probability of winning a prize are 1 in 24.87, which is a lot better on the whole.
Similarly, the odds to win the Mega Millions jackpot are a steep 1 in 302 575 350 to win the biggest jackpot. In comparison, the odds of winning the New York Take 5 grand prize are 1 in 575 757, and a Royal Flush is 1 in 649 740.
Essentially, taking home the Mega Millions or Powerball jackpot will likely never happen, even if you buy multiple tickets.
Popular Lottery Games with Better Odds
So, if the odds of getting matched Powerball numbers are that bad, which popular lottery games will give you better odds?
Many experts recommend that you stick with pick-3 or pick-4 state lotteries. While the payouts are much smaller, you stand a higher chance of winning than if you try to win Powerball jackpots.
Plus, some states are more generous than others, like the Massachusetts state lottery. The lottery games have 80 cents to the dollar in returns, while other states range in 60-70 cents.
Another option is scratch cards because you have a 60% chance of getting the ticket price back. Plus, scratch-offs payout more often than traditional lotteries when you buy a ticket.
Biggest Lottery Game Wins Ever
Though the odds are highly against you, the biggest jackpot winners have been Powerball or Mega Millions players. In 2013, a Florida woman won the jackpot worth $590 million, one of the highest in history.
But, there can sometimes be multiple winners, like the California and Georgia resident who took a lump sum of $173 million each from a $648 million jackpot. This happens more often than you’d think because the numbers drawn can match multiple tickets.
And, if you win the lottery, we highly recommend keeping the news off of social media. Most people have spent their win in less than a year because of the people around them.
