THE WINNING TICKET

What is the lottery (หวย)? For skeptics, the lottery is a game of chance; one where the odds of winning are the run in similar probabilities of being struck by lightning on a sunny day. For most others, it is a game of numbers, with the added thrill of probabilities and luck, a game in which the winnings can automatically and instantaneously change the life of the player for the better by exponential proportions. What does this game entail? How is it played? What makes people play the game? Well, people have always been drawn to gambling, and the thrill of uncertainty the lottery bearings are certainly a high on its own. The answers to the other questions are not so straightforward however, and there needs to be an in-depth analysis for enlightenment to be procured.

What does the game entail?

Like it was implied earlier, the lottery is a game of chance in which a lot of factors ultimately decide the winning circumstances. The more people playing the game, the lesser the odds of the players winning are. Really popular forms of the game have odds of about one in a hundred million. While this may be daunting, it is important to note that there are a few ways in which you can mitigate your losses and optimize your combination and competition.

  • Play smaller lotteries

The chances of winning continental or national lotteries are very slim, as there are tons of people competing for the prize money and therefore the amount of winners have to be very few. Many are carried away by the size of the pot in these levels and they get carried away trying to play the big game. Although playing for smaller lotteries like county and state level lotteries mean the prize is lower, it is however more likely to pay off as the amount of competition is not much.

  • Keep your lottery numbers

It is tempting to want to change numbers every now and then because a lot is seemingly on the line but it is smarter to keep your numbers and not change them haphazardly. The game is one enormously reliant on luck and whims but there are still certain strategies to playing the long game. It is smart to diversify your numbers and not keep them clustered to a certain algorithm.

  • Do not get addicted

Like other forms of gambling, playing the lottery is an addictive thing. The electrifying thrill of the unknown, the forlornness that comes with picking numbers that “almost win”, the occasional reward; these and many other factors are things that contribute to the addiction of the game. It is wise to know when to distance oneself rather than chasing the illusion of luxury after winning a ticket.

  • Know your odds of winning before playing

This is a rather obvious thing but it is quite a regular thing for people to play lottery games blindly. It is a rather unwise way to play the game because the chance of winning itself is a factor determinant in the strategy of picking numbers. It is always prudent to know the chances so that one can be strategic with one’s numbers.