Are Lotteries A Random Game Of Chance?

By Author: Darrel Dolph
Total Articles: 46
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The lottery is a random game of chance. You've probably heard that before. But, do you realize what the phrase really means? Does it mean that everyone has the same chance of winning the lottery jackpot? Or, does it mean that there is no point in wasting your time or money on the lottery? Let's examine the phrase more closely to see if we can reduce any ambiguity.

First, the words 'game of chance' refers to the fact that probabilities are involved. World wide, people play games of chance every day. Professional gamblers do too, and are quite good at it. They are successful because they understand the game they're playing and are experts at applying the laws of probability.

Some believe that the phrases 'game of chance' and 'you're going to lose' are synonomous. But, professional gamblers know the truth. Game of chance really means opportunity. This is true for all games of chance, from Blackjack to Roulette to horse racing and including the lottery. Yes, you can improve your chances of winning the lottery jackpot. But, if that is true, how could the lottery be random? Hmmm?

What Does Random Mean ...
... to You?

After doing this for over 20 years, I'm getting frustrated. But, I only have myself to blame. I just can't seem to find a good way to reprogram people's understanding of the word 'Random'. The problem is complex because on the one hand, there are people throwing around the word 'Random' as if they actually knew what it meant. And, on the other hand, there are people listening to the word as if they understood what it meant. Neither group has it right. Words can be such a pain;)

As a result, my true feelings about the word are best summed up by a quote from Shakespeare's cousin Vinny when he said, 'that which we call Random, by any other name would still smell.' Right on, Vinny.

So, here I go for the umpteenth time, I'm going to try to bring some clarity to the debate. The definition of the word random is, 'a process of selection in which each item of a set has an equal probability of being chosen.' A great definition except for the fact that it can never be realized in the real world! There's a good explanation for that. Random is a theoretical concept bandied about in the mathematical ivory towers of academia that is being passed off as if it actually existed in reality. When, in fact, it is a charlatan. The word 'Random' is an ideal masquerading as reality.

Let's Get Real About the Lottery

What would happen if this definition were actually implemented in the real world?
* If you play Blackjack, you couldn't improve your chances of winning by card counting.
* If you play Poker, you couldn't decide how much to bet.
* If you play the Stock Market, you couldn't make any money.
It is pretty obvious that these conjectures are false.

The key here is the word 'Random' doesn't fit very well in the real world because it is strictly a theoretical mathematical tool. It finds itself being very uncomfortable like an awkward teenager in a social setting. It cannot be realized or achieved in any game, on Earth, in our Solar System, in our Galaxy nor in the Universe because it is only comfortable in the theoretical world where it was born.

This should be obvious. Given a finite list of numbers, how can anyone claim to be able to randomly select numbers from it? They can't because, inevitably, shortly after the process begins, lottery patterns and trends begin to emerge. I agree that after millions and millions of drawings, the occurrences of all lottery numbers will asymptotically approach the same number of hits. But, in the short run, better known as our lifetime, lottery patterns and trends abound. They are there for everyone to see. Just look at your lottery. So, why not play smart and take advantage of this fact when playing the lottery?
The Professor is the world-famous Lotto expert, lecturer and columnist who developed LONA, your LOtto Number Advisor. For a brand-new look at Lotto software, go to Lottery Tips