Important Dates
There are lottery lovers who will select their numbers based on special and important dates. Whether these are digits that relate to the birthdays of friends or family or the anniversary of an important event in their lives, these numbers are chosen ahead of every draw in the hope that they will secure a significant amount of money.
While you could follow suit, it is worth bearing in mind that selecting numbers that correspond to dates does limit you to a much smaller pool. In fact, just eight draws this year have seen all five main numbers come in under 31. This proves that securing victory through this method is not impossible, but quite unlikely.
Trust the Stats
If you’re not a fan of choosing your numbers based on dates, you could always trust the statistics instead. By taking a look at the EuroMillions Statistics page, you can determine which numbers have been drawn the most and which are most overdue. You can also establish which digits have appeared together in the same draw most often, whether they be in pairs or in triplets.
The number 50 currently leads the way having been randomly selected on 122 occasions, while 46 is some way behind having popped out just 75 times in over 13 years of EuroMillions gameplay. Studying these statistics may seem like a foolproof way of picking your numbers, but there is still no guarantee of success. Sorry.
Pick a Pretty Pattern
Choosing your numbers could give you the opportunity to express your artistic side. Why not select a group that forms a pretty pattern or a delightful design? Maybe even just a straight or diagonal line?
While this might seem as good a move as any, it is a common method, regardless of how independently minded and different you think you are. Yes, your odds of winning are exactly the same, but if you do win you may be forced to share your wealth. And the experts agree: “Research on the Swiss lottery has shown that a lot of people select numbers that go diagonally across or down the slip, for example,” explains Dr John Haigh, an emeritus professor of mathematics at the University of Sussex. “This is a really lazy way of choosing numbers as it is an easy thing to do.”
The Lucky Dip
There are many different ways to select your numbers, but by far the most popular method is the Lucky Dip. This approach allows you to relinquish control of your number selection and place your financial fate in the hands of a machine. Surprisingly, this process could see you succeed and receive a larger windfall in the process.
Yes, whether you play through an authorised retailer or online, opting for random numbers is universally considered to be the best way to play, not because it guarantees that you will win, but because it is more likely that you will receive a bigger jackpot total if you do clinch the top prize. “If you pick the least popular numbers and win, then you will probably share your jackpot with fewer people,” says Dr Haigh.
So Am I Going to Win the Jackpot?
Regardless of how you choose your numbers, there are no certainties that Friday’s reward of £136 million will be finding its way into your bank account. Whether you rely on dates, stats, patterns or a random collection of digits, the only certainty is that you need to take part to be in with a chance of winning the jackpot. So, with that in mind, you can select your numbers online or pick up a ticket from any authorised retailer. Good luck!