Whether it’s the Powerball or your state lottery, winning big can be life changing. But the odds are long — really, really long. So what does it take to win the big prize? The answer lies in how the lottery works.
Lottery prizes are generated by ticket sales, so the more tickets are sold, the bigger the prize. Most states allow players to choose their own numbers or opt for a quick pick, in which the computer selects a random set of numbers for them. It’s a good idea to avoid choosing numbers that are special to you, like birthdays or home addresses. Instead, opt for numbers with a high frequency, such as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, which are more likely to appear.
The reason people play the lottery is simple: They love to gamble. The ads for the mega-jackpots dangle the promise of wealth, tapping into aspirations that can seem both attainable and life-changing. “When you see the jackpots go up and up and up, it’s hard not to be influenced by those messages,” Ortman says.
But there’s more to it than that. A recent study found that one in eight Americans buy a lottery ticket every year, and that the players are disproportionately lower-income, less educated, and nonwhite. Some of those same people are also addicted to gambling, a condition known as pathological gambling. And it’s not just the money that lures them; they’re also drawn to the fantasy of what their lives would be like if they won.
