The lottery is one of, if not the most popular form of gambling. It is a game of chance, where you bet on certain numbers in the hopes they are the ones drawn. There are different prize tiers for the different amount of numbers matched.
Players have two options when it comes to participating: they can either select their own numbers or opt for a ‘lucky dip’, which chooses random numbers for them.
But does one option offer better odds of winning than the other? The answer is a resounding no.
A commonly held belief is that handpicking your lottery numbers boosts your winning chances. The thinking behind this is if you opt for the randomly generated numbers, they aren’t going to give you winning numbers, so they make more money.
However, this is nothing more than a myth. The winning numbers aren’t known until the draw is complete, so they can’t purposely give you losing numbers.
The lottery is a game of chance, and the odds remain consistent regardless of whether you choose your own numbers or opt for a lucky dip.
Has Anyone Won The Lottery With A Lucky Dip?
Yes, there have been numerous instances where lottery participants who opted for the lucky dip have won. This is not surprising, considering that almost half of all lottery winners chose the lucky dip option when purchasing their tickets.
Take, for example, the case of Denis Fawsitt, an 80-year-old who bagged over £100,000 on the Euromillions. Fawsitt usually picked his own numbers but forgot his glasses on the day and had to opt for a lucky dip instead.
And then there’s Joe Thwaite, who won an astounding £184 million on the Euromillions using a lucky dip ticket in 2022. He holds the title of being the UK’s biggest Euromillions lottery winner.
How Often Do Lucky Dips Win The Lottery?
Around 53% of lottery winners have won using the lucky dip option. So lucky dips are responsible for almost half of all lottery wins, which solidifies the fact that it makes no difference as to whether you elect to choose your own numbers or go for a lucky dip.
Since the inception of the National Lottery, approximately 6,600 millionaires have been created. By the numbers, it can be estimated that around 3,300 of these millionaires won their fortune from a lucky dip.
Lucky Dip vs Own Numbers: Splitting The Prize If You Win
When it comes to the potential division of winnings, the lucky dip may have a slight edge.
If you win the lottery, there is a chance that you may have to share the winnings with other successful players. Many people who select their own numbers often pick numbers based on significant dates, which are usually below 31. As a result, if you handpick your numbers and they fall in this range, you may have a higher chance of sharing the prize with other winners.
In contrast, the lucky dip generates a random selection of numbers, which does not follow any pattern or limit itself to a particular range. Therefore, by choosing the lucky dip, you may potentially be less likely to share the prize pot with others.
However, it’s important to note that there are no guarantees.
The Bottom Line
In the end, whether you choose your own numbers or go for a lucky dip, the odds of winning the lottery remain the same. It all boils down to personal preference. Whether you prefer the sense of control that comes with picking your own numbers or the ease and randomness of the lucky dip, the lottery is still a random game of chance.
The key takeaway is the fact that almost half of all previous winners chose the lucky dip option, and the other half chose their own numbers, so it really doesn’t make a difference as to which you choose. It’s personal preference.
Just remember that winning the lottery is never guaranteed, and there is nothing you can do to change the odds of winning. Always gamble responsibly.
