7 Lottery Betting Mistakes That Stop You Winning

Table of contents:

• LOTTERY BETTING ERRORS
• LOTTERY SIN #1: JACKPOT BLINDNESS
• LOTTERY SIN #2: IGNORING THE ODDS
• LOTTERY SIN #3: THINKING YOUR NUMBERS ARE LUCKY
• LOTTERY SIN #4: LOOKING FOR PATTERNS
• LOTTERY SIN #5: TRUSTING IN SYSTEMS
• LOTTERY SIN #6: BELIEVING IN LOTTERY HOCUS POCUS
• LOTTERY SIN #7: LOSING HOPE & NOT ENJOYING LOTTERY
• IMPROVE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING THE LOTTERY

Please note that Lottoland is not a lottery operator and you are not buying a ticket with an applicable lottery. You must be 18 years of age or older to register and bet. 

Lottery Betting Errors

In life, there are always two ways to do something, the right way and the wrong way. Sadly, we often do things the wrong way without even realising it until it’s too late. And your weekly lottery picks are no exception. As you might expect, we study user data and lottery trends to gain valuable insights into the methods and motivations of our Lottolanders.

One shocking fact we uncovered is that a disproportionate amount of lottery bettors sabotage their chances of winning. 

Whether you're betting on the lottery in-store, or betting on the results here at Lottoland it doesn't matter if you're doing it wrong. And, based on our statistics, there's a significant chance that you, too, are committing at least one of the following Seven Deadly Lottery Sins.

Lottery Sin #1: Jackpot Blindness

Only focusing on big jackpots is the most common mistake made by lottery bettors. It’s also one of the costliest. So understand, first of all, that the bigger the jackpot the bigger the odds against you winning it. Second point; the higher the jackpot, the greater the hype and the more people buy tickets. Therefore, even if you manage to beat the odds and win the jackpot, you're far more likely to end up sharing it – which brings us on to our next point…

Lottery Sin #2: Ignoring The Odds

As with any game of chance, winning the lottery is all about beating the odds. Learning the odds of different lottery games can make all the difference, and may even cause you to reconsider your favourite lottery. To help you along the way, check out our article which breaks down the odds of winning dozens of different lotteries. Once again, don’t just focus solely on the jackpot odds (which can vary wildly) but also look at the various prize tiers the game offers, and the odds of winning one of those.

Lottery Sin #3: Thinking Your Numbers Are Lucky

Ever wonder why so many lottery wins, even jackpots, end up being shared out? The answer is simple; it’s human nature. You might think your numbers are “lucky” or “special” but they’re anything but. Most people, consciously or otherwise, tend to pick the same numbers. We see a lot of people who pick the number 7. We also see a lot of people who try the reverse psychology approach and pick 13. Most common of all, though, are all the people picking numbers based on dates (between 1 and 31). A large proportion of whom all end up with the numbers 19 and 20. With so many people picking from a limited range of numbers, it's no surprise to see prizes being shared out between multiple winners. 

Lottery Sin #4: Looking For Patterns

It’s much the same story with patterns – e.g. picking numbers based on either numerical or visual patterns (i.e. drawing shapes on the ticket, or on your Lottoland bet slip). There is no scientific basis whatsoever for using patterns to determine which numbers to choose. In fact, using this type of system limits the amount of numbers you pick, while also increasing the chances of having to share your winnings. 

Lottery Sin #5: Trusting In Systems

Some people put their faith in the hot or cold number theory – picking numbers based on the results of previous draws. The flaw here is that each lottery draw is a unique event – and any correlation between one draw and the next is purely coincidental. Therefore, you should be very wary, and indeed highly sceptical, of any of the (billions of) so-called “lottery systems” out there. 

Lottery Sin #6: Believing In Lottery Hocus Pocus

Beware the so-called lottery “gurus”. The same goes for astrologists, psychics and other charlatans who claim to know tomorrow’s winning lottery numbers. If these people truly knew how to win lottery jackpots all the time then they wouldn't need to sell their tips to anyone else. After all; if you knew tomorrow’s winning numbers would you tell anyone?

Lottery Sin #7: Losing Hope & Not Enjoying Lottery

Above all, remember it’s all about having fun, not losing hope and dreaming about the “what ifs”! You’ll find loads of moaners out there more than happy to rain on your lottery parade – but don’t let them.

Bet what you can afford and who knows… maybe slow and steady will win the race!

Improve Your Chances Of Winning The Lottery

So, how do you make it happen? Again, it doesn't matter whether you're buying a ticket in-store or betting on the results with us, the underlying principle is still the same. So now that you know the Seven Deadly Sins what should you do instead…? Well, you’ll find there’s plenty of advice out there already on how to win the lottery, but you’ll find that more than 99% of it is pure bull.

Luckily we’ve got some real, practical things you can do to help you win the lottery and condensed them down to five simple bullet points:

1. Study Your Game – Learning the odds can help you pick the best lottery game for you – do you want to go all-in for a huge jackpot, or a smaller one which you’re several times as likely to win?

2. Use Quick Picks – Your lucky numbers aren’t as lucky, or unique, as you think. With randomly-generated quick picks, however, you’re far less likely to end up sharing your jackpot.

3. Check Out The Extra Games – Many lotteries have extra bonus games, such as the Irish Lotto’s Plus 1 & 2 games. These games usually only cost a little bit extra, but increase your chances of a win considerably, maybe not as much as the full jackpot, but still a tasty windfall.

4. Pick More Than One Line – Want to double your chances of winning the lottery? Well, it's easy – just pick another set of numbers! (Plus don’t forget you can also multiply your millions with Lottoland’s exclusive DoubleJackpot feature!)

5. Don’t Lose Hope – the more you participate the better your chances, which is why we hear so much about loyal Lottolanders who kept the faith for years and were rewarded with millions.

Always keep in mind, however, that the lottery is meant to be fun. So whether you're buying tickets at your local newsagents or betting on the results here at Lottoland, only bet what you can afford. It's not about quantity, it's about consistency – remember, slow and steady wins the race! 

Bonus Tip – Join a syndicate; according to official statistics syndicates account for approximately 17% of all lottery wins in Britain. And it’s a similar story with other lotteries worldwide.

So if you’re serious about winning the lottery why not start your own lotto syndicate? Of course, you’ll have to share with other members, but together you all stand a far greater chance of winning big!

Remember: Lottery betting is all about fun and the anticipation of the next draw. Lottery betting should never be used as a way to try and make a regular income or to cover your debts. Only ever bet with what you can afford, and then sit back to enjoy the excitement of the next draw.

Last Updated: 12th October 2022