Maths question

100gSoma · 14-08-2009, 11:00

Purely from a mathematical standpoint based on odds of a prize and the amount of prize..

Is it better to buy a 6euro quickpick with lottoplus (3 lines and 3 draws) 1 - 48 match 6.

Or

a 6 euro Euromillions without plus. (3 lines and 1 draw) 1 - 50 and match 7.

MathsManiac · 14-08-2009, 17:00

Firstly, this is complicated by the fact that you'd have to take into account all the different possible prizes and the odds of winning each of them.

Much easier than doing that is to try to get info about the long-run payout of the two games. This is the fairest way to compare two such games. Lotto pays out a little over half of all the money it takes in, judging by the 2008 figures. I think this proportion is governed by legislation or license, and I'm sure you could find it on line. I don't know what the corresponding pay-out fraction for Euromillions is. A quick websearch didn't turn it up.

Anyway, if you're ONLY interested in the jackpots, and completely ignoring the value of potentially winning a smaller prize, then it's worth pointing out that Euromillions is NOT to match 7 numbers from 50; it's to match 5 numbers from 50 and 2 numbers from 9. The odds are about 76 million to 1, whereas the odds in the lotto are about 8 million to 1.

**Mellor** · 21-08-2009, 04:33

It also is complicated by the fact that prizes are dynamic,
Best bet is to look at payout as mentioned

watty · 21-08-2009, 14:10

Best strategy is to buy neither. It's a stealth tax on the poor.

14-08-2009, 11:00	#1
100gSoma Registered User Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 702 Adverts \| Friends	Maths question Purely from a mathematical standpoint based on odds of a prize and the amount of prize.. Is it better to buy a 6euro quickpick with lottoplus (3 lines and 3 draws) 1 - 48 match 6. Or a 6 euro Euromillions without plus. (3 lines and 1 draw) 1 - 50 and match 7. __________________ What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters to what lies within us. - Ralph Waldo Emerson.

21-08-2009, 04:33	#3
Mellor Moderator Join Date: May 2006 Location: Bondi... Posts: 10,013 Adverts \| Friends Mod: Construction & Planning	It also is complicated by the fact that prizes are dynamic, Best bet is to look at payout as mentioned __________________ Moneybookers is >>>>>> Neteller, Fact

21-08-2009, 14:10	#4
watty Registered User Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Tanglebox Posts: 19,530 Adverts \| Friends	Best strategy is to buy neither. It's a stealth tax on the poor. __________________ *Click here to visit my Portal* - - - Join IrelandOffline Sorry no PMs. Contact Watty here

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14-08-2009, 17:00	#2
MathsManiac Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 675 Adverts \| Friends	Firstly, this is complicated by the fact that you'd have to take into account all the different possible prizes and the odds of winning each of them. Much easier than doing that is to try to get info about the long-run payout of the two games. This is the fairest way to compare two such games. Lotto pays out a little over half of all the money it takes in, judging by the 2008 figures. I think this proportion is governed by legislation or license, and I'm sure you could find it on line. I don't know what the corresponding pay-out fraction for Euromillions is. A quick websearch didn't turn it up. Anyway, if you're ONLY interested in the jackpots, and completely ignoring the value of potentially winning a smaller prize, then it's worth pointing out that Euromillions is NOT to match 7 numbers from 50; it's to match 5 numbers from 50 and 2 numbers from 9. The odds are about 76 million to 1, whereas the odds in the lotto are about 8 million to 1.