[Q] “I read in the paper that somebody won the jackpot, carried on playing using the same lucky numbers, and won the jackpot again just a short while later! Is it true jackpot numbers are repeated?”
[A] Yes and no!
Yes, any set of numbers can be repeated. Lottery balls have no memory, they don’t remember if they got drawn last week or any other week. That means, mathematically speaking[1], they have just as much chance of being drawn again this week.
In fact, mathematically speaking[1], last weeks winning numbers have exactly the same chance of being drawn again this week.
So why does it ‘never happen’?
Because the chances of those numbers being drawn again are exactly the same as the chances of any other set of numbers being drawn. And that’s why it “never” happens. Not because they are now suddenly less likely, but because there are millions of other combinations each just as likely to come up.
Think of a dice.
If you throw a 6, then roll again, are you now more or less likely to get a 6?
The 6 is still there on the dice exactly the same as it was before. So of course, it still has the same 1 in 6 chance of being rolled. There is more chance of ‘not rolling a 6’, but only because there are 5 other numbers there. Just like before you rolled the 6 in the first place.
So yes, any set of numbers can be repeated. But they are not more or less likely to be drawn again just because they have appeared before.
Have The Same Lottery Numbers Won Twice?
So has it ever happened?
Yes, the winning lottery numbers have been repeated and won twice. And more often than you might think.
Have Powerball Numbers Ever Repeated?
Take the US Powerball for example, the numbers 15, 22, 24, 32, 39 and Powerball 18 were first drawn on 3rd April 1993. The exact same numbers were drawn again on 27th December 2000 (thanks Bruce).
So yes, the Powerball numbers have repeated! Bear in mind this is for a game with extremely tough odds. So if it can happen for that game, it can (and will) happen for any game.
If you think this was crazy, there has also been a Pick 6 game where winning lottery numbers repeated the very next draw – you can read about it here.
Does It Matter?
There is some danger in this. Some people think winning numbers are more likely to be drawn again, so they teach that to other people. Problem is, these myths get around, and then lots of people end up doing the same thing.
So if you pick numbers that have won the jackpot before – you could end up sharing the jackpot with everyone else who picks those numbers too…
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[1] P.S. I know I keep saying ‘mathematically speaking’. The reason is too complex to get into in depth here. But we’re assuming a perfectly random draw, whereas it is theoretically possible for some bias to exist in any lottery draw. It doesn’t really change the answer in terms of repeat numbers (i.e. that combinations being drawn does not in itself make them more or less likely), but it can mean certain numbers are slightly more or less likely than others. In theory. Whew!
Assuming no bias all combinations and permutations are equally likely. If bias exists some will be more likely… bias always exists whether intentional or not.
The problem is, we are dealing with a “real world” mechanical system (bias also occurs is electronic systems as well). Although the likelyhood of the same 6 or 8 balls is extremely rare, the odds of a number coming out twice in a short period of time is not. In fact, if a ball comes out in one draw, and the balls are not changed for new ones, then that ball is probably more likely to come out again. Because there is some bias in a mechanical system (maybe the ball is a tiny bit heavier or lighter, or maybe the ball is slightly less or more round, etc), if a ball comes out once, then it is slightly more likely to come out again. If they are not putting new balls in for every drawing, then the balls that were chosen previously are more likely to drop out again…
So a repeat of a combination is rare, then best playing chances would be to never play combinations already played. Yes, all combinations have the same chance each game… but does it happen in real life? No. Don’t play combinations already won.
I bought a $5.00 quick pick ‘Lucky Day Lotto’ ticket in November and 2 of the sets of numbers on the same ticket were identical. The numbers didn’t come up but if they did would I receive more in payout?
It depends.
For the fixed prize amounts (2nd, 3rd and 4th prizes) – yes, each combination would win. So you would win double.
The jackpot however is shared, so you would win 2 shares of the jackpot. But if you were the only winner, you would win the same amount (as each combination wins half!). If there was 1 other winner, then you would win more because you would win 2 of the 3 shares instead of 1 of 2 shares (two thirds is bigger than one half).
The pot is divided among the winning sets. Let’s say that there are 3 winning sets. Since you got 2, you receive 2/3 of the pot. This is just my opinion.
This is PROOF the lottery machines are somehow printing repeating Numbers, and this is bad because it takes the buyers money for THE SAME NUMBERS.
I have seen rows and rows all with the same numbers scattered, and YES this is programmed on PURPOSE, NO accident, they have done this for greed using a special algorithm!
No, it just proves that the numbers are randomly generated. If you generate random combinations then once a while they can be the same.
That actually happened on a major Canadian lotto. The fellow always bought duplicates. Don’t think there was another winner.
Certainly alerted me to that aspect, but not sure if it’s a useful long-term strategy.
Combinations that have been repeated in Powerball Lottery and in Mega Millions Lottery. I found 1 quintet in Powerball Lottery that is not on TheLotteryWeb.com – please explain.
Powerball quintet: 15,22,24,32,39
Drawing Date: 04/03/1993
15, 22, 24, 32, 39, Powerball: 18
Drawing Date: 12/27/2000
15, 22, 24, 32, 39, Powerball: 18
I found 3 quartets in Powerball Lottery:-
Powerball quartet: 12,24,31,35
Drawing Date: 05/19/1993
12, 24, 31, 35, 38, Powerball: 8
Drawing Date: 09/28/2002
12, 22, 24, 31, 35, Powerball: 8
Powerball quartet: 11,23,26,34
Drawing Date: 09/01/1993
1, 11, 23, 26, 34, Powerball: 21
Drawing Date: 03/15/1995
11, 23, 26, 34, 42, Powerball: 21
Powerball quartet: 7,15,20,41
Drawing Date: 06/30/2012
7, 15, 20, 41, 44, Powerball: 22
Drawing Date: 09/24/2016
7, 15, 20, 29, 41, Powerball: 22
I found 2 quartets in Mega Millions
Mega Millions quartet: 14,15,25,42
Drawing Date: 09/05/1997
14, 15, 25, 26, 42, Mega Ball: 3
Drawing Date: 08/31/2004
14, 15, 25, 42, 44, Mega Ball: 3
Mega Millions quartet: 5,6,13,20
Drawing Date: 07/24/2001
5, 6, 10, 13, 20, Mega Ball: 15
Drawing Date: 12/7/2001
5. 6, 13, 20, 46, Mega Ball: 15
Nice work. I guess they just haven’t managed to find them. 🙂
Combinations that have been repeated in Powerball Lottery.
I found 1 quintet in Powerball Lottery that is on Lottery Web.
Powerball quintet: 2, 13, 20, 21, 23
Drawing Date: 01/08/2003
2, 13, 20, 21, 23, Powerball: 35
Drawing Date: 01/09/2008
2, 13, 20, 21, 23, Powerball: 24
How do I check if my combination has ever come up before?
It depends on the game, but most lottery companies will have the full results history on their websites. Sometimes you can download a file of the results which makes this easier. But often it will be a list you can only page through – if so, just contact them and ask, they should be happy to provide a file.