Have Winning Lottery Numbers Ever Been Repeated?

[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!

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Have Winning Lottery Numbers Ever Been Repeated?

40 Comments so far ↓

  • Tom

    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.

    • JD

      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…

      • Sean M

        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.

  • David Garast

    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?

    • LG

      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).

    • Lan

      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.

    • Bob

      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!

      • LG

        No, it just proves that the numbers are randomly generated. If you generate random combinations then once a while they can be the same.

  • AZ

    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.

  • Bruce Berentsen

    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

    • LG

      Nice work. I guess they just haven’t managed to find them. 🙂

    • Bruce Berentsen

      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

  • Rob

    How do I check if my combination has ever come up before?

    • LG

      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.

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