Gaming rules and answers

Lotteries, scratchcards and bingo

Odds, duplicate tickets, prizes and game formats. These answers focus on the actual question, with source references and conditions where applicable.

1. What's the best lottery number if my birthday is in January?
2. Is 1-2-3-4-5-6 less likely to win than random-looking lottery numbers?
3. What is the best way to avoid sharing a lottery jackpot?
4. How do I calculate the odds of winning a six-from-45 lottery?
5. Can two identical lottery tickets double my odds of winning?
6. What is the best way to choose a lottery syndicate size?
7. Do more expensive scratchcards always have better odds?
8. What's the best scratchcard to buy based on prizes still available?
9. Can a lottery quick-pick number be more random than one I choose?
10. What happens if a winning lottery ticket gets washed in the washing machine?
11. Can I win a lottery after the original ticket is lost but I have a photograph?
12. What is the best way to check an old lottery ticket without entering bank details?
13. Is a postcode lottery fairer to someone living in an apartment building?
14. What's the best bingo game for someone who wants to understand the mathematics?
15. Can two people win bingo on the same ball?
16. Does buying two identical bingo cards increase my chance of calling bingo first?
17. What is the best way to calculate the probability of bingo on a specific ball?
18. Why does my bingo ticket say 'house' when my card is full?
19. Can lottery draw machines detect whether I selected favourite numbers?
20. What is the difference between a lottery rollover and a guaranteed jackpot?
21. Does playing the same lottery numbers every week improve my odds over changing numbers?
22. What is the best way to keep a family lottery syndicate from arguing?
23. Can a lottery prize be withheld because the winner lives overseas?
24. Why do the odds of winning any prize differ from the jackpot odds?