Chunks of Pumpkin in the Air

While Mega Million settles down with a pumpkin spice latte, Lotto Texas and Powerball spent the night of September 28th smashing pumpkins.

Lotto Texas saw a Pattern that doesn’t get much play, and the {2-1-1-1-1} and {2-2-1-1} Patterns are neck-and-neck once again in Powerball.

Lotto Texas

The {5-1} Pattern made its 48th appearance thanks to 21, 29, 31, 32, 36, and 48.

Winning Texas Lotto numbers. From lotterytrend.com.
Winning Texas Lotto numbers. From lotterytrend.com.

With that said, there have been 1381 drawings in Lotto Texas to date, and the {5-1} Pattern has played 3.8% of the time. We last saw this Pattern in the July 27, 2016 drawing. This Pattern was actually mentioned in a post from early last week. Mary Harris, The Architect of Lottery Trend, used it in her example of how a Pattern improves the odds of winning when said Pattern plays. If you haven’t done so already, give it a read.

Moving on to the Specific Order now, we had 0 5 1 play for the 9th time. Out of the 48 drawings where the {5-1} Pattern has appeared, the 0 5 1 Specific Order has played 18.75% of the time. When we look at all 1381 drawings, this becomes 0.65% of the time. Prior to Wednesday’s drawing the 0 5 1 Specific Order played July 29, 2015. This is actually almost exactly one year prior to the previous date the {5-1} Pattern itself played.

Also making its second appearance was the Four-Number Combination 21, 31, 36, and 48.

Snippet of Four-Number Combinations from lotterytrend.com. The repeating Combo is in the red box.
Snippet of Four-Number Combinations from lotterytrend.com. The repeating Combo is in the red box.

We first saw this Combination in the November 26, 2014 drawing, right before Thanksgiving (US).

Powerball

The {2-2-1-1} Pattern just wants to be on top, it seems. Instead, it’ll have to settle for a tie with {2-1-1-1-1} for Most Commonly Played Pattern. The 37th appearance was made possible by winning numbers 30, 38, 52, 53, 62, and PB 1.

Winning Powerball numbers from lotterytrend-powerball.com.
Winning Powerball numbers from lotterytrend-powerball.com.

Out of the 103 Powerball drawings to date, the {2-2-1-1} Pattern has now played approximately 35.9% of the time. Not only did the 37th appearance create a tie, it’s actually an encore! The {2-2-1-1} Pattern previously played in Saturday’s drawing.

The [2-2-1-1] General Order made its 13th appearance, and out of the 37 drawings the {2-2-1-1} Pattern has appeared, it has played 35.1% of the time. When looking at all 103 Powerball drawings, this becomes 12.6% of the time. We last saw this General Order a couple of weeks ago in the September 14, 2016 drawing.

We were treated to not just a repeat of the {2-2-1-1} Pattern, but the debut of the 0 0 2 2 1 1 Specific Order. This Specific Order has played in 7.69% of the 13 drawings where the [2-2-1-1] General Order has played, 2.70% of the 37 drawings when the {2-2-1-1} Pattern has played, and 0.97% of all 103 Powerball drawings.

The grand finale of the evening was the second appearance of the Three-Number Combination 30, 52, and 62. It in fact made its first appearance a few months ago in the April 20, 2016 drawing.

Snippet of Three-Number Combinations from lotterytrend-powerball.com. The repeating Combo is in the red box.
Snippet of Three-Number Combinations from lotterytrend-powerball.com. The repeating Combo is in the red box.

How will Lotto Texas and Powerball start off October? Will Lotto Texas see a retro throwback or an Australia Play? Will the {2-2-1-1} snatch away the title of Most Commonly Played Pattern from {2-1-1-1-1} once again?

Mega Millions’s Summer Fade Out

We’ve now come to the last week of September and Mega Millions consistently chose pumpkin spice latte over sambas.

 

Alas, the {3-1-1-1} Pattern did not repeat, nor did we see any Three-Number Combos play for the second time. There were plays that reminded us, however brief, of more festive times. As we go through the September 27th drawing, one could say that we’re slowly going back in time.

Tuesday’s winning numbers were 14, 16, 26, 53, 72, and MB 04, marking the 122nd appearance of the {2-1-1-1-1} Pattern.

Winning Mega Millions numbers. From lotterytrend-megamillions.com.
Winning Mega Millions numbers. From lotterytrend-megamillions.com.

Out of the 307 Mega Millions drawings to date, the {2-1-1-1-1} Pattern has played 39.7% of the time. This Pattern played exactly one week prior in the September 20th drawing.

The [1-2-1-1-1] General Order made its 36th appearance, its first since the August 30th drawing. Of the 122 drawings where the {2-1-1-1-1} Pattern has played, the [1-2-1-1-1] General Order has played 29.5% of the time. This becomes 11.7% when we take all 307 drawings into account.

We now round up Tuesday night’s analysis with the 1 2 0 1 1 1 Specific Order making its 7th appearance. When we look at the 36 drawings where the [1-2-1-1-1] General Order has played, the 1 2 0 1 1 1 Specific Order has played 19.4% of the time. Looking at the 122 drawings where the {2-1-1-1-1} Pattern has played, this becomes 5.7% of the time, and 2.28% when we look at all 307 drawings. The last time we saw this Specific Order play was back on August 5th, the day of the Rio Olympics Opening Ceremony.

With the last Mega Millions drawing actually occurring on the last day of the month this year, will the month end with a bang, or chilling with a latte?

Autumn Combo Rolls

The September 24, 2016 drawings marked the beginning of autumn for Lotto Texas and Powerball. As has been routine for the month of September thus far, any signs of a streak getting off the ground are squashed beyond the third appearance. The Patterns from Wednesday’s drawing didn’t make an encore, and it looks as if the reprieve from the {2-2-1-1}/{2-1-1-1-1} volley in Powerball was short lived. In Lotto Texas, there was a throwback to the pre-YouTube days.

Lotto Texas

Saturday’s winning Pattern was {4-1-1}, provided by 5, 26, 37, 49, 44, and 50.

Winning Texas Lotto numbers from lotterytrend.com.
Winning Texas Lotto numbers from lotterytrend.com.

With its 153rd appearance and 1380 Lotto Texas drawings to date, the {4-1-1} Pattern has played 11.1% of the time. The last time we saw this Pattern play was nearly a month ago back on August 27, 2016.

The Specific Order of the evening was 1 1 4, making its 51st appearance. Out of the 153 drawings where the {4-1-1} Pattern played, the 1 1 4 Specific Order has played 33.3% of the time. When looking at all 1380 drawings, this Specific Order has played 3.70% of the time. Like the {4-1-1} Pattern, the 1 1 4 Specific Order previously played in the August 27th drawing.

We wrap up our Lotto Texas coverage with the second appearance of two Four-Number Combinations:

  • 26, 39, 44, and 50, which first played almost three years ago on September 28, 2011, and
  • 5, 26, 39, and 50, which first played April 26, 2003.
Snippet of Four-Number Combinations from lotterytrend.com. The repeating combinations are in red boxes.
Snippet of Four-Number Combinations from lotterytrend.com. The repeating combinations are in red boxes.

Putting things in perspective, YouTube didn’t come about until 2005, and social media was primarily in the form of chat rooms.

Powerball

The {2-2-1-1} Pattern appeared after a one-drawing hiatus. The 36th appearance was thanks to winning numbers 7, 15, 20, 29, 41, and PB 22.

Winning Powerball numbers from lotterytrend-powerball.com.
Winning Powerball numbers from lotterytrend-powerball.com.

Now that there have been 102 Powerball drawings, the {2-2-1-1} Pattern has now played 35.3% of the time. This Pattern previously played in the September 14, 2016 drawing.

The [1-2-2-1] General Order made its 14th appearance, its first since the August 6, 2016 drawing. Out of the 36 drawings where {2-2-1-1} was the winning Pattern, the [1-2-2-1] General Order has played 38.9% of the time. This becomes 13.7% of the time when looking at all 102 drawings.

The 1 2 2 0 0 1 Specific Order made its first appearance since the June 15, 2016 drawing. Having now appeared three times, and with 14 drawings where the [1-2-2-1] General Order has appeared, the 1 2 2 0 0 1 Specific Order has played 21.4% of the time. When looking at the 36 drawings in which the {2-2-1-1} Pattern has played, this becomes 8.33% and 2.94% when looking at all 102 Powerball drawings.

We saw a repeating Three-Number Combination in the form of 15, 20, and 29.

Snippet of Three-Number Combinations from lotterytrend-powerball.com. The repeating Combination is in the red box.
Snippet of Three-Number Combinations from lotterytrend-powerball.com. The repeating Combination is in the red box.

This Combination made its debut almost a year ago on October 14, 2015.

As we look to the week ahead, will Lotto Texas have another “so last decade” throwback? Will the {2-2-1-1} and {2-1-1-1-1} Patterns in Powerball go after each other again?

Mega Millions Autumn Spice

Mega Millions had it first autumn drawing Friday night, and things got kicked up a notch. Although there were no Pattern encores, or repeating Three-Number Combos, we got a treat with the Specific Order.

The winning numbers for September 23, 2016 were 1, 5, 8, 25, 62, and MB 14. The {3-1-1-1} Pattern played for the first time since the September 9th drawing two weeks ago.

Winning Mega Millions numbers from lotterytrend-megamillions.com.
Winning Mega Millions numbers from lotterytrend-megamillions.com.

With 49 appearances, and 306 Mega Millions drawings to date, the {3-1-1-1} Pattern has played 16.0% of the time.

The [3-1-1-1] General Order made its 16th appearance, its first since the June 17th drawing. Out of the 49 drawings that the {3-1-1-1} Pattern has played, the [3-1-1-1] General Order has played 32.7% of the time. This becomes 5.23% of the time when we look at all 306 drawings to date.

Last night saw the debut of the 3 1 0 0 1 1 Specific Order. Out of the 16 drawings where the [3-1-1-1] General Order played, this Specific Order has played 6.25% of the time. This becomes 2.04% when looking at the 49 drawings where the {3-1-1-1} Pattern played, and 0.33% when looking at all 306 drawings.

As the days grow shorter and autumn kicks in, will the {3-1-1-1} Pattern make an encore in Tuesday’s drawing? Will another Specific Order make its debut?

Easing into Fall

Lotto Texas and Powerball said goodbye to summer in their September 21st drawings with little fanfare. There were no throwbacks to the dial-up days in Lotto Texas, and the {4-2} Pattern streak was soundly smashed. On the Powerball side of things, another Pattern has finally played.

Lotto Texas

Wednesday’s winning numbers were 8, 24, 39, 38, 45 and 46.

Winning Texas Lotto numbers. From lotterytrend.com.
Winning Texas Lotto numbers. From lotterytrend.com.

These numbers marked the 719th appearance of the {3-2-1} Pattern, which has no chance of losing its title as Most Commonly Played Lotto Texas Pattern anytime soon. Out of the 1379 drawings to date, the {3-2-1} Pattern has played 52.1% of the time. This Pattern previously played earlier in the month on September 7th.

Interestingly, the Specific Order of the evening was 1 2 3, which made its 133rd appearance. Given that there have now been 719 drawings where {3-2-1} was the winning Pattern, the 1 2 3 Specific Order has played in 18.5% of them. When taking all 1379 drawings into account, the 1 2 3 Specific Order has played 9.64% of the time. The last time we saw this Specific Order was back on April 16th, 2016.

Powerball

After a volley that lasted for two weeks, the {2-1-1-1-1} / {2-2-1-1} Pattern feud subsided. Instead, we saw the {3-1-1-1} Pattern play for the first time since August 13th. The winning numbers were 1, 28, 63, 67, 69, and PB 17.

Winning Powerball numbers. From lotterytrend-powerball.com.
Winning Powerball numbers. From lotterytrend-powerball.com.

Now having made 14 appearances, and with 101 Powerball drawings thus far, the {3-1-1-1} Pattern has played 13.9% of the time.

The [1-1-3-1] General Order also made its first appearance since the August 13th drawing. With five appearances and 14 drawings where the {3-1-1-1} Pattern has played, the [1-1-3-1] General Order has played 35.7% of the time. This becomes 4.95% when we look at all 101 drawings.

Finally, the 1 1 0 0 3 1 Specific Order made its world debut. Even though it’s only played once so far, it has already appeared in 20% of the 5 drawings where the [1-1-3-1] General Order also played! When looking at the 14 drawings where the {3-1-1-1} Pattern has played, this becomes 7.14% and 0.99% when looking at all 101 Powerball drawings.

As the days grow shorter and football kicks it into high(er) gear, what lies ahead for Lotto Texas and Powerball?

 

Coolin’ On Down

It’s official. The September 20th Mega Millions marked the official end of summer with little fanfare. Although the {2-2-1-1} Pattern didn’t make an encore, the Specific Order of the evening made its first appearance in over a year. As the daytime continues to grow shorter up here, gather ‘round the computer screen and follow along with the recap of Tuesday’s drawing.

The winning numbers for the 305th drawing were 2, 22, 34, 62, 72, and MB 2.

Winning Mega Millions numbers from lotterytrend-megamillions.com.
Winning Mega Millions numbers from lotterytrend-megamillions.com.

Now having appeared 121 times, the {2-1-1-1-1} Pattern has now played 39.7% of the time. Last we saw this Pattern was exactly one week prior on September 13th. In our Lotto Texas/Powerball post, we talked about how the {2-1-1-1-1} and {2-2-1-1} Patterns in Powerball seem to be locked into a neverending dance of alternating. Has Mega Millions caught this bug?

The [1-1-1-2-1] General Order played for the 28th time, and out of the 121 drawings where {2-1-1-1-1} was the winning Pattern, this General Order has played 23.1% of the time. When taking all 305 Mega Millions drawings into account, this becomes 9.18% of the time. The [1-1-1-2-1] General Order previously played on September 6th, exactly two weeks prior to Tuesday’s drawing.

We round up the night with the 1 1 1 0 2 1 Specific Order, which made its 5th appearance. With 28 drawings where the [1-1-1-2-1] General Order has appeared, the 1 1 1 0 2 1 Specific Order has played 17.9% of the time. This becomes 4.13% when looking at the 121 drawings where the {2-1-1-1-1} Pattern has played and 1.64% when looking at all 305 drawings. The last time the 1 1 1 0 2 1 Specific Order played was back on May 5th, 2015.

As we look ahead to fall, will Mega Millions continue to keep it cool, or will it get fired up?

Another Special Post: Lottery Strategy Edition

Over the weekend I had a question about Patterns for the architect of the very system this blog covers. I sent her an email, and she quickly provided feedback:

Dear Lottery Meister:

In answer to your question: The less a pattern plays – say like 20 percent
of the time – I would not look at the fact that it is not playing 80 percent
of the time, and therefore, not play that pattern. I have calculated and
verified the theoretical probabilities and actual probabilities on patterns,
general orders, and specific orders listed on our sites. What you are
reporting real time for www.lotterytrend.com, www.lotterytrend-megamillions.com, and www.lotterytrend-powerball.com, are actual probabilities. The actual pattern probabilities are not that far off
from the theoretical. In general, the less a pattern plays the greater your
odds of winning when it does play – providing you are playing the ” less
played” pattern. But since Lottery Trend breaks the patterns down into
general orders and specific orders, you have the choice of increasing your
odds of winning, i.e., if you pick a specific order and you stick with that
specific order, when that specific order does play, your odds of winning are increased, significantly.

For instance, if you are playing the {3-2-1} pattern in Texas Lotto (and you are only buying one ticket), your odds of winning when {3-2-1} does play is about 1 out of 13 million rather than 1 out of 26 million. If you are
playing the {5-1} pattern, your odds of winning are about 1 out of 900,000, rather than 1 out of 26 million. The strategy is to stay the course and keep playing that same pattern until it turns up. A {5-1} pattern plays on average between 3 and 4 times every 100 drawings. If I know nothing else I would play the {5-1} pattern, seeing that my chances are better when it does come around. I can spend that dollar every draw until {5-1} does play.

It’s like picking a spot to fish, knowing where and how the fish bites.

If you know about specific orders associated with each pattern, you can
increase your odds even more, providing you stick with that specific order.
But the rarity of play for specific order kicks in, and my chance of picking
the right specific order for {5-1} is about two out of three (when the {5-1}
pattern does play -there are six specific orders to choose from and if {5-1}
pops up 4 out of 100 draws, I have a 2 out of 3 chance that the specific
order I’ve chosen will play). If I am playing the right specific order when
{5-1} does play, the odds of winning, playing that one dollar, is 1 out of
154,000, rather than 1 out of 26 million.

The same goes for the {3-2-1} pattern. This pattern plays about 1 out of 2
drawings. Picking a specific order, and staying with that specific order
increases my chance of winning, when that specific order does play. The
{3-2-1} pattern consists of six specific orders. When the specific order
I’ve chosen does play my odds of winning are about 1 out of 2,250,000,
rather than 1 out of 26 million. Because of how often the {3-2-1} pattern
plays it is nearly a given that the specific order you choose will play
several times a year.

And consider this, if I choose to buy more than one ticket, but stay
consistent with the specific order, I improve my odds of winning even more.

The {5-1} pattern plays about 3 to 4 percent. So I calculate that it plays
about 3 to 4 times a year. I would not count it out due to the odds of
winning when it does play.

Whether you play a pattern or not depends on (1) how often that pattern is expected to play, (2) the odds of winning, when that pattern plays, (3) and your patience. When I co-authored Lottery Trend in 1993, I calculated that the {6} pattern (based on five groups and ten numbers in each group) would play once every 150 years. This was when the Texas Lottery was playing 1-50. Now, that’s a pattern that I would not have played. And when the Texas Lottery went from 1-50 (over 600 drawings) to 1-54, the {6} pattern still had not played.

The {6} pattern is different for the 1-54 system (based on three groups, 18
numbers, each). It has played five times in 1378 drawings. I calculated
that it should play 2 out of every 1000 drawings. As of this writing it
plays about 4 out of every 1000 drawings. Based on my calculations it
should trend about once every five years. Based on the way it is actually
playing, it is trending once every three and a half years. The {6) pattern
has three specific orders, and given the expectation of playing once every
three to five years, you could wait as long as fifteen years before the
specific order you choose plays. But it does play, and when a specific
order for this pattern plays and you are “patient” enough, your odds of
winning are 1 out of 19,000 (playing just one dollar). So that’s the
trade-off.

I created this system in 1992 during the advent of the Texas Lottery system, and I am proud to say I have expanded it to include Megamillions and Powerball.

Stay tuned.

Mary Semiene Harris

Saturday Night Milestones

The September 17th Lotto Texas and Powerball drawings were truly something. On the Lotto Texas front, the {4-2} Pattern made a three-peat appearance. Powerball had its 100th drawing, and by 100th, we mean “The 100th drawing using number balls 1 through 69 and Powerballs 1 through 26.” What better way to mark the 100th drawing than for someone to win the jackpot?

Lotto Texas

The {4-2} three-peat was provided by the winning numbers 24, 32, 33, 34, 48, and 51.

Winning Texas Lotto Numbers from lotterytrend.com.
Winning Texas Lotto Numbers from lotterytrend.com.

Now having played 152 times, and with 1378 Lotto Texas drawings to date, the {4-2} Pattern has played 11.0% of the time. This Pattern previously played in Wednesday’s drawing  as well as the September 10th drawing.

The 0 4 2 Specific Order made its 30th appearance, and out of the 152 drawings where {4-2} was the winning Pattern, this Specific Order has played 19.7% of the time. When we look at all 1378 drawings, this becomes 2.18%. Unlike the {4-2} Pattern, the 0 4 2 Specific Order was last seen at the beginning of the year: January 16th, 2016.

The last Lotto Texas highlight of the evening was the Four-Number Combination of 24, 32, 33, and 48, which made its first appearance October 13th, 2012.

Repeating Four-Number Combo is highlighted in the red box. From lotterytrend.com.
Repeating Four-Number Combo is highlighted in the red box. From lotterytrend.com.

 

Powerball

Even though Powerball had its 100th drawing, and somebody won, it appears that the {2-2-1-1} and {2-1-1-1-1} Patterns are locked in a dance. The {2-1-1-1-1} Pattern played for the 37th time, thanks to numbers 9, 19, 51, 55, 62, and PB 14.

Winning Powerball numbers. From lotterytrend-powerball.com.
Winning Powerball numbers. From lotterytrend-powerball.com.

The {2-1-1-1-1} Pattern has now played 37% of the time, and remains the most commonly played Pattern. This Pattern was last seen in the September 10th drawing.

Like the {2-1-1-1-1} Pattern, the [1-1-2-1-1] Pattern was last seen in the September 10th drawing. Making its eighth appearance, it has appeared in 21.6% of the 37 drawings where the {2-1-1-1-1} Pattern played. Taking all 100 drawings into account, this shrinks to 8% of the time.

September 10th appears to be a popular date, for the 1 1 0 2 1 1 Specific Order also made its last appearance on that night! Now having played three times, it has appeared in 37.5% of the 8 drawings where the [1-1-2-1-1] General Order has played. This becomes 8.11% of the 37 drawings where the {2-1-1-1-1} Pattern has played, and 3% when taking all 100 drawings into account.

With the last summer (or winter) Lotto Texas and Powerball drawings coming up this Wednesday, will the {4-2} Pattern be daring enough to go for a four-peat? Will the {2-1-1-1-1} and the {2-2-1-1} Patterns be locked in their dance, alternating between who gets to play?

A Very Special Post

Lately, we here at Lottery Trend have come across websites that are using our information and the creators of said sites are not giving us credit. This is the first of a series of special posts created in order to set the record straight.

Our sites constantly show how often Combinations play. We do this in order for people to see the futility in playing repeating Combinations, particularly Three, Four, and Five-Number Combinations. We were unable to find documentation for Combination counts, particularly for Three, Four, and Five-Number Combinations. This led us to the design and creation of algorithms that allow for a rapid count for these Combos.

The Combination is just one concept. We created the concept of Patterns based on groups back in 1992. We were met with great skepticism, if not outright dismissal.

Now, we don’t mind if you would like to use the information on our sites for your own. However, you must cite your sources; otherwise it’s plagiarism.

Warmin’ On Up

Somebody won the jackpot!

First, we’d like to give a shout out to the winner of the September 16th, 2016 Mega Millions drawing. In addition to creating a winner, Friday’s drawing gave us a glimpse back to the earlier, warmer (and hotter) times of the year.

Friday’s drawing saw the 96th appearance of the {2-2-1-1} Pattern, provided by the winning numbers 13, 21, 28, 34, 40, and MB 15.

The numbers that made somebody $133 million richer. From lotterytrend-megamillions.com.
The numbers that made somebody $133 million richer. From lotterytrend-megamillions.com.

Now that there have been 304 drawings, the {2-2-1-1} Pattern has played 31.6% of the time. Last we saw this Pattern was at the beginning of Labor Day weekend (September 2nd). Unlike in Powerball, this {2-2-1-1} Pattern isn’t close to taking the title of Most Commonly Seen Pattern away from {2-1-1-1-1}.

The General Order of the evening was [1-2-2-1], which previously played on August 19th, 2016. Making its 25th appearance, it has appeared in 26.0% of the 96 drawings where the {2-2-1-1} Pattern played. When looking at all 304 drawings, the [1-2-2-1] General Order has played 8.22% of the time.

The 1 2 2 0 0 1 Specific Order made its fifth appearance, having previously played back on May 6th, 2016. Out of the 25 drawings where [1-2-2-1] was the General Order, the 1 2 2 0 0 1 Specific Order has played 20% of the time. When looking at the 96 drawings where {2-2-1-1} was the winning Pattern, this becomes 5.21%, and becomes 1.64% of the time when looking at all 304 Mega Millions drawings.

Last, but definitely not least, we come to the Three-Number Combination of 21, 40, and MB 15, which first played on December 22nd, 2015.

The repeating Three-Number Combination is highlighted in the red box. From lotterytrend-megamillions.com.
The repeating Three-Number Combination is highlighted in the red box. From lotterytrend-megamillions.com.

As we look to the final Mega Millions drawing of the summer, will Mega Millions keep it warm?