In general, in "Scratch and Win" the losses are greater than the winnings, but there are several ways to increase the odds of winning with these tickets. It's still a gamble, but you can make sure it's not "too dangerous". Avoiding the common mistakes of the typical player will allow you to create more winning opportunities and prevent some frustration. Read this guide to learn some useful strategies.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Shopping Smart
Step 1. Choose the price cut
Scratch cards are sold in different styles and designs, but the easiest way to compare is by price. Typically, these tickets cost anywhere from 1 to 20 euros individually, depending on the game and the area you live in. The cheapest tickets have a low overall win percentage, lower value, and a smaller gap between the highest and lowest prize. Tickets costing more than 5 euros have a higher percentage of winning tickets, many more prizes and usually a higher jackpot.
In other words, a 1 euro ticket can win more often, but the first prize can only be a few hundred euros and the average prize will be much lower, while the 20 euro ticket will win less often, but there is also a probability, although very low, of winning larger prizes
Step 2. Try to figure out the odds of winning with your budget
The odds listed for each specific game are that any given ticket is a winning one. Just because some games are more likely to win than others doesn't mean it's much more likely to hit the jackpot, but it does make it a more valuable ticket than its price, given a large spread of smaller prizes. Buy tickets at the highest odds price of any winner.
For a serious player who buys tickets in batches, low-priced tickets with a higher chance of winning are usually the best choice, while the casual player may be better off buying a more expensive ticket from time to time
Step 3. Study the small print on the back of the "Scratch" to find the odds of winning
Compare the odds of a few tickets before making a guess as to which card to buy. Typically, the odds are specified as a ratio of numbers, 1: 5 or 1:20. This means that one in 5 or 20 tickets will be a win.
This does not mean that every fifth ticket in the row wins, and it does not mean that, in a random sample of 20 tickets, one is sure to win. It means that, in the total number of tickets awarded, in all shops throughout the country, the winnings are present in this percentage
Step 4. Buy them in bulk or stagger the expense
There are rarely two consecutive winning tickets, but there are at least a few winnings in each pack of tickets. Therefore, if you know that a winning ticket has already been purchased from a certain package, stop playing for a few days and come back later, or go to a different store or buy another game. This will allow you to avoid spending money on an almost certainly losing ticket.
The "Scratch Cards" are sold with a guaranteed number of wins and losses in each pack, which usually consists of around 30-40 tickets. One way to guarantee that you win is to buy the entire lot. You may not be able to make a profit, but you will at least end up winning something
Step 5. Stand outside and wait for the losers
As with slot machines and other gambling games, a long streak of losses means the odds are higher when you manage to get into the store for a timely purchase. Try talking to a cashier at a lotto games store to get some good advice on which types of tickets have been winning lately and which ones haven't. You won't necessarily be able to tell whether or not a particular ticket has a higher chance of winning than another, but you will be able to know if a game has already been paid for.
If someone in front of you just bought 10 tickets, but lost to everyone, buy some. It is not a guarantee of winning, but there is a greater chance that the next ticket in the pack will win if the previous 10 have not
Step 6. Check the rewards before buying a game
Unfortunately it is perfectly legal to sell "Scratch and Win" tickets even if all prizes have already been drawn. Sometimes a flyer with the information will be displayed in the shop, but sometimes it may be weeks old. Checking the State Lottery homepage is the easiest way to make sure you don't waste your money on a losing ticket.
If you have a favorite game for your budget and are thinking of purchasing tickets, check out the top prize available before heading to the store. If it's lower than usual because the top prizes have been drawn, consider switching to a different game within the same price range
Part 2 of 3: Avoiding Common Mistakes
Step 1. Put the losing tickets aside
In many places, a second lottery spin is drawn, to which old non-winning tickets can be sent. Keep the old "Scratch Cards" in an envelope and check them to see if there is a possibility of a second win when a new draw is announced. Ship them out and hope for the best. A losing ticket could still win you some money.
Sometimes, the Lottery Commission advertises this second chance when the first prizes have already been paid to try to target essentially useless ticket sales. Buying tickets that are sure to be losers just to get the opportunity for a second draw is not a great idea. Use this option only for tickets you have already bought
Step 2. Double-check all losing tickets
After accumulating winnings and deciding to redeem them, bring along the non-winning tickets as well. At the retailer there is always a computer with which they can check that you have not lost anything. In games that feature different ways of winning it is easy to overlook a few. With computer control you are sure not to accidentally throw away a winning ticket.
If you wish to keep the tickets for the second chance, ask to have them back and keep them safe somewhere until the second draw opportunity is announced
Step 3. Avoid promotional packages
Another technique that some retailers use to clear out stock is to sell packs of tickets made up of those games whose biggest winnings have already been drawn. While it may seem like a bargain to you, try to understand that the likelihood of a given ticket winning is completely skewed by the time the first prizes have already been distributed. It is best to focus on active games where the odds are most favorable - you will have a better chance of winning real money.
Step 4. Examine the tickets before playing them
A Canadian professor managed to snag winnings with the "Scratch and Win" Tic-Tac-Toe by noticing a recurring pattern printed on the winning tickets. If the print on the outside of a "Scratch and Win" varies from ticket to ticket, check it very carefully.
- The "singleton" method refers to the grid of numbers printed immediately to the left of a "Scratch and Win" Three of a Kind. If a single number has appeared once in this game, it indicates a probability of winning around 60%.
- Most of the states where this manufacturing anomaly has occurred have corrected the problem. Since most retailers do not allow you to examine tickets before buying them, it is difficult to tell if there is a practical application of this skill, although it is still worth examining the ticket for any signs of tampering or a repetitive pattern that let you find a manufacturing error.
Part 3 of 3: Move on
Step 1. Establish a budget and stick to it
Decide how much you can afford to spend each week. This is the amount you can afford to lose, because playing the lottery for the long term results in losing. It is a certainty.
- Once you have decided on a weekly budget, take the "Scratch Cards" money from the remaining money after paying rent, groceries or other necessary expenses. If you have some money left for fun, you might want to invest some of it if you like playing "Scratch Cards".
- Never spend more than your budget! Resist the temptation to chase losses. The stats won't change in your favor.
Step 2. Choose a game you like and play it until all the prizes have been awarded
Lotto tickets can make sense in the long run. Keep playing within your budget with the odds you like until the first prize is paid, then move on to another game. This will help you manage the psychological win-loss impact. Make it a rule: you can't play another game.
Some serious players have a different philosophy. Alternatively, you could choose a store where you always buy the different types of games. Be consistent with this routine. Since there is always a higher percentage of losing no matter what you do, playing sensibly is just one way to stay balanced and sane
Step 3. Stop playing while you are winning
If you find a winning ticket, put the money in your wallet and leave the shop. Don't spend it on "Scratch Cards" beyond your budget, no matter how small it is. This attitude will allow you to increase your income, because using your winnings to invest more money increases the chances of losing everything. In the long run, the numbers are not favorable.
Advice
- Check the ticket number, as many of the winning ones are at the start of the roll.
- It is possible to update the odds for certain "Scratch and Win" tickets by statistically analyzing the remaining prizes. This can be difficult. There are websites that can do the math for you.
Warnings
- While these tips can help (and math can help even more), playing "Scratch Cards" is a gamble and it is almost certain that you will still lose more than you win.
- Plays exclusively the amount of money you can afford to lose.
