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Lottery guides

These guides explain how a draw works, what your odds are, how to buy an entry online and what happens to a prize. Each guide says what a ticket can and cannot do: no system, pattern or app changes the odds of a line, and the guides say so where it matters.

Topic pages: syndicates, jackpot odds, strategies, hot and cold numbers, predictors, number generators, how draws work, payout options, memberships, lottery software and mobile apps.

  • 11 guides
  • 3 topics
  • 14 Dec, 2023 newest guide

Newest guides

Guides by subject

Grouped by what you want to know: the basics of playing, the games themselves, and what to do with a win.

Lottery Strategy Guides

2 guides

Lottery Basics & Player Guides

6 guides

Lottery Game Guides

3 guides

Lottery guides: common questions

Where should I start if I have never played?

Read how to play the lottery first, then jackpot odds so you know what one line buys. For a different game, the keno guide explains the rules. Comparing two games is covered in bingo versus lottery.

Do any of these guides show a way to win more often?

No. Every combination has the same chance in each draw, and past results do not change the next one. Buying more lines raises your chance in proportion to what you spend. The strategies guide explains why. Past draws are listed on our lottery results pages. Our guide on how to maximise your chances of a lottery win covers what does and does not help.

How do I check a lottery site before I buy?

Check the licence, who buys the ticket and how a jackpot is paid. Our lottery sites page compares the sites we review, and lottery scams lists the warning signs. Our ranking method explains how we judge the sites we review. The guide on how late you can buy lottery tickets covers cut-off times.

Are lottery winnings taxed?

That depends on where you live and where the lottery is drawn. See tax on lottery winnings and check your own country's rules. If you have won, spending a large win wisely is covered separately.