Irish Lotto players will have the chance to nab €50 million in the EuroMillions draw on Tuesday, January 10.
The chances of winning the Lotto in any case are rather small, particularly for anyone who just plays in the European draw - due to the sheer number of entries.
However, one man in the USA has all the tricks for winning the Lotto and has come home with mega prizes on seven occasions in his lifetime.
READ MORE: Lotto players urged to check tickets as lucky Dublin Daily Millions player becomes millionaire
Mr Richard Lustig, who was from the State of Florida, managed to win seven large prizes in State-sponsored Lottery games from 1993 to 2010 - with his prizes equalling over $1 million.
The lucky Lotto player passed away in 2018, but before his death, he revealed the key tips that helped him bag an incredibly unlikely seven mega prizes.
So whether you’re a regular Lotto player, or want to throw your hat in the ring for the first time tomorrow, here are Mr. Lustig’s tried and tested top tips.
No more Quick Pick
In a past interview with Forbes, Lustig said people should avoid opting for a ‘quick pick’ ticket.
He explained that this method works in number sets, which means every number doesn’t have the same amount of luck one would think.
"Every time you buy a quick pick, you get a different set of numbers; therefore, your odds are always going to be at their worst in that particular game," Lustig told Forbes.
Use variety
The Lotto mastermind said that using people’s birthdays as Lotto numbers is an incredibly common practice and means you’d likely have to split the prize with a lot of other people.
In order to give yourself the best chance of a win, he said instead of just playing numbers 1-31, use all the numbers available.
"If you spread the numbers out across the whole track, you’ll either be the only winner or will split it with only one or two people," Lustig said.
Trust your gut
Lustig detailed a specific way to find the numbers you feel most comfortable with.
He says don’t overthink it, once you pick the group that you think will work, stick with it.
"Remember, a set of numbers wins the grand prize, not individual numbers," Lustig explained.
If you’re playing multiple lines, make sure you have variety in the grouping of numbers chosen to maximize your odds.
Organise a syndicate
By forming a syndicate, you get more tickets and lottery numbers which means you will all have a better chance of hitting the jackpot.
As well as this, if you’re on a budget, playing a lottery syndicate will increase your odds of winning, without breaking the bank.
Know when to stop
As with all methods of gambling, the thought of the win bringing you and your entire family financial security should not cloud your judgement.
It’s important not to spend money you can’t afford to lose - for groceries, rent, etc. - on lottery tickets.
If you can only buy one ticket, stick with the one ticket, or if you can afford 10, then that’s up to you, but it’s not necessary to buy 100.
"Set a budget of what you’re going to spend. Do not get caught up in what’s called ‘lottery fever,'" Lustig told Forbes.
Spend what you can afford on lottery tickets and no more.
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