UNISA’s Bureau of Market Research conducted a survey between November 2018 and February 2019, about South African’s participation in national and international lotteries. 3 000 random participants were part of the survey, to cover the general feeling of South Africans.
According to the survey, 23,2% (almost a quarter) of the respondents see their chances as ‘good’ or ‘very good’ to win the Lotto, Lotto Plus 1 and/or Lotto Plus 2, while 63,9% of the participants reckon their chances of winning foreign lotteries are ‘good’ and ‘very good’. That means, 40,7% more think their chances are higher to win foreign events.
Real chances of winning International Lotteries
There is one reason, and one reason only, why we take part in lottery events. We want to win! Some of us don’t care what our chances of winning are. We just want to buy a ticket, or place a bet and wait to see if we were lucky to be part of the list of winners. But there are a lot of people who want to know what their chances of winning are. So, what are the chances of getting the big bucks if I spend a certain amount, or buy a number of rows? Some of us are not always in for the first prize, we just want to feel lucky and win something.
Let’s have a look at what your real chances of winning are. Is it true what the survey participants said that it is higher to win with international events?
The odds of winning the Swedish Lotto and match 7 numbers, are 1 in 6 724 520.
In the Austrian Lotto, you have to match 6 numbers, here you have 1 in 8 145 060 chances to walk away with the first prize and 1 in 16 to win any prize in the event.
Your chances to win the French Powerball, is 1 in 19 068 840 if you match all 5 numbers and 1 bonus number and your chances of winning any prize is 1 in 6.
To win the Spanish Lotto, you have to match 5 numbers and 1 SuperBall, here your odds are 1 in 31 625 100 and 1 in 10 to win any prize money.
One of the biggest international lotteries is the UK Lotto, where you have to match 6 numbers. You have 1 in 9 chances of winning anything and 1 in 45 million to win the top prize.
Let’s look at the odds of winning SA Powerball. Here you have to match 5 numbers + 1 Powerball to win the top prize. The odds of this to happen, is 1 in 42 375 200. To win anything you have 1 in 36 chances.
To win SA Lotto / Lotto Plus 1 / Lotto Plus 2, where you have to match 6 number are 1 in 20 358 520 and your odds of winning any share of the prize money is 1 in 96.
If we compare the odds of winning between foreign and local lottery events, it confirms the survey’s outcome. The results reveal that your chances of winning in some of the foreign lotteries, are much better than placing your bet on local events.
