Quick Pick predetermined?
EZ play games, I have no idea how they work when they are sold with progressive values. I bought tickets with the last one printed at 7:42:38, then the screen said the winning ticket was sold in Dayton at 7:43. It did not feel good, but it didn't feel bad getting my $10 back I played and won.
I recall that for one of the last big lottery jackpots, the national news media was reporting that every possible combination was in play for that drawing. It seems to me that this isn't something that would be known hours before the drawing unless Quick Picks were chosen in this manner. Obviously it's possible, but they would have had to compile all of the tickets sold for each participating state long before the drawing in order to know that.
Quote: JB
I recall that for one of the last big lottery jackpots, the national news media was reporting that every possible combination was in play for that drawing. It seems to me that this isn't something that would be known hours before the drawing unless Quick Picks were chosen in this manner. Obviously it's possible, but they would have had to compile all of the tickets sold for each participating state long before the drawing in order to know that.
I think the media was wrong on that too. Journalists are idiots when it comes to this stuff. No offense Alan (and maybe others?).
Illinois's FAQ says that Quick Picks are "randomly selected" as I expected them to be.
http://www.illinoislottery.com/en-us/Faq.html#GQ
Quote: tringlomaneI think the media was wrong on that too. Journalists are idiots when it comes to this stuff. No offense Alan (and maybe others?).
Illinois's FAQ says that Quick Picks are "randomly selected" as I expected them to be.
http://www.illinoislottery.com/en-us/Faq.html#GQ
"Randomly selected" doesn't rule out anything. For example, "Quick picks are randomly selected from a virtual box of combinations that have not yet been sold." However, the most likely (and easiest) explanation is that the numbers are truly chosen randomly and not selected from a queue.
Quote: JB"Randomly selected" doesn't rule out anything. For example, "Quick picks are randomly selected from a virtual box of combinations that have not yet been sold." However, the most likely (and easiest) explanation is that the numbers are truly chosen randomly and not selected from a queue.
Practically, I feel like it's a stupid idea though.
Here, my home state of Missouri does better.
Quote: Missouri Lottery FAQIf I buy a Quick Pick ticket, can anyone else buy those numbers using Quick Pick?
Yes. Quick Pick tickets are generated randomly by the terminal at the retailer, and there is no central computer that is controlling ticket generation. The chances of buying a Draw Game ticket with the same numbers as someone else are the same as the chances of winning the jackpot.
http://www.molottery.com/learnaboutus/FAQs.shtm
state lottos have a record of every ticket sold for every game they have. the fact that they know every combination in play (and know immediately after the drawing how many winners there are and where they bought their tickets) has nothing to do with the quick picks being pre-determined. In NJ, at least, the quick picks are selected at random the moment the cashier presses the button.
Quote: sodawaterstate lottos have a record of every ticket sold for every game they have.
That's pretty obvious.
Quote: sodawaterthe fact that they know every combination in play (and know immediately after the drawing how many winners there are and where they bought their tickets) has nothing to do with the quick picks being pre-determined. In NJ, at least, the quick picks are selected at random the moment the cashier presses the button.
That's not what I'm talking about. The news (perhaps falsely) claimed that every possible combination was in play, and made this claim well before the drawing occurred. My point was that, in order to know this, some central authority (presumably MUSL) would have had to combine/compile all of the tickets sold up to that point from each participating state, and determine if there were any combinations not yet in play. In theory this would not be difficult to do, but with so many independent participating states, and all the red tape involved especially when the jackpot is large, it seems like it would have been a pretty big undertaking.
I know that Powerball has a dedicated headquarters and staff, while Mega Millions is run through the existing state lottery apparatus.
Quote: tringlomaneI have always believed it was an RNG pulling this off, so all past events had some influence in her getting that ticket at that exact moment, including that person letting her buy first. It shouldn't have cost the other person the jackpot. However if I was the lady, if I could find out who let me in front, I would strongly think about giving them a bit of it. Especially if I was 84. The government probably loves her age.
IF she has family that she trusts, she would have been wise to claim her prize with them. As you allude to, the winnings will most probably be subject to double taxation. Should she die, estate taxes in this country are now 50%. Should she gift the money, anything over 14000 is subject to taxation, and there is also a generation skipping transfer tax on any money gifted (1 mil floor) to someone 37.5 or more years younger than you (if she started trusts for younger family members or even gave cash to grandkids etc).
Yes, WoV forum visits are my breaks from CPA Exam review.
Quote: tringlomaneI think the media was wrong on that too. Journalists are idiots when it comes to this stuff.
Nah, they just write on a $/word basis.... no thought intended ;o)
(Incidentally, I've also heard that none of the Power Ball jackpots have been won with a manually chosen number.)
