Sir, – Your correspondent Paul Lavin (Letters, November 11th) has forgotten one important fact which determines the odds of winning money in the Lotto. The maths he presents describes the chances of drawing the winning numbers, but if two or more players have the same numbers, then the prize is divided between them all.
To calculate the odds of that happening, one needs to know the total number of lines sold, and that is usually not made public. A high prize fund usually results in more lines being sold, so the effective odds of winning money are even worse!
– Yours, etc,
GEORGE REYNOLDS,
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Blessington, Co Wicklow.
Sir, – I presume Paul Lavin’s calculations on narrowing the odds down to an 89 per cent chance of winning the jackpot are only relevant when all purchased 9,530,400 lines are unique – so I guess quick-picking is out of the question. Bucket of biros anyone? – Yours, etc,
HUGH MC DONNELL
Termonfeckin, Co Louth.