Mega Millions: Picking Your Winning Lottery Numbers

Is there a science behind picking lottery numbers? With today’s reaching a record breaking $640 million, every one with a ticket is hoping they’ll break the 1 in 175,223,510 odds of winning.

Some mathmaticians will say that lottery data show a recurrent trend and to better your odds, you should pick lottery numbers based on historical data.

Several formulas are making their way around the Web, including the Delta Lotto System. The Delta system claims that picking numbers below 15 and adding them according to a formula will generate a combination most likely to hit the winning jackpot.

There are even free websites that claim to better your odds through “true randomness.” Random.org claims to pull combinations from randomness that comes from “atmospheric noise” which is reportedly better than “pseudo-random number algorithms” from computer generated programs.

There are also apps to help you pick your winning lottery numbers.

LottoPicks helps you store your lucky numbers and even helps you generate random combinations. LottoPicks is available for Android and iPhone and iPad.

Lotto Pro generates numbers based on frequently recurring or overdue numbers. This app comes in Android and iPhone for 99 cents.

The Mega Millions app on iPhone  lets you view historical data on past winning numbers and will give you a set of random numbers for you to try your hand at.

But don’t get your hopes up thinking you have unlocked the secret to a $640 million jackpot.

Research conducted at San Diego State University show that strategies at picking lotto numbers were not more effective than using computer-generated numbers.

So, for more statistics on your Mega Millions chances, know that you are 50 times more likely to get struck by lightning than winning tonight’s jackpot. You are also 20,000 times more likely to die in a car crash than finding yourself with a winning ticket.

While the chances are grim, it doesn’t take a mathematician to know you can’t win unless you buy a ticket!

There are a number of places locally where you can buy a Mega Millions ticket for tonight's drawing.

at 1341 Echo Park Avenue might be a winning choice.

An Echo Park sushi chef and his friend residents recently picked up a Super Lotto ticket there that won them $15 million.

You can buy your Mega Millions ticket before 7:45 p.m. Pacific Time.  Good luck!