The Powerball jackpot has risen to a whopping $403 million but the odds of becoming an instant multimillionaire are slim with 1 in 292 million odds that you'll match all six numbers that will be drawn on Wednesday, February 22. Despite the fact that there is a very slim chance of winning the jackpot, it won't stop people from spending $2 on a ticket and dreaming about living the life of the rich and famous.
So, is there a secret to winning the Powerball jackpot? Nine-time lottery jackpot winner a Richard Lustig says, "yes" and he shares his tips in a book aptly named, "Learn How To Increase Your Chances of Winning the Lottery." Lustig knows a thing or two about winning lottery jackpots — he claims that he won a $98,000 Powerball jackpot in 2010 (back when the jackpots weren't quite so big!) as well as seven other big cash prizes in the popular lottery game.
While it may just be a matter of luck, it may be worth checking out his tips as well as the list below that shows which numbers that are drawn more frequently than others.
Should you pick your own numbers or use Quick Pick?
CBS reports that Lustig isn't keen on using the Powerball's Quick Pick feature. He prefers to pick the numbers manually instead of letting the computer choose for him, calling the Quick Pick method "the worst thing you can do" because you are "playing with the worst odds."
However, not everyone agrees with his theory. According to Lottery World, if you let the computer pick your numbers you have a better chance of "covering the number matrix." In recent years, almost 80 percent of Powerball players have used Quick Pick and many jackpot wins have been confirmed by players who use Quick Pick, so it sure sounds like it's all about luck, doesn't it?
Which numbers are the luckiest?
Whether you pick the numbers manually or not, there are certain numbers that are drawn more than others. Keep in mind, if everyone plays these numbers, there's a chance that you could end up sharing the jackpot with other winners who picked the same numbers you did. Considering the February 22 Powerball jackpot stands at $403 million, there's plenty of cash to go around.
The official Powerball website maintains a list of numbers that are frequently drawn if you choose to go with the popular numbers over numbers that represent birthdays, anniversaries, or other special events. The number 20 red Powerball has been drawn 49 times — that's more than any other number over the past 14 years. As far as the white ball goes, number 26 has proved to be the number that's been drawn most frequently, followed by 20, 32, 16, and 42.
The next Powerball drawing is set for 10:59 p.m. ET on Wednesday, February 21.
