Is Lotto currently Random ?

[Papillon53]

I know someone on an earlier thread questioned the machines on the National lottery, but that was a while ago. I have just noticed that they are using a new type of machine to select the numbers . Does anyone out there know when they were introduced ?
If i were to take an educated guess it would be between the 9th and 13th of January 2010. The reason for this guess is that if you look at the numbers since the 9th, barely any numbers go above 25. I am questioning the randomness of these machines.
The national lottery on their site say they have randomness verification from the university of hertfordshire, but if you look at the figures they dont add up.
Looking at the 8 draws since that date and a total of 56 numbers have been drawn. You would expect that if completely random ,that the numbers above 25 would be approximately equal to those below 25.
There are 44 numbers below and only 12 numbers above. that is 44/12. A large margin of error !!!

Hence why i would be interested to know when these machines were introduced.

[LottoSystems]

It was Draw 1452 Saturday 21st Novemeber 2009 Machine Arhtur set of balls 2

In terms of number selection and prediction it put the kybosh on things which to be honest are only just starting to get better. So for all the pundits who say such things don't matter they are clearly wrong!

If you want to keep an eye on it, the draw is marked in red on my UK results number matrix which will give you a visual of the numbers since the change. It's been transferred to my new analysis site at lotto-systems.co.uk

I do believe that things will straighten out given time, but it's questionable whether working off statistics going back further than that date is worthwhile or not....

Simon
Author of the lotto-systems e-Guide

[Simon]

I think it's random, and the fact that they use different machines and ball sets assists in keeping it random and stopping any bias due to mechanical reasons (just like casino's swap roulette wheels from table to table). Over time the numbers drawn will balance out. I did a comparrison of real draw frequency (1532 draws) againts 10,000 virtual draws. I used an F-Test to compare the 2 sets of draw patterns and the result was as follows 0.00000152885511855665. the smaller the number the less difference statistically there is between the two sets of numbers. As you can see the number is very small indeed - so the real draw set is statistically random - even though it doesnt look like it.

Simon

[GreenOwl]

Hi every one: I seriously have my doubts about the randomisation of the balls too? I asked the lottery commission what tests were carried out on the machines and basicaly, the only test is the randomisation of the balls but, what about other aspects of the draw. What if the machines aren't what they seem; it's no good just testing for the ramdomisation of the balls. Did you notice the last two Euro draws numbers, abit dodgy to me. Here they are: 1=4=16=40=48 and 1=4=6=27=48. Notice three numbers the same and, the third number went down exactly by ten to another 6. The two star numbers for each draw started with 1? No amount of statistics will help you, if the draws are not what they seem.

[gblog]

hey buddy if they do not get thier profit from Lotto they won't give you anything...

[Research]

Hi all,

I am doing some research into how people choose their lottery numbers.

Would any of you be kind enough to complete an anon 5 min survey for me.

Please email me for the link.

With many best wishes,
Helen.soteriou.1 at city.ac.uk

[faye valentine]

I guess RNG in lottery is true, since the are critics that claim that because the lottery is a random game of chance, software can't help improve your chances of winning the lottery. In other words, in the case of choosing a random number, there can be no specific or determined order in which the numbers would be selected. Although knowing the exact and specific outcome of the RNG is not entirely possible, an close examination of how the RNG works will reveal the deterministic approach for one to be able to discover the end result.

Here some of the resource i gathered for you: Is The Lottery Random? - MaplePrimes

[uk61catman]

The only true randomness of a draw can be where the balls are picked out by hand from a container,just like the televised FA Cup draws are ! Anything that involves a machine can be biased.
If one is to bet on a horse race,bets are taken up to "At The Post",then the race is OFF.The delay in the lottery draw from close at 19.30 shouldn't be acceptable.I was involved with the install of lottery terminals and connectivity in the 90's and whenever information can be gathered and assimilated leaves me with a feeling that the operators of the lotteries can seek to ensure a possibility that sales can be increased by a big winner in an area where sales are lower.

[OneWinner.Me]

I think all balls are identical (e.g. same size, same weight), and the machine is randomly shaking them. So the draw is totally random.
What is not random is the numbers that player choose : many of them choose the same (birth dates for example).

[vladex]

I think that the commission controls the operation of lotteries.