What are the odds of winning in the 6/55 Grand Lotto? And with a rare combination at that?
A rare geometric series, consisting of the numbers 9-18-27-36-45-54, emerged as winning combination for the jackpot of P236,091,188 in the 6/55 Grand Lotto draw on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022. There were 433 bettors who guessed the same combination, and won P500,000 each.
These peculiar circumstances may have had many bettors asking just what are the odds in winning the 6/55 lotto.
“You can form 27,988,675 combinations from 1 to 55 where each combination is a unique non repeating number in no particular order. That means your odds of winning is a bit 0.00000345 percent. Or you have to play 289,896 combinations to increase the odds of winning even 1 percent,” said mathematician and OCTA Research Group Fellow Dr. Benjamin Co.
But for that combination to be part of a geometric sequence, or numbers that could consecutively be divisible by one number as in the Oct. 1 winning combination?
“This does not even factor in the probability that all the numbers chosen are divisible by only one number - in this case by 9. That’s more rare,” he said.
The chances could be mind-boggling.
And as to the number of bettors who chose the same geometric series as winning combination? This may also be peculiar, but Co may have an explanation.
“To have 433 people betting on a similar number may be more likely considering how people choose numbers. Some would prefer birthdates while others, something in sequence or with a divisibility factor,” Co explained.
But he also asked: “It leaves you asking - by chance, how can 433 bettors be right on a sequence of numbers divisible by a single number? Your imagination is as broad as the chances of winning the lottery.”
Many netizens have noticed that the winning numbers seem to be a geometrical sequence of number nine.
Some also said that the unusual number of winners for the jackpot is statistically impossible and needs to be further explained by PCSO.
Meanwhile, 331 players got the second prize of P100,000 and 2491 bettors hit the third prize of P1,500.
The jackpot for Lotto 6/42 worth P24,908,649.60 was not hit on the same draw.
The lucky combination was 37-42-14-09-13-04.
All lotto prizes exceeding P10,000 are subject to 20 percent tax pursuant to the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law.
Prizes not claimed within one year from the draw date shall be considered forfeited by Republic Act No. 1169, PCSO added.
Here is the summary of winners for the Oct. 1, 9 p.m. draw as posted on PCSO's official Facebook account.
GRANDLOTTO 6/55
09 - 45 - 36 - 27 - 18 - 54
WINNERS SUMMARY
jpot= 433 / 236,091,188.40
2nd = 331 / 100,000.00
3rd =2491 / 1,500.00
4th =36,169 / 60.00
LOTTO 6/42
37 - 42 - 14 - 09 - 13 - 04
WINNERS SUMMARY
jpot= 0 / 24,908,649.60
2nd = 31 / 24,000.00
3rd =1,665 / 800.00
4th =27,246 / 20.00
6D LOTTO
7 - 0 - 2 - 2 - 4 - 5
WINNERS SUMMARY
1st = 1 / 3,538,162.00
2nd = 14 / 40,000.00
3rd = 31 / 4,000.00
4th = 306 / 400.00
5th =3,070 / 40.00
3D LOTTO
5 - 6 - 3
WINNERS SUMMARY
STD = 313 / 4,500.00
RBL3= 0 / 1,500.00
RBL6= 315 / 750.00
2D LOTTO
20 - 19
WINNERS SUMMARY
STD = 167 / 4,000.00
RBL = 662 / 2,000.00