How to Pick Mega Millions Lottery Numbers

Currently, the Mega Millions Lottery is available in every state except nine: Alabama, Alaska, Florida, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming. As long as you live elsewhere, you could win the Mega Million jackpot prize money. All you need to do is buy a ticket and pick winning lottery numbers, and you could be set for life. With so many combinations to choose from, how do you pick lottery numbers? Here's a simple method that will help you select the numbers to play. (You can also use the random lottery number generator at left.)

First, you should know what the allowable numbers are for each lottery ticket. The first five numbers on the ticket are distinct numbers between 1 and 56. The Mega Ball is a number between 1 and 46. It may be equal to one of the first five numbers.

To pick the first lottery number, add numbers that correspond to the month and date of your birthday. For example, if you were born on July 4th, you would add 7 + 4 = 11.

For the second Mega Millions lottery ticket number, pick your age. If you are older than 56, subtract your age from 110. If your age equals the first number, add 1. For example, if you are 67 years old, you would pick 110 - 67 = 43.

For the third and fourth numbers, pick any two of these numbers: 9, 19, 29, 39. If you look at past lottery results, many winning tickets contain these numbers. For example, let's choose 9 and 29.

To pick the fifth number for your Mega Millions ticket, subtract the first number from 56. If you end up with a number that is equal to one of the other numbers you picked, add 1, 2, 3, or 4 to it so that you end up with five distinct numbers. For example if your first number is 11, you would pick 56 - 11 = 45.

The last lottery ticket number to pick is the Mega Ball, a number between 1 and 46. Look at the five numbers you selected above, if most of them are even numbers, pick an odd number for the Mega Ball. If most of them are odd numbers, pick an even number for the Mega Ball. Our numbers are 9, 11, 29, 43, 45. Since all of these are odd, we should pick an even number for the Mega Ball, such as 8.

This article is for entertainment purposes only. Mathematically, every combination of lottery ticket numbers has an equal chance of winning. No method for picking lottery numbers has guaranteed results.

© Had2Know 2010