How to Pick Powerball Lottery Numbers

The Powerball lottery is offered in every state in the US, with the exception of eight: Alabama, Alaska, California, Hawaii, Mississippi, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming. Residents of the US Virgin Islands and Washington DC are also eligible to play. Powerball lottery tickets are structured so that you choose five distinct numbers between 1 and 59, and one Powerball number between 1 and 35. If you get every number right, you win the lottery jackpot.

If you are buying Powerball lottery tickets at the gas station or convenience store, and you don't know what numbers to pick, here is a simple method that will quickly generate numbers. (You can also use the random number generator on the left.)

To pick the first number between 1 and 59, check the current time and note the number of minutes after the hour. This is the first ticket number. If the minutes is 00, choose either 1 or 59. For example, if the current time is 11:23, pick 23.

The second lottery number you pick is your age. If you are older than 59, subtract 40 from your age and use that number instead. If you get the same number as the first, add 1 to it. If you are older than 100, pick any number you feel like. You can't take this too seriously. For example, if you are 70, pick 70 - 59 = 11.

To pick the third lottery ticket number, take the first number and subtract it from 60. For example, if you picked 23 for the first number, your third number is 60 - 23 = 37.

For the fourth number, ask the cashier her age. If she gives you a dirty look, or refuses to answer, just guess and add 10. See step two for how to deal with numbers over 59. For example, let's pick 55.

For the fifth number, look at the clock again and pick the number of minutes past the hour. If the number is a lot larger than the first, you've been thinking too deeply. For example, if the current time is now 11:41, pick 41.

Now for the most important lottery number, the Powerball. Close your eyes and concentrate on the ticket. A number between 1 and 35 should drift into your consciousness. Let that number embrace you.

Just remember, you've got to be in it to win it.

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