Checking the ticket is probably the final action performed of any lottery draw, but do you know how lotteries are actually conducted before the winning numbers are published?
It may seem like a simple process to draw numbers for a lottery, and overall it is, but there is a lot of effort that goes into conducting a lottery behind the scenes that most players are not aware of.
Rise of the (Lottery) Machines
In most jurisdictions in North America, the main lottery draws are done by utilizing ball machines. These machines either spin the balls around with paddles or blow them around with air, normally inside a round or oblong transparent globe to constantly mix them up and ensure a truly random result.
The balls then go up a tube - or a latch is released on an exit - and the balls fall or blow into this area, one at a time.
When the tube is full, or the number of balls for the draw have been sent to and removed from the exit area to a display rack, the draw ends and the blowers or spinners are turned off.
To draw the secondary or other associated prizes, other machines are used to electronically generate random numbers.
This method is used in place of the ball machines, as drawing every set of numbers would be extremely time-consuming if the ball machines were used for each draw, so random number generators are used instead.
These machines generate numbers that are totally unpredictable and random, on the same level as the ball machines, and do so much faster so more draws can be done in a shorter time period, allowing the lottery operator to post the winning numbers in a timely manner.
Integrity Intact
Many jurisdictions either televise or stream the main draws live, while others may record them and post them to their website. Doing either of these provides a level of transparency and integrity for the draws; players can watch to see for themselves the entire draw process and results of the draw.
The entire draw process, from accessing the machines, to the actual draw, to putting the machines away afterwards, are all overseen by members of the lottery agency and independent external auditors, usually accounting firms. This provides a human "paper trail" for each draw that can be referred to if any discrepancy or issue may arise in regard to the draw. This also ensures that the integrity of the draw is fully intact.
The balls that are drawn or the numbers that are generated are recorded by lottery representatives and the independent auditor, and must match exactly to each other and with the balls that are drawn.
Although not as simple as pulling numbers from a hat, lottery draws are done in the most random and unpredictable manner as possible, in full view of the public and an independent third party. Therefore, winning should be fairly easy; all you have to do is predict what numbers are going to be drawn.
So, winning is easy. Predicting is a little harder.
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