If you ask the general public which number is the luckiest, between one and ten, many will say seven. But is the number seven really lucky?
As if it came with its own halo or cloud magic fairy dust, there’s just something special about the number seven. Maybe it’s because seven is correlated with so many unique instances, like the Seven Wonders of the World or the seven colors in the rainbow. But when it comes to playing Powerball, does the number seven possess any mystical affinity? Is it even still considered to be the luckiest number of all?
What the Research & Data Suggests
There is some science behind why people flock to the number seven. Across a variety of cultures and historical periods, seven is a digit that shows up in pretty significant experiences. For example, there are seven notes on a musical scale, seven days in a week, seven dwarfs with Snow White, and seven swans “a swimming” if you like.
A mathematician named Alex Bellos once attempted to find out which number is the most favorite on a global scale and surveyed for votes worldwide. More than 44,000 participated, which isn’t a considerable representation of the global population, but it’s enough to learn a few things. Based on Bellos’ findings, people chose their digits as favorites because of a memorable date or age or a number that aligns with a feeling of warmth and friendliness. But, of course, that can be any number for anyone. But odd digits were selected more often than even numbers, and rarely chosen were double or more digit numbers ending in five or zero.
What Makes the Number Seven So Special Anyway?
Another reason some experts suggest the number seven routinely comes in as the “luckiest” number is its inherent rebellious nature. Seven is the only one-through-ten selection that can’t be multiplied or divided within the group. It’s neither a multiple nor is it a factor. It stands alone and separates from the rest as a kind of anomaly, inspiring something unique.
Religions around the world hold the number seven in high regard, too. Christian bible scholars point to the creation story taking place in seven days and the existence of the seven deadly sins. Islam and Judaism both believe in seven heavens. Muslim followers circle the Kaaba seven times during the pilgrimage to Mecca. Confucianism says the number seven represents harmony. Hinduism dictates there are seven higher and underworlds. And the newborn Buddha is said to take seven steps. Rooted in deep beliefs and culture, it seems the number seven is connected more often than other digits in the line.
But What About Picking Seven for Powerball?
If the number seven appears to be so lucky, one might assume it’s a no-brainer to choose it as a pick during a Powerball play. And there have been studies to highlight which numbers prove the be the winningest over time, including one conducted by ParseHub, using a web scraper to analyze winning digits from 2011 through 2020.
Here’s what they found.
The most common white ball number drawn over the last five years is the number 23, with 2.08 percent of all drawn digits. The number 32 came in second, being chosen 2.05 percent of all winning draws. Rounding out the list, with fewer than 1.87 percent are the numbers 61, 53, 69, 64, 3, 21, 27, and 62. Ironically, the number seven hasn’t ranked as a chosen Powerball number with an increased presence among Powerball winners.
The number seven may feel lucky to many, or you specifically, but there’s no real proof that it’s luckier than any other number when it comes to winning the Powerball jackpot. And because numbers are drawn at random, not based on past drawings, there’s no way to predict what roster of digits will win. You never actually know, though; it could just be your lucky day.