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It could be you (but probably won't be) as Camelot revamps National Lottery It could be you (but probably won't be) as Camelot revamps National Lottery
(about 4 hours later)
Ditching the job, splurging on a sports car or taking off on a permanent round-the-globe holiday are some of the dreams that come with every few pounds spent taking a punt on the National Lottery, and from October they just might be that bit more achievable.Ditching the job, splurging on a sports car or taking off on a permanent round-the-globe holiday are some of the dreams that come with every few pounds spent taking a punt on the National Lottery, and from October they just might be that bit more achievable.
Or at least so says the lottery’s operator, Camelot, which claims that plans to introduce more numbers and bigger jackpots in sweeping changes to the game later this year will actually give players a better chance of winning and better odds of becoming a millionaire.Or at least so says the lottery’s operator, Camelot, which claims that plans to introduce more numbers and bigger jackpots in sweeping changes to the game later this year will actually give players a better chance of winning and better odds of becoming a millionaire.
Tread carefully before handing in your notice just yet though. Contradicting Camelot, statisticians suggest that the chance of matching all six balls will decrease from one in 14m currently to one in 45m.Tread carefully before handing in your notice just yet though. Contradicting Camelot, statisticians suggest that the chance of matching all six balls will decrease from one in 14m currently to one in 45m.
Under the “enhancements” announced on Tuesday, Lotto players will have to select their winning numbers from a pool of 59 – up from 49 – from October.Under the “enhancements” announced on Tuesday, Lotto players will have to select their winning numbers from a pool of 59 – up from 49 – from October.
Camelot said a new “Millionaire Raffle” would guarantee at least one millionaire per draw, the average winning jackpot is expected to be triple the current level, and the chances of winning at least £1m would be better than the chances of winning the jackpot on the current game, with odds at one in just under 10m compared with one in just under 14m on today’s game.Camelot said a new “Millionaire Raffle” would guarantee at least one millionaire per draw, the average winning jackpot is expected to be triple the current level, and the chances of winning at least £1m would be better than the chances of winning the jackpot on the current game, with odds at one in just under 10m compared with one in just under 14m on today’s game.
Players who match two numbers will win a Lucky Dip ticket for a future draw, which Camelot said would create an extra 1.8 million winners a week and increase the overall chance of winning any prize from one in 54 currently to one in 9.3.Players who match two numbers will win a Lucky Dip ticket for a future draw, which Camelot said would create an extra 1.8 million winners a week and increase the overall chance of winning any prize from one in 54 currently to one in 9.3.
The cost of playing will remain at £2 a line, and other prizes such as £25 for matching three numbers will also stay the same.The cost of playing will remain at £2 a line, and other prizes such as £25 for matching three numbers will also stay the same.
Robert Mastrodomenico, a statistician, said: “Whilst it may be the case that the new Millionaire Raffle will increase your chance to become a millionaire, moving from 49 to 59 balls makes it more unlikely to win the jackpot if we need to match all six balls.”Robert Mastrodomenico, a statistician, said: “Whilst it may be the case that the new Millionaire Raffle will increase your chance to become a millionaire, moving from 49 to 59 balls makes it more unlikely to win the jackpot if we need to match all six balls.”
He calculated that the chance of matching all six numbers from 59 balls would increase to precisely one in 45,057,474.He calculated that the chance of matching all six numbers from 59 balls would increase to precisely one in 45,057,474.
“So whilst the spin is that we will see more millionaires, the reality is that the chance of you winning the big one has become less likely,” Mastrodomenico added.“So whilst the spin is that we will see more millionaires, the reality is that the chance of you winning the big one has become less likely,” Mastrodomenico added.
Meanwhile, John Haigh, reader in mathematics at Sussex University, said meanwhile that the chance of winning the jackpot, which at the moment is one in 14m, will be one in 45m when the extra 10 balls are added. Meanwhile, John Haigh, reader in mathematics at Sussex University, said that the chance of winning the jackpot, which at the moment is one in 14m, will be one in 45m when the extra 10 balls are added.
“But because the chance of winning the jackpot is lower, when you do win the amount will be higher,” he added.“But because the chance of winning the jackpot is lower, when you do win the amount will be higher,” he added.
“This will also mean a lot more rollovers, and they create excitement. I expect Camelot will see this as an exciting feature.”“This will also mean a lot more rollovers, and they create excitement. I expect Camelot will see this as an exciting feature.”
Camelot’s chief executive, Andy Duncan, said: “Lotto has enjoyed two years of consecutive growth since we reinvigorated the game in 2013 and has already delivered over £250m more to good causes than if we had done nothing to change the game.Camelot’s chief executive, Andy Duncan, said: “Lotto has enjoyed two years of consecutive growth since we reinvigorated the game in 2013 and has already delivered over £250m more to good causes than if we had done nothing to change the game.
“What we’re announcing today – offering players more chances than ever to become a millionaire on Lotto and bigger rolling jackpots – is part of our programme of continuous innovation and builds on Lotto’s ongoing success.”Camelot has yet to reveal the exact October launch date. “What we’re announcing today – offering players more chances than ever to become a millionaire on Lotto and bigger rolling jackpots – is part of our programme of continuous innovation and builds on Lotto’s ongoing success.”
Camelot has yet to reveal the exact October launch date.