There are a few ways to win the lottery. The most obvious, and probably the most common, is by pure luck. Some people have developed tricks to help them win, with varying levels of success. Just like any numbers-based game, the lottery has odds that can be manipulated by the player. While it may not be a sure thing, changing up the odds is the best way to win the lottery aside from luck.

There's no way to push luck in one direction or the other. Some people get lucky playing their favorite numbers, which might include birthdays, consecutive numbers, or other unlikely pairings. Those numbers may not be part of a winning strategy, meaning the odds aren't in favor of them winning, but with luck anything is possible.

The more tickets a person buys, the more chances to win. The more entries into a contest, the higher the odds of winning that contest. This strategy is mathematically correct, but it may not be possible for everyone. Buying a lot of tickets can get costly, and it may not be enough to make a difference. That's especially true in high stakes games where people are buying a lot of tickets it

If a lot of people get together, they can pool funds and buy more tickets. This means a shared jackpot, but the odds of winning are increased, so it may be worth it. A team may work for games with bigger or smaller payouts, but with small stakes, there will be less money to split between teammates.

The lottery is a numbers game, and some numbers are less likely to be chosen than others. Birthdays are popular lottery numbers, but they increase the chances of sharing the prize. Studies show that consecutive numbers are less likely to be picked, as are numbers that are all similar or ending in the same digit.

While everyone gets swept up in big national jackpots, those have very long odds. Small, unpopular games have fewer players, which increases the odds of winning. Jackpots are usually smaller, but it's easier to win. Explore smaller games, and go local over national whenever possible. That will give you the best chance at winning.

Half of the money the lottery takes in goes to the prize. The rest of the money goes to maintaining the lottery, and to the state. Different states do different things with their lottery money. In Georgia, the lottery pays for universal preschool. All children in Georgia get a year of preschool, thanks to the lottery.

Many lottery winners mismanage their winnings. Fortunately, there have been some winners who don't let the money go to their head. In 2012, Bob Erb won $25 million. He kept working his construction job but donated his salary to charity. A Canadian couple won $11.2 million in 2010. They only kept 2% of their winnings and donated the rest.

Unfortunately, there are plenty of examples of lottery winners who didn't manage their money properly. A garbage man in England, Michael Carroll, won around $14 million in 2002. By 2012, he was broke, having spent his money on drugs and a lavish lifestyle. Lottery tragedy stories are common and should be seen as a cautionary tale.