Odds Are....

Prosperity Partners

Yolanda R. of Hartford, CT called in with a great question.
Thanks Yolanda! I had a lot of fun researching the answer to this one!

Q: My friend and I have a bet going...he says I have a better chance of being struck by lightning than winning the Classic Lotto. I think the odds are better of winning the jackpot. Who wins the bet? Are the odds better that I will win the lottery or be struck by lightning?

A: The answer to this question varies greatly according to where you live and which lottery games you play. The average odds of being struck by lightning in the United States are 1 in 600,000. The odds of winning the jackpot in the Connecticut Classic Lotto are 1 in 7,059,052; clearly the odds of being struck by lightning are better. So in that example, your friend wins the bet. 

However, the odds of winning the Cash 5 game are 1 in 324,632. In this case, you're more likely to win the Cash 5 game than to be struck by lightning. Luckily, Yolanda, you don't live in Florida, which has more than triple the lightning strikes of the national average. 

Good Luck and Play Responsibly!

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