Although the reverse applies in China where it is revered, the number 13 has been considered universally unlucky for anyone living in the UK. Although that may be a superstition dating back to an ancient association with the devil, it certainly appears to be relevant when it comes to the UK national lottery. That’s because since the very first draw on November 19, 1994 the number 13 has been drawn the least number of times in total.
Indeed, as at the July 29, 2009 the number 13 had been selected from the revolving lotto mixing ball a miserly total of 170 times; the lowest of all the 49 numbers entered into the draw lagging two selections behind the next least drawn number of 41. Also, for an amazing 49 consecutive draws between July and December 1997 it was a particularly unlucky number to choose on the play slip as it was not drawn once!
Conversely, the most frequently drawn number is 38, drawn a staggering 251 times during the same period. However, the national lottery is a game of pure chance, there is no skill involved. So, whether you pick 13 on your play slip or not the frequency with which numbers are drawn has no bearing on the probability of winning the top prize. Whatever selection of six numbers chosen the chances of winning the jackpot will still be 13,983, 816 to one.
But, although the number 13 ball may have be drawn least there still have been some very lucky incidences involving the number 13, as the
national lottery operators are keen to point out. For example, the same 13-strong syndicate of taxi drivers based in Littlehampton has won significant prizes twice; starting with a £144,222 payout in 2002 for matching five numbers and the bonus ball they followed up with a £546,480 share of the February 2009 jackpot! Additionally, the average number of millionaires created by the lottery every single month is 13.
So, despite its poor draw record not everything associated with the number 13 and the lotto is bad! Despite the fact that 13 is the least drawn number, it doesn’t mean it is totally unlucky. After all it has been drawn 170 times in total; resulting in making many people lottery millionaires in the process. Not bad for a number that is considered to be the unluckiest of the lot when it comes to the national lottery!
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Adam Singleton writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.
