Description

Draw Games
In the case of daily or weekly lotteries, a person wins when numbers that appear on their ticket match the numbers drawn from a much larger set. Prizes are awarded based on how many of the randomly drawn numbers match those on a ticket.

Likelihood of Winning

Draw Games
You've probably heard the comparisons of odds; that you're more likely to get struck by lightening or win an Academy Award than win the top lottery prize. It's true. The chances of winning the multi-million dollar top prize on a lottery such as LOTTO MAX or Lotto 6/49 are remote. For example, if you buy one ticket for Lotto 6/49, your chances of winning the top prize are approximately 1 in 14 million.

To get an idea of how likely it is that you will have the top prize winning ticket, picture one cup of salt, which contains approximately one million grains. Now imagine 14 cups, that's 14 million grains, all mixed together in one very large bowl. If just one of those grains is red, representing a 'winning grain,' think about how likely it would be for you to close your eyes, put your hand in the bowl, and pull out the red grain. This is what 1 in 14 million, and your chances of winning the top prize for Lotto 6/49, looks like.

Some people think that the chances of winning the top prize dramatically improve by purchasing more tickets. If a person were to buy 10 tickets for the same draw, his/her chances of winning are now 10 chances in 14 million. Using the salt example presented above, 10 of the 14 million grains of salt would be red. While the chances might be better, the chances of randomly selecting one of those 10 grains in a bowl of 14 million are still very remote.

Scratch 'n Win Tickets, Breakopen Tickets
By breaking open or scratching the play area, players can find out if they've won almost immediately. Each batch of tickets printed has a number of winning combinations with varying prize amounts. The number of winning combinations and magnitude of prize amounts is arranged so that there are a variety of small prizes and large ones.

Scratch 'n Win
Similar to draw games, the likelihood of winning the top prize on a scratch 'n win ticket is much less than the odds of winning any prize.

Another way of interpreting the chances of winning a prize on a scratch ticket is to look at the distribution of payouts (see table below). The following prize structure refers to the game 'Bingo 721:' - which is a specific edition of Instant Bingo.

The table shows that there is a much greater chance of winning smaller prizes of $2 to $10 than any of the larger dollar amounts. Based on this prize structure, 'Bingo 721'scratch tickets pays out 60% of the money they take in. That means that on average, for every dollar spent by players, the game pays out 60 cents and takes 40 cents.

Breakopen
As their name implies, Breakopen tickets offer an immediate opportunity to win cash prizes by simply pulling tabs that reveal sets of matching symbols. In comparison to other types of lottery tickets, the chances of winning a top prize are much higher on Breakopen tickets, but the size of the top prize (usually around $500) is much smaller.

With Criss Cross, the chances that you will win any prize are 1 in 11.68. So on average, you will have one winning ticket for every 12 tickets that you purchase.

Description

VLTs are forms of Electronic Gaming Machines, or EGMs. In Nova Scotia, they are located in bars, legions and other licensed establishments. VLTs typically offer multiple game options on one machine.

Today's video lottery terminals operate through the use of computer programs, microprocessors and random number generators. These technological advances have an increased number of available game options and the number of winning and losing possibilities.

Likelihood of Winning

VLTs are programmed independently, tested and regulated to have a payout percentage between 92% and 95%. This does not mean that you win back 92-95% of the money you started with nor does it mean that you have a 92-95% chance of winning. It means that on average you can expect to lose between 5-8% of the money you bet each time you press the spin button. This is an average based on thousands and thousands of random outcomes. In reality, some people will get back less than 92-95% and others will get back more. Because players will typically continue to bet winnings along the way (rather than cashing out), many players leave with less than 92-95% of the total amount of money bet.

Many people think that VLTs run in cycles and that you merely have to play until the cycle runs its course to collect the prizes. This is why people are reluctant to leave the machine, for fear that the next person who sits down and plays will 'steal' their jackpot. This is not true.

The odds of a win do not change, no matter how long you have been playing at a machine. Inside a VLT, a computer program constantly generates random numbers at a rate of thousands of numbers per second. The actual result of a spin depends on the exact millisecond that the 'play' button is pressed. A mere half second later the result would be completely different. Even if the next person sat down and won, you wouldn't have won that jackpot anyway; essentially, no one can 'steal' a jackpot.

Description

Slot machines are forms of Electronic Gaming Machines, or EGMs. They are located in casinos, as opposed to bars, legions and licensed establishments (like VLTs). Some slot machines use mechanical reels, while others use video screens with simulations of reels.

Today's slot machines operate through the use of computer programs, microprocessors and random number generators. These technological advances have increased the speed of play, number of available game options, and the number of winning and losing possibilities.

Likelihood of Winning

Slot machines are programmed, tested and regulated, and have an average payout percentage of 92%. This does not mean that you win back 92% of the money you started with nor does it mean that you have a 92% chance of winning. It means that on average you can expect to lose between 8% of the money you bet each time you press the spin button. This is an average based on thousands and thousands of random outcomes. In reality, some people will get back less than 92% and others will get back more. Because players will typically continue to bet winnings along the way (rather than cashing out), many players leave with less than 92% of the total amount of money bet.

The Odds of Winning

The odds of winning the top prize vary by slot machine and range from 1 in 32,000 to 1 in more than 30 million. To get an idea of these odds, try to imagine a phone book that lists the entire Canadian population of 30 million people. Now imagine randomly flipping the pages and pointing to the one person you're looking for among every single Canadian in the book.

Keep in mind: no matter what the odds for a specific slot machine, they do not change whether it's your first spin, second spin, twentieth spin, or hundredth spin. Many people think that slot machines run in cycles and that you merely have to play until the cycle runs its course to collect the prizes. This is why people are reluctant to leave the machine, for fear that the next person who sits down and plays will 'steal' their jackpot. This is not true.

The odds of a win do not change, no matter how long you have been playing at a machine. Inside a slot machine, a computer program constantly generates random numbers at a rate of thousands of numbers per second. The actual result of a spin depends on the exact millisecond that the 'play' button is pressed. A mere half second later the values would be completely different. Even if the next person sat down and won, you wouldn't have won that jackpot anyway; essentially, no one can 'steal' a jackpot.

Description

Proline is a type of sports betting offered in Nova Scotia. A person wins by correctly choosing the outcome (win, loss or tie) of at least two games from a list. Prize amounts depend on the odds set for each game. These odds are set by professional odds makers.

Likelihood of Winning

Like most forms of gambling, the house holds a large edge over the player. The house edge for sporting bets is approximately 40%, meaning that only 60% of money wagered is returned in wins. There are a few reasons why the house edge is so high. First is the parlay requirement - that is, that you have to make more than a single bet. Second is how the odds are set - there is an odd-setting buffer built into the game so that bettors are underpaid for wins.

Skill level, in the sense of knowledge of teams and players, is not a significant factor and may reduce the house edge by only a couple of percentage points. Most experts agree that the odds offered on these types of games are such that even the most skillful sports bettor would lose money in the long run.

Description

One of the oldest forms of gambling, horse racing bets can take on numerous variations. Basic bets consist of selecting a win (1^st place), place (1^st or 2^nd) or show (1^st, 2^nd or 3^rd). Exactors and triactors involve selecting the order of the first two or three finishers. Other bets involve selecting the winner of multiple races.

Likelihood of Winning

When you place a bet, the odds are calculated on a pari-mutuel system. This means that the odds on each horse are determined by what proportion of the total money wagered is placed on that horse. When you bet, you are betting against the other people at the track. The more money bet on a horse, the lower odds it will pay, while less popular horses known as long shots will pay out at higher odds. On average, about 80 cents out of every dollar wagered is returned to the bettors.

A player's chances of success can be increased by their knowledge of a horse's recent performance as well as familiarity with riders, trainers and other horses in the field. However, in the long run, it is extremely difficult to compensate for the approximate 25% take by the track in addition to consistently 'out-betting' the public.

Description

With multiple daily sittings, large capacity venues, theme nights and opportunities for higher dollar prizes, today's bingo games are more advanced than ever before. Technology has also increased the pace of play and the ability to link several halls (Superstar Bingo) with bingo games numbering thousands of participants, with the potential for large cash prizes.

The basic rules of the game have remained the same. Using numbers that are randomly called out, players try to achieve a pattern (i.e. four corners, diagonal, L pattern, or filling the entire card) designated by the caller at the start of the game. The first person to cover the designated pattern and call out a "bingo" wins. If two or more players complete the pattern at the same time, the prize is split.

Likelihood of Winning

The likelihood of winning at Bingo is proportionate to the number of cards being played. For example, if you have two cards, and there are 100 cards in play, your chances of winning are 2 in 100 or 2%-the flipside is that your chances of losing are 98%. While buying more cards will increase the chances of winning, it will also increase the buy-in cost, likely resulting in higher losses. Also, by playing more cards you may not be able to keep up with the caller, which would potentially result in further losses.

With progressive bingo jackpots, the odds of winning are determined by several factors, including: the number of cards in play, the particular bingo pattern being played and the restrictions on the number of balls drawn for the jackpot.

Description

Poker, blackjack and its various forms (e.g. Three Card Poker, Texas Hold 'Em poker) are common card games found in casinos. The cost to participate varies, and there are minimum buy-in amounts in both cash games and tournaments. In table games, there are minimum and maximum allowable bet amounts. There are also live card games where players compete against each other or games where players compete against the 'house,' (gaming establishment) such as blackjack and video poker.

Likelihood of Winning

In comparison to other forms of gambling, games such as poker and blackjack provide the player with greater opportunities to experience success. In live poker, the house earns a profit by taking a "rake" from each game played (typically 10% of the pot, up to a certain amount). Because a player's success is determined by their play against opponents, one can improve his/her chances through education and practice. For example, a highly skilled poker player will more often defeat his less knowledgeable, less experienced opponent(s), despite the fact that players still have no control over the cards they're dealt.

In card games such as: blackjack, 3-card poker, and video poker, the house plays by a certain set of rules. In all of these games, the house holds the edge. For example, with blackjack, the house edge primarily comes from the fact that when the dealer and the player both exceed 21, the house still wins.

Whether a player uses basic strategy (general guidelines toward the 'right' play) or optimal strategy (knowing the exact way to play each hand in all scenarios), the house still retains an advantage. It is also important to realize that human factors (fatigue, emotion, etc.) and random events (another player repeatedly being dealt strong cards) can influence one's chances of winning. No one could ever develop a knowledge base or betting strategy that would completely override or eliminate random events that occur during the course of play. In short, no one can have a winning formula that could guarantee success 100% of the time.