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If you're anything like me, you've spent a few long moments staring at a blank lottery slip, wondering if today's the day a random flash of intuition (or just a lucky birthday number) could change your life forever. We all know that winning the lottery is a long shot — okay, a very long shot — but a recent study offers an intriguing look at how some numbers seem to defy the odds, for better or worse.
Hello Millions analyzed six months of winning numbers from five of the biggest U.S. lottery games — Powerball, Powerball Double Play, Mega Millions, Lucky for Life, and Lotto America — to find out which numbers have been coming up the most and which have been stubbornly hiding in the shadows. The findings are fascinating, even if you believe (as you should) that every number technically has an equal chance of being drawn.
Still, when it comes to something as luck-driven as the lottery, it's hard not to read between the lines — or between the numbers.
The unluckiest numbers: A rogue's gallery of misses
First, the bad news: If you've been consistently choosing number 32, the universe might be trying to tell you something. According to Hello Millions' analysis, 32 is officially the unluckiest lottery number right now, appearing only 33 times across all five games in the last six months.
Hot (or rather, cold) on its heels are 48, drawn just 34 times, and 46, pulled a paltry 35 times. Number 28 isn't much better, showing up only 39 times.
Here's a quick look at the worst-performing numbers in the study:
- 32 (33 appearances)
- 48 (34 appearances)
- 46 (35 appearances)
- 28 (39 appearances)
- 36 and 38 (43 appearances each)
Interestingly, a lot of the worst-performing numbers are clustered in the high twenties and thirties. Maybe it's a coincidence, or maybe the universe just has it out for numbers approaching mid-life.
Of course, it's important to remember that lottery numbers are supposed to be random. A dry spell today doesn't mean a flood tomorrow — but it also doesn't stop many players (myself included) from mentally crossing 32 off the ticket.
The luckiest numbers, 3, 4, and 7, steal the spotlight
Now for the feel-good news: some numbers seem to be having a moment. In particular, numbers 3, 4, and 7 have been drawn the most often over the past six months, making them the unofficial “luckiest” numbers in U.S. lotteries right now.
Here's the full breakdown of the most drawn numbers:
- 4 (80 appearances)
- 3 (76 appearances)
- 7 (75 appearances)
- 1 (73 appearances)
- 6 (72 appearances)
Notice anything? The low, single-digit numbers are dominating. Whether you chalk it up to random statistical noise or fate smiling on the simplest choices, it's clear that playing small numbers hasn't hurt anyone lately.
If you're a fan of numerology, this might make you smile too: 3, 4, and 7 are considered “lucky” in many cultures. Three is associated with harmony, wisdom, and understanding. Four represents stability. Seven is linked to spiritual awakening and good fortune. It's comforting, in a way, to see ancient beliefs lining up — even if only briefly — with modern-day randomness.
Do lucky numbers really matter?
At this point, the skeptical side of my brain has to speak up: Luck is luck. Lotteries are carefully designed to be random. No number is "due," and no number is "cursed." Every draw is a clean slate, with odds that don't change based on past performance.
But here's the thing: humans aren't purely rational creatures. We like patterns. We crave meaning. If picking a "lucky" number makes someone feel a little more hopeful — or helps them believe that their $2 ticket has a fighting chance — who's to say that's a bad thing?
In fact, belief can be a powerful force in its own right. Studies in psychology suggest that people who feel luckier tend to take more chances, stay more optimistic, and — perhaps most importantly — enjoy the experience more, whether they win or lose.
If your favorite number is 32, maybe you stick with it out of loyalty. Or maybe, after reading this, you swap it for a lucky 4 and see how it feels. Regardless of which outcome, the true victory may just be that half-second high one feels when one inserts the ticket into the slot.
A closer look at recent jackpot winners
I wanted to find out whether these so-called lucky numbers have been rewarding the players recently. To draw conclusions on whether numbers like 3, 4, or 7 can be part of the Powerball, Powerball Double Play, Mega Millions, Lucky for Life, and Lotto America jackpots, I reviewed the most recent jackpot winners for each game. Here's what I found:
Powerball
On April 26, 2025, the Powerball jackpot worth $167.3 million was won in Kentucky. The winning numbers were 1, 12, 14, 18, and 69, and the Powerball was 2.
While there was no lucky 3, 4, or 7 in the mix, there was 1, which happens to be the fourth luckiest number out there right now.
Powerball Double Play
The last $10 million winner for Powerball Double Play took place on February 10, 2025. The winning white ball numbers for that drawing were 2, 21, 34, 38, and 44, and the Powerball number was 19.
This winning combination had a mixture of lucky and unlucky numbers, as 38 was tied for the fifth-worst number right now. None of the winning numbers were part of the Top 5 luckiest numbers right now, but number 2 was close behind them with 70 appearances in the past six months.
Mega Millions
After the recent changes to the Mega Millions game, the first jackpot was won on April 18, 2025, for $112 million. The winning numbers for that drawing were 5, 13, 15, 17, and 28, and the Mega Ball was 1.
Yes, a jackpot was won with those numbers, even if the fourth unluckiest number made it into the mix. The Mega Ball did include one of the top lucky numbers, and 5 isn't that far behind either, with 67 appearances in the past six months.
Lucky for Life
During the April 28, 2025, drawing of Lucky for Life, one lucky ticket in Maine matched all of the winning numbers to win the top prize of $1,000 a day for life. In addition, a ticket from Ohio and a ticket from Michigan also matched all five of the winning white balls to win $25,000 a year for life.
So, what were these winning numbers? They happened to be 16, 19, 20, 33, and 40, and the Lucky Ball number was 11. While the winning numbers happened to be lucky for three different ticket holders, they didn't feature any of the top lucky or unlucky numbers. The closest was 16, which has come up 71 times in the past six months.
Lotto America
Since the Lotto America jackpot has climbed to the second-largest jackpot in the draw game's history, we haven't had a jackpot winner since April 2024. The winning numbers for that drawing were 7, 12, 17, 22, and 52, and the All Star Bonus number was 3.
Double the luck with those numbers, but do keep in mind that these lucky and unlucky numbers were based on the last six months of drawings. It's been over a year since someone won Lotto America, but when they did, it featured lucky numbers 3 and 7.
Overall, the "luckiest" numbers definitely showed up in some major wins, but not consistently. Some jackpot wins leaned into mid-range numbers or outliers, proving again that, in the end, chance rules all.
Why do we love lucky numbers?
At the core of all this — the studies, the rankings, and how you pick your numbers — there is something that is pure and very human. Perhaps, it is because of man's innate desire and quest for order amidst all that is unpredictable and disorderly, applying sophistication to randomness.
That is why some people have superstitions they follow, like knocking on wood, avoiding stepping on a crack, or carrying lucky coins with them. It also explains why millions of people play the lottery every week, even though the odds are astronomical. They dare to dream of winning big.
Everyone has the hope of choosing numbers that they feel are lucky. It just happens to be one way of putting your own individual touch on something that is pretty much random. They are just tiny, harmless superstitions that make it more entertaining to play the game.
Final thoughts: Should you change your numbers?
If you're a regular lottery player, you might be asking yourself: Should I ditch unlucky numbers like 32 and start cozying up to 3, 4, and 7? To be honest, just play what feels good to you. Or you could use our Powerball and Mega Millions tools to help you pick your next set of numbers!
If your lucky number happens to be 32, don't throw it out just because of a six-month dry spell. In fact, in the weird logic of randomness, 32 could be the next jackpot hero — who's to say it won't?
On the flip side of things, if you're looking for a little psychological boost or just want to mix things up, there's no harm in leaning into the hot streak of numbers like 4 and 7. You might not actually increase your odds, but you might feel a little more connected to your ticket, and that's part of the magic.
In the end, the best advice for picking lottery numbers might just be to have fun with it. Play numbers that make you smile. Play numbers that remind you of birthdays, anniversaries, or lucky moments. Or, hey, maybe just let the machine pick randomly and leave it up to fate. After all, that's what the lottery — and luck — is all about.
Enjoy playing the lottery, and please remember to play responsibly.
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