EZ2 System 2/31 Lottery (aka 2D Lotto)

This page is mainly about the EZ2 lottery system (aka 2D Lotto), how to play and how to win it, the odds of winning from it, and the methodology used to analyze the results statistically. Click here to see all the EZ2 analyses and tips.

General Information

If you already know this, you can skip it and go directly to the analyses and studies.

What is Lotto System 2/n?

Lotto system 2/n is a lottery game wherein 2 numbers are drawn from a group of consecutive numbers. In some countries, like in Canada, this game is called Pick 2 wherein 2 numbers from 0 - 9 are drawn. This is called system 2/10. In the Philippines, this type of game is called EZ2 lotto (now called 2D Lotto) wherein 2 numbers are drawn from numbers 1 - 31. This is called system 2/31.

How To Play and Win Pick 2

To play Pick 2 Lotto, you wage on 2 numbers from 0 - 9 in order to form a 2-digit number. For example, pick 1 and 2 to play the number 12. If your numbers matched the numbers that were drawn, you win a prize. In some games, if you matched either number, you win a minor prize. You can wage on double numbers, e.g. 8-8.

To win Pick 2, like in Ontario, you win $2 if you matched the first digit. You win $99 if you matched both digits. For example, if you played 12, and the result of the draw was 13, you matched the first digit, which is 1; therefore you win $2. If the result of the draw was 12, you matched both digits, therefore, you win $99. If the result of the draw was 21, you don't win any prize because for Ontario's Pick 2 lottery, you always play for the exact order the winning numbers are drawn.

How To Play and Win EZ2 (2D Lotto)

To play EZ2 (2D), you wage on 2 numbers from 1 - 31 to form a combination of 2 numbers. For example, pick 12 and 21 to play the combination 12-21. If your numbers matched the numbers that were drawn in exact order, you win the major prize, which is PHP4000. If your numbers matched the numbers drawn in no particular order, you win the minor prize of PHP2000. However, you have to specify your option in the game card or selection slip whether you are playing for no particular order (called jumbled play) of the winning numbers or for the exact order (called straight play). Jumbled play means you are playing for the two possible combinations. For example, if your numbers are 12 and 21, you are playing for both 12-21 win and 21-12 win. If you opted the straight method and played 12-21, you win the major prize if the results are 12 and 21. You do not win a prize if the results are 21 and 12. By default, you always play for the exact order.

Trivia: In the Philippines, jumbled play is called rambol or rambolito, based on the English word ramble or rumble. Perhaps, the Filipino who invented the word, confused the word jumble with rumble or ramble.

How The Numbers Are Drawn?

There are 2 tumblers. Each tumbler contains balls numbered 1 - 31. One ball is drawn from each tumbler using air pressure or blower. For the Pick 2 system, each tumbler contains 10 balls numbered 0 - 9. The numbers are not digitally drawn for the reason that no automated system can exactly duplicate randomness.

Sampled Data Used For Analyzing The Results

Statistical analyses of the data are based on draw results from the EZ2 lottery system. The data covers results from July 2004 up to a certain date as stated. Some analyses cover a period of one year, while others cover multiple years.

Initially, the studies covered draw results from July 5, 2004 to August 24, 2008. This is the period when drawings of EZ2 were done only once a day. It covers 1495 results.

The second set of the basis of studies covered the results from August 25, 2008 up to July 29, 2009. This is the period when drawings of EZ2 were done twice a day – one in the morning and one in the evening. It covers 732 results. Together, they make 2227 results.

The third set would be results from July 2009 onwards, which is when the drawings of EZ2 have been done three times a day – one in the morning, one in the afternoon, and one in the evening. At present, the draws are done at 2:00 PM, 5:00 PM and 9:00 PM.

The sampled data used are enough to give significant results because in Statistics, you only need 1200 sampled population to achieve a (plus-minus) ±3 margin of error.

Methods Used To Analyze The EZ2 Draw Results

The methodology in analyzing the EZ2 draw results is simple arithmetic. Summation is used to calculate the recurrence or frequency of events, e.g. winning frequency of each number. To get the percentage, you simply divide a number from a larger number, e.g. the ratio of odd and even to winning numbers. Perhaps, the most complex formula used are figuring out the ideal sample size and the probability of winning the EZ2 lotto based on all possible combinations. These calculations, however, need not be done repeatedly for the reason that the results will remain unchanged.

In the worksheet or tool that you can download on Google Sheets, the formulas are more complicated. However, you need not worry about these formulas because they were already done for you.

Odds of Winning The EZ2 Lotto

If you play your numbers in any order, your chance of winning is 1:496 or 0.202% probability. If you play your numbers in exact order, your chance of winning is 1:961, or 0.104% probability. Playing your numbers in any order gives you better chances of winning.

Probability Studies

Winning Frequency of Each Number

Methodology

The following study is based on more than 6000 actual draw results consisting of the winning numbers from the results of EZ2 drawings from 5 July 2004 onwards. The data were divided into three periods: 

  1. July 2004 - August 2008 – the period when drawings were done only once a day; 
  2. August 2008 - August 2009 – the period when drawings were done twice a day;
  3. August 2009 onwards – drawings have been done thrice a day. 

To calculate for the frequency of winning, the number of times a number had won is simply counted. In spreadsheet (Google Sheets), the function COUNTIF(data referencedata to count) was used.

Winning Frequency of EZ2 Numbers 2004 - 2008

Following is the chart that shows how many times each EZ2 lotto number in 2004 - 2008 had won.

The Top, Middle and Bottom Numbers

Let's classify the winning numbers into three: the tops, the bottoms, and the middles. Based on the calculated data above, 

The top winning numbers were:

16 • 14 • 08 • 05 • 17 • 23 • 25 • 06 • 21 • 12 • 11

The middle winning numbers were:

07 • 19 • 28 • 26 • 10 • 09 • 20 • 24 • 04 • 01

The bottom winning numbers were:

13 • 03 • 27 • 29 • 18 • 15 • 30 • 22 • 31 • 02

Question: If we are to play the top winning numbers all the time, what's the guarantee of winning?

To find out, we have to compare the results of the 2004-2008 period with those of the succeeding period.

Top and Bottom Numbers Compared: Previous Period vs Next Period 

Following compares the winning performances of each EZ2 lotto numbers. The chart shows the ranking of the lotto numbers based on each frequency of winning. Ranking was used so that we can compare the top, middle and bottom winning numbers of the previous period with those of the succeeding period. Top winning numbers were ranked 21-31; while the bottom winning numbers were ranked 1-10; and the rest were the middle rankings.

Observations

Notice that most numbers that were previously top winning went down either to the bottom or middle rankings or vice versa. For example, lotto #16 was top winning previously, but in the next period, it was in the bottom. On the other hand, lotto #31 was in the bottom previously, but it soared the highest in the next period.

Summary

Following is the summary of the comparison's result.

  • From top to bottom, there were five: 06 • 12 • 14 • 16 • 17
  • From top to middle, there were three: 05 • 08 • 11
  • From bottom to top, there were three: 31 • 22 • 15
  • From bottom to middle, there were two: 27 • 02
  • From middle to top, there were five: 04 • 07 • 19 • 26 • 28
  • From middle to bottom, there were three: 09 • 10 • 24

The following EZ2 numbers maintained their standings:

  • Remained on top, there were three: 21 • 23 • 25
  • Remained neutral, there were two: 01 • 20
  • Remained bottom, there were five: 30 • 29 • 18 • 13 • 07

Conclusion

  • Only 3 top numbers remained on top. Therefore, not all top winning numbers will remain top.
  • Half of the bottom numbers remained in the bottom; while three soared to top; and two advanced a bit higher.
  • Five of the average performing numbers soared to the top.
  • Therefore, whether the numbers were performing well or not or just average, they can be top winning numbers as well in the succeeding times. While others would remain in their current standing; the rest tends to slow down.

Findings

In terms of percentage, the winning probability of the numbers ranges from 2.9% to 3.9% (or 169 to 222 counts as of this writing). This means that each number had a fair share of winning. In other words, any number is as good as the other. If the data are to be graphed linearly in terms of percentage, it would look like almost a straight line. This means further that, in time, as the population or number of records grow larger, the line on the graph will flatten out. Further, therefore, to come up with significant trending results, a smaller set of records, say results from the last 2 weeks, would suffice.

Comments

Post a Comment

Thank you for your message. Unfortunately, there's a glitch on Blogger that prevents replying to comments. An option is to send your message on Facebook @ProvingLuck.