From lottery lightning to lucky numbers: Six lottery myths Aussies still fall for

April Fool’s Day may be famous for pranks and tall tales, but when it comes to lotteries, many Aussies are still being fooled by persistent myths.

From tax confusion to improving your chances of winning, misconceptions about Australian lotteries continue to swirl, The Lott spokesperson Eliza Wregg said.

“Calling our major prize winners every day and breaking the winning news, I’ve certainly heard all sorts of theories and misconceptions,” she said.

“Of course, trying to break the news to someone who’s won big on April Fool’s Day comes with its own challenges! A Hobart couple enjoyed the ultimate April Fool’s Day surprise when they received a phone call from us revealing they’d won $775,000 in TattsLotto.

“April Fool’s Day is a timely reminder that lotteries are games of chance. There are no shortcuts to winning big — just the excitement of the draw and the chance to dream.

“As always, the only way to be in with a chance to win is to hold a valid ticket in your hands before the draw closes.” Myth one: Major Australian lottery prizes are taxed

One of the most common lottery misconceptions is that Australian lottery winnings are taxed. Unlike some overseas lotteries, in Australia, major lottery prizes are tax-free, meaning winers receive the full prize amount. While financial advice is always recommended, Australians don’t lose a portion of their prize payment to tax.

Myth two: Major lottery prize winners have to go public

We will never disclose personal information about our winners without their consent. And just to clear up a common question, the images that accompany the story are usually not the real winner.

Myth three: You’re more likely to be struck by lightning than win the lottery

This is a line that’s often repeated — but it doesn’t quite strike true. The likelihood of being struck by lightning can be greater than you might think and varies across Australia, with thunderstorms more common across the northern half of the country. Lotteries, on the other hand, are games with unchanging odds of winning, dependent upon the game’s mechanics. For about 500 Aussies last year, that moment of discovering a major lottery prize was very real.

Myth four: Some lottery numbers are luckier than others

Whether it’s cherished numbers or utilising the ‘hot’ or ‘cold’ number method, it’s important to remember that lotteries are games of chance, and every number has an equal chance of being drawn. In fact, lottery balls are regularly weighed at the National Measurement Institute to ensure no number bias.

Myth five: Powerball and Oz Lotto jackpots are always won by a sole individual

While jackpotting games often spark debate about how prizes should be shared, many of Australia’s biggest jackpots have been shared wins. Last year alone, fifteen Queenslanders shared a sensational $70 million Oz Lotto jackpot, while four Australians later split an $80 million Powerball prize.

Myth six: Buying your tickets online gives you a higher chance of winning a major lottery prize

Whether you grab your ticket online or in-store has no impact on your chance of winning. We see around 60% of our players choose to play in-store, with the remaining 40% playing online. And the proportion of major prize winners online and in-store reflects this. No matter where you choose to play, be sure to register your entry with The Lott Members Club, so if you were to win big, we can give you that life-changing news straight away.