Imagine this: instead of picking your lucky numbers or relying on “hot” numbers, you decide to play every possible combination in EuroMillions. On paper, it sounds like the ultimate way to guarantee a win. But in reality, things are far more complex. Let’s break down the costs, probabilities, risks, and curiosities behind this extreme strategy.
The Cost of Playing Every Combination
EuroMillions requires players to select 5 main numbers (1-50) and 2 Lucky Stars (1-12). This creates:
- Combinations: 139,838,160 possible combinations
- Cost per ticket: €2.50
- Total cost: roughly €349.5 million to cover all combinations
Even if you could somehow buy all tickets, the total cost is enormous—far more than most jackpots, except the record €250 million prizes.
Probabilities vs. Reality
Mathematically, playing every combination guarantees you’ll win the jackpot. But reality hits hard:
- Shared jackpots: If another player also wins, your prize is split.
- Taxes and regulations: Some countries may deduct taxes or restrict extreme bulk purchases.
- Other prizes: Winning smaller prizes adds some extra money, but usually not enough to offset the massive investment.
Extreme strategy ≠ guaranteed profit. Winning every combination is a theoretical “sure thing,” but practical profit is another story.
Practical Risks and Challenges
- Financial risk: Spending hundreds of millions on tickets is risky, even if you could afford it.
- Logistics: Buying, storing, and submitting over 139 million tickets is nearly impossible.
- Human error: Managing so many tickets increases the chance of mistakes.
- Legal and ethical limits: Some lotteries prevent mass purchases to avoid manipulation.
Curiosities and Extreme Cases
- Other lotteries have seen “bulk purchase” attempts that failed financially.
- People have experimented with partial strategies: buying large batches, focusing on rare combinations, etc.
- These stories inspire curiosity and show how probability meets human imagination.
Conclusion
Playing every combination is theoretically possible but practically unfeasible. It’s an interesting thought experiment, but the logistics, costs, and risks make it impossible for ordinary players. The best approach?
- Play responsibly
- Understand probabilities
- Enjoy the game as entertainment, not as a “guaranteed income” strategy
