Which Lottery Wheel is for You?

This page explains "What to look for" in lottery wheels.

It helps you to decide which lottery wheels are best for your playing goals and budget.

What to Look For in a Lottery Wheel
Comparing Lottery Wheels
Wheeling Choices for Everyone

What to Look For in a Wheel

The Four Characteristics of a Lottery Wheel
There are four main factors in a wheel. These are the things that make each wheel different from other wheels.

Each wheel takes a quantity of lottery numbers that you want to play.

Each wheel requires you to match some minimum amount of your game's winning numbers, and to match them in a particular way. These are the wheel's 'matching requirements'.

Each wheel has a prize goal, which can be won only if you meet all of the wheel's matching requirements.

Each wheel produces a set of combinations that you can play. This amount of combinations reflects your cost of playing the wheel.

An Example

For example, you might hear a wheel described as follows:

"It's a Pick-6 wheel with 12 numbers. The wheel is 'Abbreviated', match 5 for 4, with a 100 percent guarantee. It has 22 combinations."

Let's take this apart, and see what it means.

The wheel is for a Pick-6 game -- it will take 12 of your numbers that you want to play.

The next terms -- " 'Abbreviated', match 5 for 4, 100 percent guarantee" describe the wheel's prize goal and matching requirements. Here is how they translate:

An 'Abbreviated' wheel is designed to produce a lower-level win -- not the Jackpot. It's one of many wheel types you can choose from. You'll find descriptions of the most common types of wheels, elsewhere on this Web page.

If you match any 5 numbers (out of the 12 numbers you are playing in the wheel), you'll have at least one winning combination with 4 winning numbers in it. That's what the 'match 5 for 4' means.

The wheel has been tested, and found to deliver the winning combination (with 4 winners in it) 100 percent of the time -- if, and it's a BIG 'IF' -- you succeed in picking at least 5 winning numbers out of the six numbers your game draws.
Finally, the wheel will give you 22 combinations. You will have to play them all, if you want the wheel to perform as it is described.

About Wheel 'Guarantees'
You should not get confused -- or be misled -- about the 'guarantees' stated for wheels. Beware of statements like, "Every wheel is fully tested and GUARANTEED to win!" At best, such a statement is telling only part of the story -- the truth, perhaps, but not the whole truth.

Your natural response should be, "What do I have to do, to make that win happen?" Or, to put it in wheeling terms, "How many of my game's winning numbers do I have to match, and in which way must I match them?"

A General Rule About Wheels
Here's a simple, general "rule of thumb" you can use. The more numbers you want to play, the higher your prize goal, and the easier you want it to be to match your game's winning numbers -- the more combinations that will be generated by your wheel. The more combinations that are generated, the higher your cost will be for playing.

Set realistic goals for the kinds of prizes you're aiming for, and your financial budget for wheeling.

Comparing Wheels

Comparing Wheels
You can find many varieties of wheels, ready to play. New ones are being developed every day.

In the Lottery Director software, there are over 800 wheels. These include more than 350 wheels for Pick-6 games, and more than 250 for Pick-5. You select them from a menu, which shows each wheel's type, with its matching requirements, prize goal, and amount of combinations. You can also make your own custom wheels from simple menus.

Suppose you have 12 lottery numbers that you want to play in a Pick-6 Lotto game. Check the wheel examples in the table below. Each wheel is designed for playing 12 numbers.

Some 12-Number Wheels

Wheel Type Numbers to Play in Wheel Winners You Must Match Size of Prize You Will Win Your Winning Chances Combinations You Will Need

Full 12 6 6 100 % 924

Skip 4 12 6 6 20 % 188

Skip 9 12 6 6 10 % 101

Abbreviated 12 3 3 100 % 17

Abbreviated 12 5 3 100 % 3

Abbreviated 12 4 4 100 % 42

Abbreviated 12 5 4 100 % 22

Abbreviated 12 6 4 100 % 6

Abbreviated 12 5 5 100 % 136

Abbreviated 12 6 5 100 % 44

Expanded 12 6 5 100 % 50

1 Key Number 12 4 4 100 % 24

1 Key Number 12 5 4 100 % 10

1 Key Number 12 5 5 100 % 75

2 Key Numbers 12 5 5 100 % 44

2 Key Numbers 12 6 6 100 % 210

3 Key Numbers 12 6 6 100 % 84

Pairs 12 4 4 100 % 8

Alternate Keys 12 4 4 100 % 37

Alternate Keys 12 5 4 100 % 15

Zone 1-3 12 6 6 100 % 210

Zone 1-6 12 6 6 100 % 30

Zone 2-3 12 6 6 100 % 105

Zone 2-6 12 6 6 100 % 24

In the table above, each wheel will take your same set of 12 numbers -- but you can see how different they are. Note the wide range of combinations you can have, from wheeling your same set of 12 numbers.

All of these wheels (and more) are in the Lottery Director software.

Wheeling Choices for Everyone

Wheel Descriptions
You can find a wide variety of wheels -- in software programs, books, magazines, and Internet forums for lottery players.

The table below describes some of the kinds of wheels you might find.

Wheel Type How it Works

Full The purpose of a Full wheel is to aim for the Jackpot or for multiple lower prizes. Full wheels cover every possible combination of the lottery numbers you play in the wheel. They must generate a large amount of combinations to cover the numbers completely. That makes them the least economical wheel for playing a set of numbers.

Skip 4 These wheels aim for the Jackpot or multiple lower prizes, like the Full wheel, but they do not cover every possible combination. They cover the first five combinations, as in a Full wheel. These contain your highest priority numbers. Then four combinations are skipped, and every fifth combination is played throughout the rest of the wheel. The win percentage is 20%, but their cost is much lower than a Full wheel for the same amount of numbers. For a cost that is comparable to a Full wheel, you could play a 'Skip' wheel with more numbers, giving you better chances for matching more of your game's winning numbers.

Skip 9 These wheels aim for the Jackpot or multiple lower prizes, like the Full wheel. They are related to the 'Skip 4' wheel above. They cover the first ten combinations, as in a Full wheel. These contain your highest priority numbers. Then nine combinations are skipped, and every tenth is played throughout the rest of the wheel. The win percentage is 10%, but their cost is much lower than a Full wheel or Skip 4 wheel, for the same amount of numbers.

Abbreviated The main purpose of these wheels is to aim for a specific lower prize, such as the second or third prize. Abbreviated wheels cover every combination of your numbers for that prize (but not for a higher prize). They generate a relatively small amount of combinations, compared to Full or Skip wheels. They are an economical type of wheel for playing a large set of numbers, to increase your chances for matching more of the game's winning numbers. To win, you must match the wheel's stated matching quantity with the winning numbers drawn by the game.

Expanded These wheels are similar to Abbreviated wheels, with the goal of a specific lower prize. Their major difference is that your higher priority numbers are emphasized, increasing your chances for multiple prizes if those numbers are drawn. Expanded wheels make more combinations than Abbreviated wheels, to more fully cover your higher priority numbers. Their matching requirements are the same as for Abbreviated wheels.

Pairs The first two numbers you play in this wheel become a Pair. Your next two numbers become a second Pair, and so on. To win, the wheel's stated matching quantity must be met entirely with paired numbers -- that is, if any number is drawn as a winner, its paired number must also be drawn. They are very economical wheels, if you like to play paired numbers.

1 Key Number The first number you play in this wheel becomes a 'Key Number'. Typically, you'll play your highest priority number here. It will appear in every combination in the wheel. This wheel is more economical than the Abbreviated wheel. To win, your Key number must be drawn, as well as meeting the wheel's matching quantity with the winning numbers.

2, 3, 4 Key Numbers These wheels are similar to the '1 Key Number' wheel above, except they use two, three, and four Key numbers respectively. Every combination will contain these numbers. Each wheel is progressively more economical. To win, all of your Key numbers must be drawn as winners, as well as meeting the wheel's matching quantity.

Alternate Keys These wheels are related to 'Key Number' wheels, but provide more flexibility in how you can match the game's winning numbers. The first two numbers you play in the wheel become 'Alternate Key Numbers'. To win, either one or both of the numbers must be drawn as winners, as well as meeting the wheel's matching quantity.

Zones The numbers you play in these wheels go into three areas, called 'Zones'. You win by matching each Zone's numbers in a certain way. These wheels are very economical to play.

The first Zone is called the 'Key Zone'. Either 1 or 2 numbers are played in this Zone.

The other two Zones are called the 'Alternate Zone' and 'Full Zone'. The amounts of numbers you play in them varies with each wheel.

You win the Jackpot prize by matching your game's winning numbers as each Zone requires: (1) You must match the 'Key Zone' number (or numbers). (2) You can match any one of the 'Alternate Zone' numbers. (3) You can match the remaining amount of numbers with any combination of the 'Full Zone' numbers.

For example, if you match the Key number, any one Alternate number, and any four Full zone numbers, you have a Jackpot match. If you do not make a Jackpot match, there are many possibilities for lower prizes. If you match either the Key or any Alternate number, plus any four in the Full zone, you have a 5-number win and multiple 4-number wins.

You can also score multiple 4-number or 5-number wins by matching several of the Alternate zone numbers, plus any 3 or 4 Full zone numbers. Or, you can score multiple 3-number or 4-number wins by matching that many numbers in the Full zone alone.

All of these wheels are in your Lottery Director software.

They are Easy to play. Every wheel is on a menu, and your numbers are wheeled automatically for you.

Lottery Director Home Page

Wheel Type	Numbers to Play in Wheel	Winners You Must Match	Size of Prize You Will Win	Your Winning Chances	Combinations You Will Need
Full	12	6	6	100 %	924
Skip 4	12	6	6	20 %	188
Skip 9	12	6	6	10 %	101
Abbreviated	12	3	3	100 %	17
Abbreviated	12	5	3	100 %	3
Abbreviated	12	4	4	100 %	42
Abbreviated	12	5	4	100 %	22
Abbreviated	12	6	4	100 %	6
Abbreviated	12	5	5	100 %	136
Abbreviated	12	6	5	100 %	44
Expanded	12	6	5	100 %	50
1 Key Number	12	4	4	100 %	24
1 Key Number	12	5	4	100 %	10
1 Key Number	12	5	5	100 %	75
2 Key Numbers	12	5	5	100 %	44
2 Key Numbers	12	6	6	100 %	210
3 Key Numbers	12	6	6	100 %	84
Pairs	12	4	4	100 %	8
Alternate Keys	12	4	4	100 %	37
Alternate Keys	12	5	4	100 %	15
Zone 1-3	12	6	6	100 %	210
Zone 1-6	12	6	6	100 %	30
Zone 2-3	12	6	6	100 %	105
Zone 2-6	12	6	6	100 %	24

Wheel Type	How it Works
Full	The purpose of a Full wheel is to aim for the Jackpot or for multiple lower prizes. Full wheels cover every possible combination of the lottery numbers you play in the wheel. They must generate a large amount of combinations to cover the numbers completely. That makes them the least economical wheel for playing a set of numbers.
Skip 4	These wheels aim for the Jackpot or multiple lower prizes, like the Full wheel, but they do not cover every possible combination. They cover the first five combinations, as in a Full wheel. These contain your highest priority numbers. Then four combinations are skipped, and every fifth combination is played throughout the rest of the wheel. The win percentage is 20%, but their cost is much lower than a Full wheel for the same amount of numbers. For a cost that is comparable to a Full wheel, you could play a 'Skip' wheel with more numbers, giving you better chances for matching more of your game's winning numbers.
Skip 9	These wheels aim for the Jackpot or multiple lower prizes, like the Full wheel. They are related to the 'Skip 4' wheel above. They cover the first ten combinations, as in a Full wheel. These contain your highest priority numbers. Then nine combinations are skipped, and every tenth is played throughout the rest of the wheel. The win percentage is 10%, but their cost is much lower than a Full wheel or Skip 4 wheel, for the same amount of numbers.
Abbreviated	The main purpose of these wheels is to aim for a specific lower prize, such as the second or third prize. Abbreviated wheels cover every combination of your numbers for that prize (but not for a higher prize). They generate a relatively small amount of combinations, compared to Full or Skip wheels. They are an economical type of wheel for playing a large set of numbers, to increase your chances for matching more of the game's winning numbers. To win, you must match the wheel's stated matching quantity with the winning numbers drawn by the game.
Expanded	These wheels are similar to Abbreviated wheels, with the goal of a specific lower prize. Their major difference is that your higher priority numbers are emphasized, increasing your chances for multiple prizes if those numbers are drawn. Expanded wheels make more combinations than Abbreviated wheels, to more fully cover your higher priority numbers. Their matching requirements are the same as for Abbreviated wheels.
Pairs	The first two numbers you play in this wheel become a Pair. Your next two numbers become a second Pair, and so on. To win, the wheel's stated matching quantity must be met entirely with paired numbers -- that is, if any number is drawn as a winner, its paired number must also be drawn. They are very economical wheels, if you like to play paired numbers.
1 Key Number	The first number you play in this wheel becomes a 'Key Number'. Typically, you'll play your highest priority number here. It will appear in every combination in the wheel. This wheel is more economical than the Abbreviated wheel. To win, your Key number must be drawn, as well as meeting the wheel's matching quantity with the winning numbers.
2, 3, 4 Key Numbers	These wheels are similar to the '1 Key Number' wheel above, except they use two, three, and four Key numbers respectively. Every combination will contain these numbers. Each wheel is progressively more economical. To win, all of your Key numbers must be drawn as winners, as well as meeting the wheel's matching quantity.
Alternate Keys	These wheels are related to 'Key Number' wheels, but provide more flexibility in how you can match the game's winning numbers. The first two numbers you play in the wheel become 'Alternate Key Numbers'. To win, either one or both of the numbers must be drawn as winners, as well as meeting the wheel's matching quantity.
Zones	The numbers you play in these wheels go into three areas, called 'Zones'. You win by matching each Zone's numbers in a certain way. These wheels are very economical to play. The first Zone is called the 'Key Zone'. Either 1 or 2 numbers are played in this Zone. The other two Zones are called the 'Alternate Zone' and 'Full Zone'. The amounts of numbers you play in them varies with each wheel. You win the Jackpot prize by matching your game's winning numbers as each Zone requires: (1) You must match the 'Key Zone' number (or numbers). (2) You can match any one of the 'Alternate Zone' numbers. (3) You can match the remaining amount of numbers with any combination of the 'Full Zone' numbers. For example, if you match the Key number, any one Alternate number, and any four Full zone numbers, you have a Jackpot match. If you do not make a Jackpot match, there are many possibilities for lower prizes. If you match either the Key or any Alternate number, plus any four in the Full zone, you have a 5-number win and multiple 4-number wins. You can also score multiple 4-number or 5-number wins by matching several of the Alternate zone numbers, plus any 3 or 4 Full zone numbers. Or, you can score multiple 3-number or 4-number wins by matching that many numbers in the Full zone alone.