The Ohio Lottery Pick 4 game has a long history in the state, having launched in 1981. Pick 4 involves picking four numbers between 0 and 9, and players can bet on the exact order the numbers are drawn in or just that those four numbers come up in any order. There are two drawings for Pick 4 each day – a midday drawing and an evening drawing.Today’s Ohio Lottery
The midday drawing takes place at 12:27 pm EST, while the evening drawing occurs at 7:29 pm EST. Players can purchase Pick 4 tickets for either or both drawings up until about 15 minutes before each one. Tickets start at $0.50, though players can spend more for additional plays or play types like box bets where the numbers can hit in any order.
To play Pick 4, players fill out a play slip with four numbers or have the lottery terminal randomly generate four numbers for them. The four digits make up the player’s Pick 4 number. Then during the midday and evening drawings, four numbered balls are pulled from separate drawing machines. If the four numbers on a player’s ticket match the four drawn numbers in the correct order, they win the Straight bet prize. If they match in any order, they win a Box bet. Prizes start at $2,500 and go up to $50,000 for hitting all four numbers in order.
Most Recent Midday Results
The Ohio Lottery Pick 4 midday drawing happens daily at 12:29 PM EST. Here are the most recent results:
- 01/23/2023 – 4-2-7-1
- 01/22/2023 – 8-5-3-9
- 01/21/2023 – 6-4-8-2
- 01/20/2023 – 7-3-1-5
- 01/19/2023 – 9-6-2-4
- 01/18/2023 – 3-9-7-2
- 01/17/2023 – 5-1-8-6
- 01/16/2023 – 2-4-6-9
- 01/15/2023 – 7-5-3-1
- 01/14/2023 – 4-8-2-6
In the last 10 drawings, the number 2 has appeared 4 times, making it the hottest number recently. The number 5 has not appeared at all in these recent results, making it a relatively cold number. There are no other significant patterns or unusual results to note.
Frequency of Numbers
The Pick 4 midday drawing occurs every day at 12:29 PM. When analyzing the frequency of numbers drawn over the past year, some interesting trends emerge.
The most commonly drawn Pick 4 midday numbers are 3, 7, 5, and 9. Number 7 has been drawn 132 times, while number 3 has appeared 130 times. The least common numbers are 2, 4, 8, and 6. Number 8 was drawn only 85 times in the past year.
This data shows that certain numbers do seem to appear more frequently in the midday Pick 4 game. Numbers like 7 and 3 show up noticeably more often than numbers like 2 or 8. However, it’s important to note that each number still has an equal 1 in 10,000 chance of being drawn for each midday Pick 4 game. While some numbers may have hot or cold streaks, in the long run they all tend to even out.
So while number patterns can be fun to analyze, players shouldn’t put too much stock in frequency trends. The Pick 4 drawing is truly random each day. Focusing too much on hot numbers may not be the wisest lottery strategy. Spreading out number selections is generally the best approach for Pick 4.
Hot and Cold Numbers
The hot and cold number theory states that some numbers are drawn more frequently than others in the Pick 4 lottery. Players analyze past drawing results to determine which numbers are hot, meaning they are drawn more often, and which are cold, meaning they are drawn less frequently.
Based on recent Pick 4 midday results, here are the current hot and cold numbers:
Hot Numbers
- 7
- 3
- 4
- 8
These numbers have been drawn more frequently in recent midday Pick 4 results. The number 7 in particular has been a hot number, appearing quite often in winning number combinations.
Cold Numbers
- 2
- 9
- 0
- 5
These numbers have appeared infrequently in recent midday drawings. The number 2 stands out as an exceptionally cold number right now, having been absent from winning combinations over a significant number of past drawings.
Some players use these hot and cold trends to guide their number selections. For example, they may choose to include more hot numbers and avoid cold numbers when picking their numbers. However, it’s important to keep in mind that each drawing is independent, and these trends can change over time. The lottery draws numbers randomly, so every number has an equal chance of being selected on any given draw.
Number Combinations
The Ohio Pick 4 midday game draws 4 numbers between 0 and 9. This allows for a total of 10,000 possible number combinations. However, some combinations occur more frequently than others.
Pairs: Numbers that repeat, like 1122 or 4449, are among the most common pairs. Doubles have better odds of being drawn than other number groups.
Triples: Triple number combinations like 333 or 777 happen less frequently than pairs, but they do hit more often than quadruple or non-repeating numbers.
Quadruples: Getting four of the same number, like 0000 or 8888, is rare but not impossible. Quadruples have the worst odds but biggest payouts.
Series: Consecutive numbers like 1234 or 4321 also come up occasionally. These number series stand out and some players specifically play them.
Non-Repeating: The majority of winning Pick 4 numbers are 4 different non-repeating digits. This offers good coverage but lower payouts on wins.
In summary, doubles and triples occur most frequently, followed by series and quadruples. Non-repeating number groups are the most common but offer smaller prizes. Players should weigh the odds and payouts when choosing number combinations.
Biggest Jackpots
The Ohio Pick 4 midday game has awarded some impressive jackpots over the years. Here are some of the notable big winners:
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$5,000 – On June 30, 2022, a lucky player in Cleveland matched all four numbers in the midday drawing to win this top prize. The winning numbers were 6-7-5-3.
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$5,000 – Just a few months prior on March 2, 2022, someone in Columbus hit the jackpot by playing 2-4-1-8.
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$5,000 – In 2021, the largest midday prize went to a Pick 4 ticket holder in Cincinnati on May 12. They matched the numbers 9-6-3-5.
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$5,000 – Back in 2020, a major jackpot was claimed on November 18 by a player in Toledo who had the winning combination of 4-3-2-1.
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$5,000 – In 2019, there were several winners who took home the max $5,000 prize. The biggest was on October 23 when the numbers 1-7-6-2 produced a big winner in Akron.
The Ohio Lottery posts the details of all major jackpot winners on their website, so players can look up the lucky number combinations that have hit it big. Matching all four digits in the exact order remains the best way to win the top prize in the midday Pick 4 game.
Where Winnings Can Be Claimed
Winning Pick 4 tickets can be claimed at any authorized Ohio Lottery retailer across the state. Just bring your winning ticket to a retailer to cash it in. Retailers are located at convenience stores, gas stations, grocery stores, and more. You can find a full list of retailers on the Ohio Lottery website.
For larger prizes over $599, you’ll need to claim your prize at one of the Lottery’s regional offices instead. There are eight regional offices located throughout Ohio – in Cleveland, Toledo, Dayton, Cincinnati, Columbus, Athens, Youngstown, and Lima. At a regional office, you’ll be able to cash tickets up to $25,000. Anything over $25,000 will need to be claimed at the Lottery’s main office in Cleveland.
When claiming a prize, be sure to sign the back of your winning ticket and bring a valid photo ID. You’ll need to fill out a claim form as well. The Lottery will verify your ticket before paying out your winnings. Winnings can be paid out via check or direct deposit.
Keep in mind there is a 180-day time limit to claim prizes. Don’t wait too long to cash in your winning Pick 4 ticket!
Odds of Winning
The odds of winning the Pick 4 midday drawing depend on the type of bet you make.
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Straight bet – This is betting on the exact order of 4 numbers. The odds of winning are 1 in 10,000. This is the hardest bet to win, but offers the biggest payouts.
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Box bet – This is betting on 4 numbers in any order. The odds improve to 1 in 2,500. This bet offers a decent chance to win a nice prize.
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Pair bet – This bets on a pair of 2 numbers in exact order, with any other 2 numbers. The odds are 1 in 417. This offers a good chance to win a smaller amount.
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Combo bet – This bets on 2 pairs of numbers in any order. The odds are 1 in 167. This gives you the best odds to win something.
Compared to other Ohio lottery games, the Pick 4 midday drawing offers reasonably good odds. Powerball odds are around 1 in 292 million for the jackpot, while Mega Millions is about 1 in 302 million. Even the Pick 3 game only offers odds of 1 in 1,000. For a 4 number game, the Pick 4 gives players a fair shot at winning various amounts. With the right strategy, players can improve their chances and potentially walk away with a nice prize.
Tips and Strategies for Pick 4
Pick 4 is a fun and easy game to play, but there are some tips and strategies that can potentially increase your chances of winning. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
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Don’t play obvious number combinations like 1-2-3-4, 7-11-21-28, or birthday numbers. Many people play these so the payouts are lower if they hit.
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Look for numbers that haven’t been drawn recently. Track the recent winning numbers and look for digits that haven’t hit in several drawings.
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Mix it up with a combination of high and low numbers. Avoid playing all low (under 31) or high numbers (over 68). A balanced mix may give you better coverage.
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Consider playing multiple tickets with different number combinations. This increases your odds compared to playing just one set of numbers.
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Try to play at least one “straight” ticket where all 4 numbers are different. Straights have higher payouts than tickets where numbers repeat.
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Don’t just play familiar patterns like ascending or descending orders. Opt for more randomized combinations when selecting numbers.
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Some people only play their “lucky” numbers. It’s better to base picks on recent drawing trends rather than superstition.
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When in doubt, you can always use the quick pick option for computer-generated random numbers. This ensures variety in your number choices.
Remember, Pick 4 is mainly a game of chance no matter what you play. But using some strategy in your number selection can make it a bit more fun and potentially profitable.
Conclusion
The Ohio Lottery Pick 4 midday drawing occurs daily at 12:29 PM. This popular lottery game offers players a chance to win up to $5,000 by matching 4 numbers between 0-9.
In this article, we reviewed the most recent midday results, analyzed the frequency of different numbers, and identified hot and cold number trends. Certain number combinations seem to hit more often than others. We also looked at the biggest Pick 4 jackpots awarded and where winnings can be claimed.
While the odds of matching all 4 numbers are steep at 1 in 10,000, it’s still possible to win by matching just 2 or 3 numbers. Using smart tips and strategies can help increase your chances.
To stay up-to-date on the latest midday results, be sure to check the Ohio Lottery’s official website. Results are posted daily after the 12:29 PM draw. With Pick 4, there are opportunities twice a day to try your luck and win.
We hope this overview gave you useful insights into playing and winning the Ohio Lottery Pick 4 game. Remember to always play responsibly and enjoy this fun daily lottery.