What are the odds? Odds are they are against you
If you gamble for the chance to win money, do you know what the odds are of actually winning?
Every form of gambling has an element of chance that helps determine the outcome. How much a person will win or lose is determined by the odds of the game and how much money is staked. It is important to remember that the ‘house’ (eg the casino, hotel or club) always has the advantage and that the odds are against the gambler.
The odds are clearly stacked against the gambler – meaning you should always expect to lose.
This table shows the odds of winning on some forms of gambling in South Australia.
| Bet |
Odds of Winning |
Poker Machines – Getting 5 Black Rhinos on Black Rhinos Machine (Top Prize)
($1 Bet per line) |
1 in 9,765,625 |
| Lotto – Winning First Division (playing 1 game) |
1 in 8,145,060 |
| Oz Lotto – Winning First Division (playing 1 game) |
1 in 45,379,620 |
| Powerball – Winning First Division (playing 1 game) |
1 in 54,979,155 |
| Keno – Winning First Division (Spot 10, playing 1 game) |
1 in 8,911,711 |
| Keno – Winning First Division (Spot 9, playing 1 game) |
1 in 1,380,687 |
| Super 66 – Winning First Division (playing 1 game) |
1 in 1,000,000 |
| The Pools – Winning First Division (playing 1 game) |
1 in 2,760,681 |
| Instant Scratchies – Winning First Division with $1 High Tier (playing 1 game) |
1 in 1,500,000 |
| Trackside – picking, at random, a trifecta in a 13 horse race |
1 in 1,715 |
Now see how your odds of winning compare with non-gambling related activities…
| Odds of non-gambling activities |
Odds of Occurrence |
| Marriage ending in divorce |
1 in 2.3 marriages |
| Chances of going bald – if you’re a man |
3 in 4 men |
| Dying from heart disease |
1 in 4 people |
| Having your car stolen |
1 in 142 cars |
| Dying from a venomous bite or sting |
1 in 1,000,000 people |
| Being killed by lightning |
1 in 1,603,250 people |
* Some figures taken from Centre for Gambling Research Fact Sheet – Gambling Odds 2003
In every betting game, the odds are against the player. Some people may not realise the true statistical probabilities that ensure that, over time, they will lose money.
Remember:
- Odds are always against the better
- The ‘house’ always has the edge
- The longer you gamble, the more likely you will lose more often than you will win
To find out if you have a gambling problem,
click here 
Print page
Email to a friend 
