In 2021, Americans spent upward of $100 billion on lottery tickets—making it one of the most popular forms of gambling in the country. While there’s nothing wrong with people enjoying themselves, the popularity of lotteries raises a number of concerns about inequality and social mobility. And it also raises the question of whether it’s worth the trade-off in terms of state budgets to fund these activities.

Some experts recommend that players mix up their numbers rather than sticking with a particular sequence or personal numbers, like birthdays. They point out that picking numbers based on significant dates could lead to sharing a jackpot with other winners, and there is no way to improve your odds by choosing a specific combination of numbers.

Lottery numbers are drawn randomly, and each drawing is independent of previous ones. In fact, there is no strategy that can improve your odds. But there are ways to decrease the amount of money you spend on tickets. For instance, buying smaller prizes—like a regional lottery game instead of a Powerball or Mega Millions ticket—can help you reduce your odds of winning.

Another way to increase your chances of winning is to choose a lump-sum payout, as opposed to an annuity that pays you in annual installments. This will save you from paying taxes in the first year. However, it’s important to remember that your after-tax winnings will be lower than the advertised prize if you opt for this method.