If you are waiting to win the MegaMillions or the Powerball lotteries, chances are you are going to have to wait a VERY long time. The odds are astronomically high, and even if you were to play $100 every drawing for the rest of your life, chances are still very high that you will never get your lucky numbers drawn. Knowing how to win the lottery is knowing how to play games that give you a realistic chance of getting at least some money back for your efforts. If you are looking to win some lotteries (in your lifetime), your best chance is by playing the Pick 3 lotto.

There are actually two basic ways of winning the Pick 3 lottery. Actually, some states offer a variety of other ways of winning (ie. if two of the three numbers are drawn in the same order). But will stick to the two most common ways of winning.

1. Winning the "straight" way. This is what most people think about when they hear of the Pick 3 lotto. This happens when the numbers drawn are identical to yours and in the exact order. Although this has the lowest odds of winning (1 in 1000), it always gives you the biggest payout at usually $500 for every $1 bet.

2. Winning the "box" way. In this game, all you need to do is have the same numbers drawn. It doesn't matter if they are in the same order as the numbers that were drawn. This makes it much easier to win. In fact, the odds of winning via "box" is around 1 in 167. But there's a give and take. Because the odds of winning are so much higher, the payout is much lower. For every dollar that you bet, the winning payout is around $75 to $80.

Now, you may be put off by the lower payout rates. $1000 and $80 is no where near as sexy as winning 20 million dollars. A thousand bucks isn't going to buy you the newest BMW, the mansion, or that dream vacation to Hawaii. But it may pay for a bill or two. You may even have a little left over to get yourself a small "treat." The key point to remember is not how much you can win, but which game gives you the greatest odds of actually winning. Statistically, you can play the mega-jackpot lotteries every drawing for the rest of your life and NEVER come close to winning. However, with the Pick 3 lotto, you at least have a fighting chance of choosing the correct numbers every once in a while (especially if you are trying to win the "box" way).

Knowing how to win the lottery is somewhat of a science. By knowing the probabilities of winning, you are in a much better position in choosing numbers that will actually be drawn. Not only that, but there are also "lottery systems" created by mathematicians who have analyzed the historical data of winning numbers that can give you an even further advantage. Winning the lottery is mostly luck, but there are tips and strategies that you should investigate to increase your odds of winning.