A deep dive into how the world’s biggest lottery quietly became an advantage play.
Still think it’s impossible?
In 1729, Voltaire and mathematician Charles-Marie de La Condamine found a flaw in the French state lottery.
They bought almost every ticket and split the profit — Voltaire became a millionaire and left mathematics for philosophy.
In the 1990s, Romanian economist Stefan Mandel printed every possible ticket and won 14 jackpots, including $27 million in the Virginia Lotto in 1992.
That same year, an Irish syndicate bought 1.6 million tickets out of 1.94 million possible.
They won £1.1 million, and Ireland banned bulk ticket purchases shortly after.
Still think it’s impossible?
In 1729, Voltaire and mathematician Charles-Marie de La Condamine found a flaw in the French state lottery.
They bought almost every ticket and split the profit — Voltaire became a millionaire and left mathematics for philosophy.
In the 1990s, Romanian economist Stefan Mandel printed every possible ticket and won 14 jackpots, including $27 million in the Virginia Lotto in 1992.
That same year, an Irish syndicate bought 1.6 million tickets out of 1.94 million possible.
They won £1.1 million, and Ireland banned bulk ticket purchases shortly after.