Article content
Stefan Mandel, a Romanian economist, became famous for managing to win the lottery an incredible 14 times. Thanks to his sharp mind and unconventional approach to the lottery system, he found a way to win jackpots using statistics and mathematics. This story is also proof that even brilliant methods can eventually be banned.
How did it all start?
Mandel, who was from Romania, spent years searching for a way to guarantee a win in the lottery. He eventually discovered a weakness in the system – if the jackpot was high enough, it paid off to buy all possible combinations of numbers. He devised a plan by which he could be guaranteed to win if he managed to purchase all tickets with possible combinations.
In Romania he made his first attempt and together with friends invested 5.5 million HUF (Hungarian forints) in buying tickets. The result was that he won the jackpot and earned 1 million HUF. This successful strategy allowed him to move to Australia, where he further refined his method.
Success in Australia
In Australia Mandel perfected his technique. He created a system of computers and printers that could automatically fill out all the tickets. Thanks to this system he managed to win the Australian lottery 12 times. However, his successes did not go unnoticed, and soon a new rule was introduced that prohibited bulk purchases and automatic filling of tickets.
Journey to the USA and the final jackpot
When his system was restricted in Australia, Mandel turned to the United States, where he looked for lotteries whose jackpots exceeded the investment needed to buy all combinations of tickets. Together with his team of employees he created a company that printed tickets and invested in purchasing 7 million tickets, thereby ensuring that he covered all possible combinations.
The result was that he won not only the main jackpot but also many smaller prizes. Although his actions were legal under the laws at the time, it caused a great uproar and led to legal disputes. In the end his method was prevented and banned in most countries, including the USA.
Conclusion
By his approach Stefan Mandel proved that even a lottery that seems to be purely about luck can be influenced by mathematics and strategic thinking. However, his method was so successful that it led to changes in lottery rules around the world. Although his system was ultimately banned, his story remains a fascinating example of how clever strategies and mathematics can overcome even seemingly insurmountable odds.
