50p every three weeks, a million every 100000 years (bananalotto.co.uk)

Member Name: stmatth

Product:	bananalotto.co.uk
Date:	15/09/00 (44 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A cheque every 3 weeks (in average)

Disadvantages: Not much money

Don't be so surprised to get a cheque from Bananalotto! It's quite normal.

Bananalotto is one of those internet lotteries where you can play for free - their revenue comes from advertisers. After you have signed up, you can play three times a day. As in the National Lottery, you choose 6 numbers out of 49, plus one "Banana number". To confirm your entry, you then have to click on an advertising banner and visit a website. With a fast internet connection, and if you don't look at the advertisers' websites, you can place all your bets in a minute.

If you match more than 3 numbers, you win - but for the 1 million pounds, you need all 6 correct numbers AND the Banana number. Obviously, the chances of getting the million are very small. Indeed, because you also have to match the Banana number, your chances are considerably (43 times) smaller than in the National Lottery. So, if you are only interested in the big price, then forget it. However, for as few as 3 right numbers you get a cheque - it's only 50p, but they DO send you the cheque. Whether it's worth it, is your decision, but it might be helpful if you know your odds of winning:

3 correct: gives you 50p, and your chances are 1/57. So, if you play three times every day (the maximum), then you can expect a cheque every three weeks in average (19 days with 3 tickets gives you 57).

4 correct: gives you £5.-, your chances are 1/1032. A cheque once a year in average.

5 correct: prize: £50.-. Chances: 1/54200. A cheque every 50 years.

6 correct, prize £100,000.- Chances: 1/14 Million. A cheque every 12000 years...

6 correct plus Banananumber: £ 1 Million. Chances: 1/602 Million. There was this Neanderthal man the other day .....

So, in fact, you will get a cheque from them quite frequently - but it's only 50p. I have been playing for a month and received two cheques. No surprise there. But don't reasonably
expect much more. And, of course, if you don't play every day, you have to wait longer before you win...

But at the end: The whole fun is completely free, so if you don't have much else to do, and if you have a cheap internet connection, why not? You can expect your regular cheque of 50p, and perhaps a fiver occasionally. And of course, it is always possible, just possible....

However, I would probably not use it if I had to pay for my internet connection, or if my connection was slower. And writing dooyoo opinions is much more profitable!

-- Update (19.12.2000) ---
They now changed the rules so that you can only play once a day instead of three times. Therefore you have to wait three times as long before you win...

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