The Mega Millions lottery is a popular multi-state lottery game in the United States. Players select five main numbers from 1 to 70 and one Mega Ball number from 1 to 25. To win the jackpot, players must match all six numbers drawn. With odds of 1 in 302,575,350, the Mega Millions jackpot frequently grows to over $100 million.
Given the game’s long history and frequency of drawings, many number combinations have been drawn. However, there are still some elusive numbers that have never appeared in a Mega Millions drawing. In this article, we will explore which main numbers and Mega Ball numbers have yet to be drawn.
Overview of Mega Millions Game
Mega Millions drawings are held twice weekly, on Tuesdays and Fridays, at 11:00 pm Eastern Time. At each drawing, five main numbers and the Mega Ball are randomly selected from two drawing machines.
The five main numbers are chosen from a pool of 70 white balls numbered 1 to 70. The Mega Ball is chosen from a separate pool of 25 yellow balls numbered 1 to 25.
Players can choose their own main numbers and Mega Ball number by picking five numbers from 1 to 70 and one number from 1 to 25. Tickets can be purchased for $2 per play.
To win the jackpot, players must match all five main numbers and the Mega Ball number. The starting guaranteed jackpot amount is $40 million, but it frequently climbs much higher before a winner is found.
There are also eight smaller prize tiers for matching some but not all of the winning numbers:
| Prize Level | Match | Odds | Prize Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Match 5 + Mega Ball | All 5 main numbers + Mega Ball | 1 in 302,575,350 | Jackpot |
| Match 5 | All 5 main numbers | 1 in 12,607,306 | $1,000,000 |
| Match 4 + Mega Ball | 4 main numbers + Mega Ball | 1 in 931,001 | $10,000 |
| Match 4 | 4 main numbers | 1 in 38,792 | $500 |
| Match 3 + Mega Ball | 3 main numbers + Mega Ball | 1 in 14,547 | $200 |
| Match 3 | 3 main numbers | 1 in 606 | $10 |
| Match 2 + Mega Ball | 2 main numbers + Mega Ball | 1 in 701 | $10 |
| Match 1 + Mega Ball | 1 main number + Mega Ball | 1 in 89 | $4 |
With over 1,000 drawings since the game began in 2002, many number combinations have been selected. But some elusive numbers still remain.
Main Numbers That Have Never Been Drawn
Out of the 70 main numbers, most have been drawn at some point over the game’s history. However, there are a few notable exceptions:
8 – This relatively low number has somehow managed to never appear, despite over 1,000 drawings.
13 – Considered an unlucky number, it seems to be living up to that reputation by not yet being drawn.
14 – One would expect this mid-range number to have come up by now, but it remains conspicuously absent from winning Mega Millions results.
23 – For whatever reason, this number in the twenties range has not made an appearance.
44 – Falling in the middle of the number pool, it’s a bit surprising that 44 hasn’t come up after so many drawings.
57 – Its neighbors 56 and 58 have both been drawn, but this number hasn’t joined them yet.
So while the vast majority of the 70 main numbers have been selected at some point, these 6 holdouts remain elusive, despite the law of probabilities suggesting they should have been chosen by now.
Mega Ball Numbers That Have Never Been Drawn
The Mega Ball number pool is much smaller, ranging from just 1 to 25. But there are still a few numbers that have never been selected:
3 – Falling near the top of the range, this low number has defied the odds and not yet been chosen.
12 – A seemingly random mid-range number that hasn’t yet appeared.
20 – Despite dozens and dozens of drawings, this number near the top quarter of the pool has not been picked.
So while the vast majority of the 25 Mega Ball numbers have been selected at some point, these 3 outliers have still not yet shown up in any drawing results since the game’s inception back in 2002.
Analysis of Never-Drawn Numbers
At first glance, the fact that these particular main numbers (8, 13, 14, 23, 44, 57) and Mega Ball numbers (3, 12, 20) have never been drawn seems like a statistical anomaly. There is no obvious reason why these numbers should be absent when their surrounding numbers have been selected.
The law of large numbers suggests that over many repetitions of a random process like lottery drawings, all numbers should approach their expected frequencies. Common main numbers like 7, 36, 40, and 62 have each been drawn over 60 times in Mega Millions history.
Given a large enough sample size, even unlikely numbers should eventually be expected to occur, and the discrepancies between the observed and expected counts of each number should decrease.
Of course, no number or combination inherently has a better or worse chance of being selected in each individual drawing. The fact that a number has come up more often in the past does not affect its probability for future drawings. So these never-drawn numbers are no more or less likely to be selected in the next drawing than any other number.
There are likely several reasons why these particular numbers have not yet been selected:
Insufficient sample size – With only around 1,000 Mega Millions drawings so far, it is still possible we have not yet seen enough repetitions for the probabilities to fully play out and the variation in counts to decrease. Over tens of thousands of future drawings, these numbers would be expected to be drawn.
Random chance – With so many numbers in play, a few are bound to emerge as statistical outliers just by chance alone, even with a large sample. Their absence could simply be due to random fluctuations rather than any meaningful factor.
Human psychology – Some players may avoid choosing certain numbers like 13 due to superstition, meaning they appear on fewer tickets and therefore have reduced chances of being selected. However, the effect of these behavioral choices is likely minimal.
Possibility of machine issues – While very unlikely given lottery drawing procedures, some defect or imbalance in the selection machines could theoretically favor or disfavor certain numbers, introducing a non-random influence. However, lottery tests would almost certainly detect such issues.
While the absence of these numbers so far is statistically noteworthy, there are several plausible explanations grounded in the nature of probability and random chance. As Mega Millions continues over many more years and drawings, the expectation is still that these elusive numbers will eventually join the winning sequence, even if that defies their pattern so far.
Impact on Players
For players, the fact that certain Mega Millions numbers have still never been drawn likely has minimal impact on strategy or chances of winning. Lottery drawings remain random, and numbers have no memory of past results.
Some players may be tempted to specifically play these overdue numbers, believing they are “due” to come up. However, that is a logical fallacy called the gambler’s fallacy. Their past absence has no bearing on the probability moving forward.
Other players may avoid the numbers out of a belief they are somehow unlucky or cursed. But that is also flawed reasoning, since the drawings are random and numbers have no inherent luck.
In reality, from a strategic standpoint, players have no advantage or disadvantage based on which numbers they choose, regardless of past frequencies. Playing a mix of hot, cold, overdue, or any other numbers confers no mathematical benefit in Lotto games like Mega Millions.
That said, some players may find it psychologically satisfying or motivating from a near-miss perspective to target the numbers that have not yet been drawn. Even if it doesn’t actually improve their odds, the perception of chasing elusive numbers may enhance the enjoyment and anticipation of playing. So from that non-mathematical perspective, the absence of certain numbers could factor into some players’ number selection methods.
Overall though, players should remember that Mega Millions drawings are random and that frequencies will likely eventually normalize as the sample size grows. There is no precise way to predict what numbers will hit or when these elusive ones will finally appear. For the best mathematical chance at winning, players should stick with whatever number selection method suits their style and intuition.
When Will the Missing Numbers Finally Be Drawn?
It’s impossible to say exactly when these conspicuously absent main and Mega Ball numbers will finally join the winning sequence. The random nature of lottery drawings means we cannot predict when a specific outcome will occur.
That said, simple probability indicates it is very unlikely these numbers will remain unselected forever. Assuming Mega Millions continues over many years and thousands more drawings, the expectation is that all numbers should approach their expected frequencies eventually.
For main numbers, with 70 possibilities and 2 drawings per week, each number could expect to be drawn approximately once every 7-8 weeks over the long run. The main numbers not yet drawn have already exceeded that timeframe.
For the Mega Ball, with just 25 possibilities, each number could expect to be drawn about once every 10-11 weeks on average over a long period. Again, the missing Mega Ball numbers have already gone longer than that span.
Viewed probabilistically, then, these elusive numbers are already overdue based on their expected frequencies in truly random drawings. Of course, that doesn’t affect their probability for any individual drawing – they are not “due” in that sense. But it suggests that unless the lottery process itself is somehow non-random, these numbers almost surely have to turn up eventually as the overall sample size increases into the many thousands of drawings.
No one can predict exactly when that will happen. It could be in the very next drawing, or it may not happen for months or even a couple years if variance remains high. But the most likely scenario is that over the next 1-2 years, these rare never-drawn numbers should find their way into the winning sequence at last.
For players, that means it could pay off to keep these unusual omissions on your radar. Tracking games and maintaining awareness of these statistical oddities may prove lucrative for Mega Millions fans over the longer term, as the laws of probability fight to correct these flukes. Being vigilant could allow you to finally catch these white whales when they breach at last.
Advice for Playing the Overdue Numbers
Here are a few tips if you want to specifically target these conspicuously absent numbers in your Mega Millions entries:
Stick to your usual budget – Don’t overspend or excessively wager chasing these numbers. Make sure you can sustain your lottery playing over the long run.
Be patient and persistent – Keep playing these numbers consistently over many draws for the best chance to catch them when they finally arrive.
Try different combinations – Don’t just play the missing numbers straight. Also try them paired with other hot or random numbers in different configurations to maximize your odds.
Think long term – It may take these numbers hundreds of drawings before they turn up. Don’t expect it to happen right away or give up too quickly.
Remember the odds are still low – Even targeting these unusual omissions, your overall chance of winning remains slim. Manage your expectations.
Have fun chasing the dream! – Ultimately the lottery is about entertainment. Don’t lose sight of the joy of playing while pursuing the jackpot.
The return of these long-absent numbers could happen at any time. They may continue to make us wait months or years longer still. But one thing is virtually certain – someday, somewhere, somehow these lottery white whales will finally have their moment in the sun when lady luck aligns.
Could you be the lucky player to finally cash in when one of these elusive numbers hits? It’s impossible to know, but keeping them on your radar and playing strategically gives you as good a chance as anyone. The $64 million question is when patience and probabilities will intersect at last!
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions about the Mega Millions numbers that have never been drawn:
How many main numbers have never been drawn?
As of this writing, 6 main numbers (8, 13, 14, 23, 44, 57) out of the pool of 70 have still never been selected in any Mega Millions drawing since the game began in 2002.
What are the most common main numbers?
The most frequently occurring main numbers are 40, 41, 50, 62, 68, and 56. These numbers have been drawn over 60 times each.
What main numbers are rarest besides the never-drawn ones?
Some other infrequently drawn main numbers include 2, 3, 4, 18, 33, 48 and 70, which have each come up less than 20 times.
How many Mega Ball numbers have never been picked?
Three Mega Ball numbers – 3, 12, and 20 – have still never been chosen out of the pool of 25 Mega Ball numbers.
When will one of these overdue numbers finally hit?
There’s no way to know exactly when a specific number will be picked. But basic probabilities indicate they should all eventually be drawn within the next few years if Mega Millions drawings continue as normal.
Should I specifically play the numbers that have never been drawn?
It can’t hurt to play them, but they don’t have any better mathematical odds than other numbers. It just comes down to player preference and intuition.
Conclusion
A few Main Ball and Mega Ball numbers still remain conspicuously absent from Mega Millions results after many years and over 1,000 drawings. Basic probabilities suggest these elusive numbers should eventually be selected as the sample size grows. When they finally make their long-awaited debut is anyone’s guess and no number can be predicted to hit at a certain time. But their inevitable return offers an intriguing statistical quirk and potential opportunity for sharp players. With Mega Millions mania reaching a fever pitch in recent years as jackpots skyrocket, the currently unwritten story of when these white whales will breach keeps lottery fans watching and dreaming.
