Jerry and Marge Selbee, a retired couple from the United States, have been consistently winning jackpots for almost a decade, thanks to a legal loophole they claim to have discovered in 2003. Using basic arithmetic, the couple managed to crack the ultimate code for winning and accumulated over $26 million (approximately Rs 200 crore) in lottery prizes. The Selbees stumbled upon a new lottery game called Winfall after selling their convenience store. Jerry noticed a unique feature, the ‘rolldown,’ in the game’s brochure. Unlike other lotteries where the jackpot grows until someone claims it, Winfall’s jackpot would roll down if it reached $5 million without a winner, distributing the money among those who matched fewer numbers. This unique feature became the key to the Selbees’ successful lottery strategy.
Jerry, who has a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Western Michigan University, quickly calculated the probabilities mentally and realised that purchasing a certain number of tickets would ensure a profit. In a conversation with 60 Minutes, he explained, “If I played $1100, mathematically I’d have one four-number winner – that’s 1000 bucks. I divided 1100 by six instead of 57, because I did a mental quick dirty, and I came up with 18. So I knew I’d have either 18 or 19 three-number winners, and that’s 50 bucks each. At 18, I got $1000 for a four-number winner, and I got 18 three-number winners worth $50 each, so that’s 900 bucks. So I got $1100 invested and I’ve got a $1900 return. It’s just basic arithmetic."
Soon the Winfall game in Michigan was closed, but they came to know about a lottery game in Massachusetts that had similar rules. After collecting millions, the couple decided to use the money towards home renovations and supporting the education expenses of their grandchildren and great grandchildren. Despite the humongous wealth, the couple followed a simple lifestyle, as they preferred eating in their local restaurant, never bought luxury cars and never went on vacations.
As per The Independent reports, Jerry initially experimented by investing $3,600 in Winfall tickets, earning approximately $6,300 in winnings. Following this success, he bet $8,000 and again doubled his money game. Once when the man shared the lottery’s secret with his wife, they went on to play these games using over hundreds of thousands of dollars. Approximately 7 times annually, the couple dedicated roughly 10 days, investing around 10 hours daily, carefully organising their lottery tickets.
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