. >> we went to richard lustig who wrote the book on winning after the hitting the jackpot himself seven times. he says first do your homework. >> making sure the set or sets of numbers you play have never come up before. >> stephen: very important. numbers that win never win again. so don't play these numbers or any combination of these numbers, all right. you want to think outside the box. all right? instead, instead of these losers try the square root of 2, pi, trheven and while this is a made up number t has never won which means it's due. but abc news dug deeper. >> don't leave it to the machine. pick your own numbers. >> do not play quick pick. >> yes, a computer is just going to give you random numbers. but you have a random system. plus if you let the machine pick and you win legally you have to split your winnings with it. and you know he's just going to blow it on hookers and coke. so obviously this guy knows what he is talking about. but he's not the only one with a random chance at vice book. you want to buy my best-seller stephen colbert's how to win a coin toss every time.

. >> richard lustig is the first and only seven time grand prize winner. >> we go on cruises all the time. we're enjoying it. >> the first big hit, a $10,000. that was 18 years ago. >> and i won my second and third. on the fourth, that is when i knew. when i won no. 5 -- >> that is when people started saying, wait a minute. nobody can be that lucky. >> he says in this strategy, not luck that helps him win and he is sharing his secrets in a new book. set a budget. >> do not spend rimini. do not spend rent money. figure out what you can afford. >> even though the florida lottery says most winners come from quick picks, he said never buy them. >> the audience will say we need to buy them. have you ever won? >> number three. pick one lottery game and stick with it. >> take your budget and/10. if it is $100, you will buy 10 $10 tickets but by them in a row on the same game. >> play york same numbers every time. >> that is in my book. >> his tips apply to numbers games and insta-games. my budget is 10 bucks and i am putting his theories to the test. there is. i won five bucks, four, anothe

we went to richard lustig who literally wrote the book on winning after hitting the jackpot himself seven. >> going online and making sure the set or sets of number you play have never come up before. that's very important. >> reporter: don't leave it to the machine. pick your own numbers. >> do not play quick pick. >> reporter: he plays the lottery like a full-time job. though he's won big, he loses, too, but never stops playing. above all, he says commit to your numbers and stick with your strategy. >> what numbers you are playing and how often you play them. >> reporter: and stay cool. avoid lottery fever. when the jackpot gets this high, people spend too much on tickets. don't go crazy because no matter how many you buy, your odds are still the same. and if you believe it's only a matter of time before every number is drawn, grab a pencil. these numbers -- 12, 13, 41, 55 and 56 -- have not come up in the last 25 drawings. and this time might be their turn. now a warning. i bought a ticket with those very special numbers so if you did the same and we win, it looks like we'll have to sp

richard lustig has won seven times. cynthia stafford, you won how much? rd, nothing shabby. thank you both. we're having fun with it. richard, you have literally written a book about this. >> i have. it's called "learn how to increase your chances of winning the lottery." i'm teaching people how to play the lottery to have a chance to win. >> what are some suggestions? >> one regarding the jackpot. don't have lottery fever. don't spend a whole bunch of money you can't afford to spend. there will be a lot more losers saturday morning than winners. yes, buy tickets. otherwise you don't have a chance. but figure out your budget, stay within it. so saturday morning, you're not a winner, you don't have to figure out how to pay it back. >> you say don't play quick picks. >> don't play quick picks. >> that's so easy. >> people say, what do you mean, don't play quick picks. have you won yet? she did. >> did you? she won $112 million. >> i understand what he's saying. yeah, to me, there's -- two ways of winning. quick-pick it or choose numbers. >> didn't you choose

richard lustig knows something about hitting the jackpot. richard is a seven-time lottery winner.he has dated a supermodel yet. but, yeah, you heard me right. seven times richard has won. but before we start talking, richard, i want to be really clear to our viewers, just so there's no misunderstanding, that you are not a financial adviser or speaking as a financial expert here. you are just one damn lucky guy. so let's talk about how that luck developed, ok? this is your full "timtim timti playing the lottery. how have you gotten so lucky? >> first of all, i have dated a supermodel, my wife, for 30 years. and i hope she's watching, too. >> we should do a segment on how many years you have been married. now that is fantastic. >> that's right. >> that is some luck, my friend. probably with a little strategy as well. >> oh, i definitely use strategy when it comes to marriage, yes. now, let's talk about the word you just used there a couple of times, because it's an important word. luck or luck or whatever. this has nothing to do with luck. people who rely on luck are fooling themsel

we went to richard lustig, who wrote the book on winning, after hitting the jackpot himself seven timesays, first, do your home work. >> making sure the set or sets of numbers you play have never come up before. that's pretty important. >> reporter: don't leave it to the machine. pick your own numbers. >> do not play quick picks. >> reporter: lustig plays the lottery like a full-time job. while he's won big, he loses, too. but he never stops playing. above all, commit to your numbers and stick with your strategy. >> what numbers to play and how often to play them. >> reporter: and stay cool. avoid lottery fever. when the jackpot gets this high, people spend too much on tickets. don't go crazy. no matter how many you buy, your odds are the same. and if you believe it's only a matter of time before every number is drawn, grab a pencil. these numbers, 12, 13, 41, 55 and 56, have not come up in the last 25 drawings. and this time might be their turn. the drawing is tonight. robin and george, good luck. >> thank you. >> 12, 13, 41, 55, 56. >>> coming up on "gma," manhunt in the mountains. th

richard lustig wrote a book on beating the odds.s won the lottery seven times and is worth millions. his trick for the mega millions draw -- research the numbers. >> if seven numbers have come up before, you don't want to play it again. >> reporter: but before getting too excited, we asked some statistics professors. the truth is every set of numbers has the same odds of being drawn each time. >> this is still random. anything could happen. any number could come up again. >> reporter: which leads us to more sage advice. >> the more tickets you buy the better your chances are of winning. but don't buy more than you can afford. >> reporter: because the truth is, just like you, i'm going to lose. you don't think my chances are that good, do you? >> you want me to be honest? >> reporter: you can be honest with me. >> no, i don't think your chances are very good at all. >> reporter: well, at least we'll have plenty of company. there are some tips from lottery officials for the winner. here they are. sign the back of the ticket, get a law