The real odds of winning when gambling
All forms of gambling are designed to make profits for the gambling industry. You can expect to lose because the odds always favour the house.
It’s important to be realistic about the odds.
What are the real odds of winning?
These are the real odds of winning in some popular gambling activities:
- top prize on a poker machine (playing maximum lines): up to 1 in 7,000,000
- the trifecta in a 13-horse race: 1 in 1,716
- the 10 number Keno jackpot (one game): 1 in 8,911,711
- 1st division in Gold Lotto (one game): 1 in 8,145,060
- 1st division in Powerball (one game): 1 in 134,490,400
- the top prize on a $5 Crossword Instant Scratch-Its game: 1 in 1,700,000.
Sports betting and racing
For sports betting and racing, the odds change depending on the team or horse, past performances and conditions on the day. The TAB or sports betting agency will display the odds.
Find out about the ‘Forget the bet. Enjoy the game.’ campaign.
Lotteries (includes Gold Lotto, Powerball and Instant Scratch-Its)
Golden Casket has information about the odds of winning for each of its lottery products. These are available in-store or on the Golden Casket website.
Casino games
Casinos provide information about the odds of their table games. Collect a brochure at the customer information desk to find out more.
Electronic gaming machines
In Queensland, electronic gaming machines (or pokies) pay out, on average, between 85% and 92% to gamblers over the life of the machine. This means 8% to 15% of turnover is retained by gambling venues.
You can’t expect to get 85 cents for every dollar you bet in a single session—this return is achieved over the life of the machine, which is usually 3 to 4 years.
You can’t ever predict the result. These factors won’t influence the outcome:
- the last time the machine paid out
- anything you or anyone else does to the machine
- how much you bet
- how long you’ve been playing
- past and future plays
- the time of day.
More information
More information about the odds of winning is in the ‘Know the facts before you play’ player information brochure.