Odds Are, Stunning Coincidences Can Be Expected
Lotteries Show That Through Sheer Numbers, the Uncanny Happens; in Bulgaria, the Same Combination Won Twice in One Week
Customers waited in line in New York for the $390 million Mega Millions jackpot in 2007, the biggest in U.S. history.
History isn't supposed to repeat itself in the lottery. But earlier this month, a 1-in-5.2 million shot came through in Bulgaria, as the same six winning numbers turned up in two consecutive drawings. And 18 Bulgarians profited by betting on recent history: They chose the winning combination of numbers from the drawing four days earlier -- which hadn't been selected by anyone the first time around -- and split the pot.
The coincidence drew international news coverage and sparked a probe by a government-appointed commission. Bulgarian officials ultimately chalked it up to coincidence.
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