News writer
The lottery captivates millions of players on a daily basis. It offers a tantalizing glimpse into a life that could be transformed overnight. Yes, the odds of winning it all are astronomically low. However, many people cling to personal omens and superstitions as signs of impending fortune.
Whether it's seeing recurring numbers over and over again, experiencing vivid dreams, or encountering age-old symbols of luck, these signs often fuel the hope that a big win is coming soon. Today, we are looking at some of these “winning signs” and the reasons behind them.
Dreaming of the winning numbers
Many people feel that dreams are the windows into the subconscious, and for some, they have been eerily prophetic. Whether it's dreaming of winning the lottery or actually dreaming about the numbers to play in the lottery, people will take that dream and run with it, all the way to their nearest lottery retailer to buy tickets.
Those dreams have paid off for lucky players too, particularly this grandma in Maryland. In 2008, she was tight on money and prayed for a miracle. She then proceeded to have two separate dreams where five numbers came to her.
The lucky woman decided to play those numbers — 7, 11, 33, 35, and 39 — and ended up winning $50,000 that year. However, she didn't stop there. She kept on playing those same numbers, and in 2019, she won another $50,000.
It didn't stop there, though. After winning some smaller prizes along the way, the grandma matched all the numbers again in the Bonus Match 5 game to win $50,000 for the third time in 2023.
Finding a four-leaf clover
The four-leaf clover has long been a universal symbol of good luck. Stumbling upon one is rare. Because of that, if someone happens to find one, they take it as a sign of impending good fortune.
While there is no direct correlation between finding a four-leaf clover and winning the lottery, that optimism it instills can be the push someone needs to try their luck and buy some lottery tickets.
Spotting a shooting star
We often associate seeing a shooting star with making a wish. Some people believe that seeing a shooting star is a sign of forthcoming luck.
Either way, if you see a shooting star, make a wish to win the lottery. And if you happen to see a shooting star while on your way to buy a lottery ticket, it may just be destiny for you.
Seeing 11:11 on the clock
If you ever notice 11:11 on the clock, then it's supposed to be a cosmic signal or a nudge from the universe. Others believe it's a sign to focus on your own desires, perhaps even a hint that a fortune is about to align in your favor.
Of course, there is no backing to this belief, but it often gives people hope. You are also supposed to make a wish when you see 11:11, and it will come true.
That is exactly what happened in my own world. I kept seeing 11:11 and number sequences on the clock, like 1:11, 10:10, or 12:12. I thought it was a sign and kept wishing to win big the next time I went to the casino.
This, of course, was all happening in November, and November 11th (11/11) came around and I just took it all as a sign to go to the casino. It paid off too, as I was playing the slot machines and BOOM — I hit the grand jackpot on the machine I was playing that day and won $12,000!
Birds pooping on you
Well, this is an odd one, and I guess I should have played the lottery back in the day. It may not sound like fun, but many people believe that having a bird poop on you is a sign of impending wealth.
Back in the day, I was sitting around my sister's backyard with the family, and of everyone there, a bird pooped right on me. Yes, I was frustrated at the time, but I didn't realize I should have taken it as a cue to try my luck with a lottery ticket.
Itchy palms
It's an age-old superstition, but it states that an itchy palm means money is on the way. How does it know? Who knows, but if my palms are itching, I am going out and buying a lottery ticket.
That is exactly what happened to Mary Shammas, a Brooklyn grandma who was riding the bus when her left palm just started itching like crazy. She knew the superstition, so the 73-year-old woman jumped off the bus and headed to the store to buy a lottery ticket.
That superstition and itchy palm paid off for her. She bought a Mega Millions ticket and ended up winning the $64 million jackpot in 2010.
Going on a winning streak
Have you ever gone on a winning streak and wanted to ride it out because you felt like the big one was coming next? This is where you win some smaller amounts, but you keep winning and thinking you are going to win the jackpot on the next ticket.
While it's never happened to me, it did happen to a man in Michigan back in 2018. He turned two small scratch-off wins into a Fast Cash jackpot win.
Mark Malta stopped at a gas station in Commerce Township and decided to buy a scratch-off ticket. He ended up winning $10, so he took those winnings and bought a Fast Cash ticket.
From there, he won $15 and decided to buy two more Fast Cash tickets. One of those tickets happened to be a jackpot winner, with Malta winning $325,184. So, he turned a winning streak into a jackpot-winning day.
Unusual weather patterns
Did you know that changes in the weather could be a sign of good luck? Some people interpret sudden weather changes, like a rainbow appearing on a clear day, as a sign of good fortune.
While meteorologists might be able to explain this one better, we are going to run with it and take it as a cue to test our luck.
Big life events coinciding with lottery wins
If you have something major taking place in your life, you may want to run out and get a lottery ticket also. Major life events sometimes align with unexpected windfalls.
This happened to a couple in Ontario who had just delivered their new baby after a high-risk pregnancy. The husband was at the airport waiting to pick up his mother when his wife texted him to buy a Lotto Max ticket. She had seen that the jackpot was up to $70 million, so she thought they would try their luck.
The husband, a United States citizen, had never purchased a lottery ticket in Canada before. However, the first time was a charm for him and his wife, who ended up matching all of the winning numbers in that drawing to win the $70 million jackpot. A new baby followed by a lottery win; their lives were completely changed within a few days.
Bizarre animal encounters
It's not just the birds pooping on you but unusual interactions with animals can bring good fortune also. These encounters would be with animals that are considered omens in various cultures, like deer or crows.
For example, some might consider a black cat crossing your path as bad luck. However, some might interpret it the opposite way, viewing it as a prompt to take a chance on luck.
Having that gut feeling
Do you ever just have that gut feeling like something is going to happen, whether it be good or bad? Many people will have that gut feeling as it pertains to the lottery, which drives them to head out and buy a ticket.
By trusting this intuition, especially when it feels overwhelmingly positive, can lead to an unexpected jackpot. That is exactly what happened to a Washington man in June 2024, who trusted his gut and it turned into a $2 million win.
The Seattle man stopped at a gas station to buy some lottery tickets. He normally plays Powerball, but he had a good “gut feeling,” and he decided to splurge and buy a $30 scratch-off ticket. That gut feeling panned out for him as she scratched the ticket and won the top prize of $2 million.
Penny brings luck
We all know that saying, “Find a penny, pick it up, all day long, you'll have good luck!” Not going to lie, I have sometimes caught myself eyeing the ground for a lucky penny to try my luck with.
This superstition has led many people to think that stumbling upon a coin is an indicator of financial blessings on the horizon.
Unexplained positive energy or mood
Have you ever just had this unshakable positive feeling, or experienced a day where everything seems to go your way? That could be the universe aligning in your favor.
That's how it happened for Misael Cruz, who won $4 million playing Powerball in California. He had a feeling that day when he bought the tickets, he was going to win, but then some well wishes from the store clerk sealed them for him.
Cruz told lottery officials that the store clerk wished him good luck after buying the tickets and that positive energy left him with a good feeling for days that he had beaten insurmountable odds to win. And he did, as he matched five of the six winning numbers to win $3.99 million.
Is it luck, delusion, or just a good story?
While logic states that lottery numbers are drawn randomly, our own superstitions and “winning signs” make us feel a sense of connection to a potential win. Whether it's a dream, a gut feeling, or a four-leaf clover, these signs bring some excitement and hope to the lottery experience. And who knows, maybe one day those signs will lead to the big jackpot, and you will have one heck of a story to tell.
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