Lightning strike or casino jackpot - which is more likely?

After all, every player knows that it is very unlikely that they, of all people, will win a jackpot in a casino or online casino. But if it happens that people are struck by lightning, then there's a good chance that winning a jackpot could change your life in one fell swoop, isn't there? But which of the two is more likely?

What are the odds of winning a casino jackpot?

The odds of winning a casino slot machine jackpot depend on the individual circumstances of each jackpot. Unfortunately, the RTP values are displayed on the machines so that players know what the average payout is for a given bet. However, the probability of winning the jackpot is not stated. What is certain is that sooner or later the jackpot will be hit and paid out in full to the lucky winner. The land-based casino or online casino has no stake in the jackpot. In the case of the popular Mega Moolah jackpot slot, this happens on average every 8 weeks. Of course, this is just a statistical average. It is possible for the jackpot to be hit again immediately after a player wins it.

In the classic 6aus49 lotto, the probability of a six with an additional number is about 1 in 140 million. This gives a probability of 0.0000007 percent. This means that you are more likely to be struck by lightning than win the lottery jackpot.

• The odds of winning a jackpot are relatively low.
• The winnings in the jackpots are impressively high, making them very attractive despite the low probability of winning.
• The casino does not take a fee from jackpot deposits. The gaming provider's revenue is generated from regular play on the jackpot slot.

What is the probability of being struck by lightning?

Statistically, the probability of being struck by lightning is approximately 1 in 20 million. If we convert this into a percentage, the probability is 0.000005%. In addition, most people survive the strike. Nevertheless, an average of 4 people die from lightning strikes in Germany every year.

According to Statista, most lightning strikes in recent years have been in Baden-Württemberg. Nevertheless, there is no significantly higher risk of being struck by lightning here. After all, many other factors play a role: anyone who is outdoors during a storm naturally has a significantly higher probability than someone who is generally indoors in such a situation. In this respect, the personal risk of being struck by lightning can be significantly influenced by observing basic safety rules.

Many other dangers are much more likely than being struck by lightning

While it is not impossible to be struck by lightning, there are some things that are much more likely than you might think. This is illustrated by the following examples:

1. Falling down stairs: Every year, over 600,000 people in Germany have an accident on the stairs, and over 1,000 of these are fatal. This means that the probability of dying as a result of a staircase accident is 0.0012%, which is 240 times higher than the risk of being struck by lightning.
2. Road accidents: The number of road deaths has fallen significantly in recent years, but still stands at almost 3,000 a year. This means that the chance of dying in a road accident is about 750 times greater than the risk of being struck by lightning.
3. Homicide: The number of statistically recorded homicides has fallen in recent decades, as has the number of road deaths. Around 230 people are murdered every year. This means that you are 57 times more likely to be murdered than to be killed by lightning.

At the end of the day, given the choice, we'd rather hit the jackpot.

Lightning vs. casino jackpot - which is more likely?

It is true that you are more likely to be struck by lightning than to win a million-dollar jackpot in a single game. However, considering that we can influence the odds in both cases, it makes sense to stay indoors on thundery days and try your hand at one of the tempting jackpots. After all, if you don't play, you can't win, and if you protect yourself with a lightning rod, you reduce the already low risk of death from lightning.

The exact odds of winning depend on the jackpot. The good news is that the jackpot is paid out in full, as the casino's cut is already deducted. So there is a lot to be said for trying your luck at jackpot games. However, your personal budget must always be taken into account, as playing for real money should never lead to financial problems.

Image source: https://pixabay.com/de/photos/blitz-gewitter-superzelle-wetter-2568381/