Track the spread, distribution, and changes of winning lotto numbers over time. Identify clustering patterns and see how the number range widens or narrows across different draws.
Mega Millions Charts
Distribution, Spread, and Variability
In lottery analysis, the distribution, spread, and variability of winning numbers describe how the numbers are spaced out and how widely they differ from draw to draw. Sometimes they’re close together, sometimes they’re far apart. By examining measures such as quartiles, ranges, and number gaps, we gain insight into the balance and clustering of numbers rather than just their frequency. Quartiles show how numbers divide into lower, middle, and upper sections; the range highlights the gap between the smallest and largest values; and average gaps reveal how closely numbers group together. Studying these metrics is significant because it helps detect patterns of randomness, and spot unusual clustering
Below are the box plot of draw results, histogram of interquartile range, range, and number gaps. These charts provide a clearer statistical picture of how lotto draws behave over time. It covers the winning Mega Millions numbers from Dec. 20, 2024 to Sep. 5, 2025 , across 75 draws over time.
Box Plot of Lotto Draw Results Over Time
The chart below displays the statistical distribution, spread, or variability of winning Mega Millions numbers. Each box represents the middle 50% of numbers from the first quartile (Q1) to the third quartile (Q3), while the line inside the box marks the median winning number for that period. The “whiskers” extend to the minimum and maximum numbers drawn, and any points outside these whiskers indicate unusually low or high results relative to other draws. By tracking how the quartiles and range shift over time, the chart provides insight into the variability and spread of winning numbers, which can be used to visually assess the randomness and consistency of lotto draws.
Across all draws, the middle 50% of numbers were widely spread, indicating high variability. Overall, higher numbers tended to dominate the draws. Number distribution across ranges was generally balanced.
Histogram of Draw Interquartile Ranges
The histogram of interquartile ranges (IQR) focuses on the spread of the middle 50% of lotto numbers within each combination. By dividing these IQR values into bins, the histogram shows whether draws are typically compact or widely varied in their core distribution. This measure avoids extreme outliers and reveals the consistency of number spacing.
The histogram of interquartile ranges (IQR) of lotto draws reveals that the most frequent IQR interval is 9-17, 27-35 with 18 occurrences, suggesting a strong clustering in this interval. In contrast, the least frequent IQR interval is 54-62, 63-67 with 0 occurrences, showing it is rarely observed. This indicates a noticeable concentration of draws around certain IQR intervals. Overall, the distribution shows clustering around specific IQR intervals, indicating that draws tend to gravitate toward these values.
Histogram of Draw Ranges
The histogram of ranges illustrates how spread out lotto numbers are within combinations. The range is the difference between the highest and lowest number in each draw. By dividing the ranges into bins, we can detect whether lotto draws usually produce tightly packed numbers or widely spaced ones. This histogram is useful in examining the consistency of number spread across many draws.
The most frequent range is 49-57 with 22 occurrences, suggesting that combinations with this level of spread are the most common. In contrast, the least frequent range is 13-21 with 0 occurrences, indicating that draws falling into this spread are relatively rare. This points to a clear clustering of draws around certain range values. Overall, the distribution of ranges tends to cluster in certain spread intervals, showing that draws are more likely to fall within these specific ranges.
Histogram of Number Clustering
The histogram of average gaps measures the typical spacing between consecutive numbers in lotto draws. Each bin represents a range of average gaps, showing whether numbers tend to cluster closely together or spread evenly across the draw. This histogram helps analysts detect patterns in number spacing, complementing other perspectives such as sums and ranges.
The histogram of average gaps between consecutive numbers in lotto draws reveals that the most frequent gap interval is 13-15 with 21 occurrences, suggesting a strong clustering in this interval. In contrast, the least frequent gap interval is 1-3 with only 1 occurrences, showing it is rarely observed. This indicates a noticeable concentration of draws around certain gap intervals. Overall, the distribution shows clustering around specific gap intervals, indicating that draws tend to gravitate toward these values.
Format Changes in US Mega Millions Lottery
Since its inception in 1996, Mega Millions has undergone several changes in its number pool format, particularly in the main number set and the Mega Ball. Initially launched as “The Big Game,” the format started with selecting 5 numbers from a pool of 50 and 1 Mega Ball from a pool of 25 and expanded its number matrix several times in 2005, 2013, and 2017. in April 2025, the format was revised again, maintaining the 5/70 for the main numbers but slightly reducing the Mega Ball pool from 1/25 to 1/24. These adjustments over time have been aimed at balancing jackpot size, odds of winning, and overall game excitement.
| Period | Format | Mega Ball |
|---|---|---|
| September 6, 1996 – Launch as “The Big Game” | 5 of 50 | 1 of 25 |
| May 17, 2002 – Rebranded “The Big Game Mega Millions” | 5 of 52 | 1 of 52 |
| October 2002 – 2005 | 5 of 56 | 1 of 46 |
| October 18–22, 2013 | 5 of 75 | 1 of 15 |
| October 28–31, 2017 | 5 of 70 | 1 of 25 |
| April 8, 2025 | 5 of 70 | 1 of 24 |
How US Mega Millions Lotto Format Changes Affect Your Number Strategy.
These format changes have a direct impact on statistical analysis. Mixing frequency data across different formats is not advisable because each version of the game has a different number pool and probability structure.
For example, a number that appeared frequently in the 5/50 format may have done so due to higher individual draw probability, but that same frequency can be misleading in the 5/75 or 5/70 formats.
Therefore, for meaningful analysis, it’s essential to treat each format as its own distinct dataset. Analyzing trends or frequencies should be restricted to results from within the same format period, especially if the goal is to inform number selection in the current game structure.