Who Should Use Compare States
The Compare States tool is built for players who regularly buy lottery tickets in more than one state — for example, someone who lives near a state border and shops in both, or a traveler who picks up tickets in multiple states. It is also useful for researchers and data enthusiasts who want to understand whether neighboring states show correlated digit patterns, or whether each state's lottery operates as a statistically independent system.
Selecting States to Compare
The page has two (or more) state selector dropdowns at the top. Use the first dropdown to choose your primary state and the second to choose the comparison state. After selecting both, choose your game type (typically Pick 3 or Pick 4, since those games exist in most states) and a time window. Changing any selector automatically refreshes all comparison panels below without requiring you to click a separate search button.
Frequency Distribution Comparison
The frequency panel shows side-by-side bar charts: on the left, the digit frequency distribution for State A; on the right, the same chart for State B. Both charts use the same vertical scale, making visual comparison straightforward. Digits where the bars are noticeably different heights between states are where patterns diverge. A reference line at the expected frequency (10% for each digit in a 0–9 pick) appears on both charts.
- Bars above the line: That digit is over-represented in draws over the selected time window.
- Bars below the line: The digit is under-represented.
- Nearly equal bars on both sides: The digit behaves similarly in both states.
Hot and Cold Comparison
Below the frequency charts, the Hot & Cold comparison section shows colored digit badges for each state. Digits that appear hot (green) in both states simultaneously are candidates for multi-state play. Digits that are hot in one state but cold in the other represent divergent patterns — the two lotteries are behaving differently for those numbers over the selected window.
Gap Analysis
The average gap table shows, for each digit, the average number of draws between appearances in State A versus State B. A lower average gap means that digit cycles through more frequently. Significant differences in average gap between states for the same digit are statistically interesting — they can arise from differences in draw volume (twice-daily vs once-daily) or genuine frequency variations in the draw history.
What Similarities and Differences Mean
High similarity between two states' distributions does not mean they are connected — each state uses independent physical or RNG draw equipment. Similarities are statistical coincidences over the selected time window and will look different over a different period. That said, if two states consistently show similar hot/cold profiles over rolling windows, the Compare States tool will surface that pattern, giving you a data point to factor into multi-state play strategies.
Disclaimer: This tool is for informational and entertainment purposes only. Lottery draws are random events and past results do not predict future outcomes. Play responsibly.