What Are Long-Gap Numbers?
A long-gap number is one that has not appeared in more drawings than its statistical average would suggest. Every number in a lottery pool has an expected frequency based on the pool size and how many numbers are drawn. When a number's gap — the count of consecutive draws since it last appeared — exceeds two to three times the average, it is commonly called "cold" or labeled with a long current gap. Tracking these gaps is a core part of lottery number analysis.
CA$H 5 (5/37)
In CA$H 5, each number has a 5/37 = 13.5% chance of appearing per draw. The average gap is about 7.4 draws. With nightly drawings (roughly 365 per year), CA$H 5 generates strong data volume. A number absent for 18 or more draws is in long-gap territory, and at 25 or more draws absent, it is well past the statistical baseline. The smaller pool of 37 numbers means cold streaks tend to resolve faster than in larger-pool games.
Hoosier Lotto (6/46)
Hoosier Lotto draws 6 numbers from 46, giving each number a 6/46 = 13% chance per draw. The average gap is roughly 7.7 draws. However, Hoosier Lotto only draws twice per week (Wednesday and Saturday), so gaps accumulate more slowly in calendar time. A number absent for 20 or more draws represents roughly two and a half months of absence and is worth watching. The +PLUS drawing uses the same pool and can be tracked separately.
Daily 3 and Daily 4
For digit games, each digit (0-9) has a 1-in-10 chance per position per draw. With two draws per day, the data accumulates rapidly. A digit absent from a specific position for 25 or more draws is cold. Because Daily 3 and Daily 4 have separate midday and evening draws, you can analyze each draw time independently for more targeted insights. The SUPERBALL number adds an extra data point per draw that can also be tracked.
Powerball and Mega Millions
Powerball draws 5 from 69 in the main pool, giving each number roughly a 1-in-14 chance per draw. The average gap is about 14 draws. A main-pool number absent for 40 or more draws has a long current gap. The Powerball bonus ball (1-26) has an average gap of 26 draws. Mega Millions follows a similar pattern with 5 from 70 and a Mega Ball from 1 to 24.
The Gambler's Fallacy
Gap analysis is a historical pattern tool, not a forecasting system. Each lottery draw is independent — the machine does not track which numbers are "due." A number absent for 50 draws has the same probability of appearing in the next draw as one that appeared yesterday. Use gap data to understand historical distribution patterns, but remember that past gaps do not influence future outcomes.
How to Find Long-Gap Numbers
Use our Hot & Cold Numbers tool to see which numbers are currently cold for any Indiana game. The tool ranks every number by recency and frequency with exact gap counts. For deeper analysis, the Frequency Analysis tool lets you filter by date range to spot numbers with long current gaps within specific windows. Visit the Indiana lottery dashboard to start analyzing all Hoosier Lottery games.
DrawAnalytics is an informational service. We do not sell predictions or guarantee outcomes. Lottery drawings are random — past results do not predict future drawings. Play responsibly. 1-800-GAMBLER.