Hardest Lottery(s) — Page 3

I somehow happen to have really good luck with online lotteries (I've won Hamilton 3 times... don't ask me how) but I still really dislike them. I get that they're easier and have a bigger reach but there was something so special about a community gathering in one place. It was exciting! Entering online isn't fun at all. And while winning is fun however it's done, it's less so online.



The lotteries definitely need to fix their system to prevent people from winning and not using the tickets. I've heard since increasing Hamilton lotto seats to 46 there is an average of 6-8 that are sold to the cancellation line PER SHOW! I like the idea of taking credit card information ahead of time. I also like what TodayTix does for its lottos. TodayTix a handful of entrees to be on a waitlist. These people do not receive a "Congratulations" or "Try Again" email until all of the winners have claimed their tickets. Once all winners claimed their tickets then those on the waitlist will receive a "Try Again" email. If a winner does not claim seats in the alotted time, TodayTix then reaches out to the top of the waitlist until all of the lotto seats are claimed. All shows should have a similar mechanism.

I live 4 hours away from New York and I just enter a bunch of lotteries whenever I am there visiting for a weekend and see what I get. Here is what I have won and their seat locations for the last 3 years-ish:

Aladdin (in person lottery): balcony (#4 name called)

American in Paris: rear side orchestra row U

Curious Incident: second row side orchestra (very good seat)

Chicago (rush): first row side orchestra, lined up at 9:40am

Fun Home: an amazing seat somewhere in fourth row 200s

Gents Guide: extreme side orchestra row K

Groundhogs day (rush): got there at 9:50am during the previews, got extreme right orchestra row D

Lion King (digital lottery): rear centerish mezzanine

On the Town: Rear center orchestra row Z

School of Rock: side orchestra, two seats not next to eachother

Something Rotten: we stayed at a hotel near the theatre and the moment we won, I raced to theatre to get the centermost first row seats

Almost all these shows were Saturday matinees for two people. My experience says its harder to win Saturday evening. And I've never gotten Hamilton...

Chicken_Flavor said: "Can someone remind me what shows still have in-person lotteries?



"

I feel like Wicked might be the only one? Maybe BOM? Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

gleek4114 said: "Chicken_Flavor said: "Can someone remind me what shows still have in-person lotteries?



"

I feel like Wicked might be the only one? Maybe BOM? Someone correct me if I'm wrong.



"

That is correct, Wicked and Book of Mormon are the only shows that still have in person lottery. I feel like Hamilton would still have it if it wasn't too disruptive...

I won the Lion King digital lotto twice (two wins on two entries) - one was for Sunday evening show last October and the other for a Wednesday evening last week...less busy times may have helped.

I won the sunset bouvelard lotto on my first try as well. I was told by other fans while waiting in the SOR rush line last Sunday that it is dead easy to win and that they give out really good tickets, so thanks to that tip...I entered right before the lotto closed and won (also won on my hubby's account)

I have also won some of the today's tix lottos....and the digital rush for sweat.

i entered pretty much every other digital lotto during my visit last week and lost all of them.

ccbway said: "One question I've always had about lotteries, especially the difficult to win ones like Hamilton, Dear Evan Hansen, or apparently, Anastasia - is whether it's better to enter the lotteries for a single seat or for 2?""

I figure there is always a chance that the way things work, sometimes they need someone who only needs one to finish off the winners, and if you put 2, you aren't going to get picked. Also, if you only need one, let someone else win.

ccbway said: "haterobics said: "ccbway said: "One question I've always had about lotteries, especially the difficult to win ones like Hamilton, Dear Evan Hansen, or apparently, Anastasia - is whether it's better to enter the lotteries for a single seat or for 2?""

I figure there is always a chance that the way things work, sometimes they need someone who only needs one to finish off the winners, and if you put 2, you aren't going to get picked. Also, if you only need one, let someone else win.


That's what I always think as well, but I was curious whether or not such a small chance ever really has any effect or if everyone is really entering for 2 everytime. It's not like if I won for 2 that I wouldn't use both tickets - more that I would be willing to go alone if it somehow made it easier to win.

"

Can't you check the box that says you'll take less than 2 if you win, but still choose 2?

I have a question about the HAMILTON lottery. Just a reality check. Everyone I know who is over 60 and who enters the lottery faithfully almost on a daily basis for months has not won. And everyone I know who enters once or twice and is under 30 wins. I know that it is a random lottery (whatever that means) but someone cure my paranoia and tell me that they have seen senior citizens in the front row with any frequency. Again - this is my experience and I just want confirmation that it is an outlier, so don't freak out on me, please.

Thanks.

That's awesome!



I finally managed to win SOR last night and was Orchestra Row J, good seats. Took me over a year to win that one for some reason! Crazy how many open seats there were in orchestra, too.



Great show... man, those kids are talented!

Chicken_Flavor said: "Do you know approximately how many people enter the hamilton lottery? It must be lower now that the original cast left...



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According to their FAQ it's more than 10,000 people a day...

That's another issue. A lot of much older and younger people are entering the lottery now who couldn't get to the theatre beforehand. It's good for them, but sucks for the rest of us because of a lot more competition. Digital lottery just really sucks all the way around for us now.

The "us" I was talking about are the people on this thread who agreed with me and who would do in-person lottery all the time.