<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/lottery" rel="" target="" title="Lottery"><span>Lottery</span></a><span> insiders have revealed the six most common myths fooling everyday </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/australia" rel="" target="" title="Australians"><span>Australians</span></a><span>, from theories on how to improve your chances of winning to tax confusion.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Lott spokesperson Eliza Wregg has debunked some of these misconceptions, urging Australians not be fooled, particularly in the lead-up to April Fools' Day.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Calling our major prize winners every day and breaking the winning news, I've certainly heard all sorts of theories," Wregg said.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>LIVE UPDATES:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-iran-war-live-updates-march-31-donald-trump-latest-world-news-headlines/dff4c600-1131-4ea1-9c36-c24ba0df6fcb"><strong><span>This government has revived a 77-year-old law to combat price gouging</span></strong></a><span></span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span> </span><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/jackie-o-files-lawsuit-against-arn-media/9defc00f-9e9c-4734-b7e6-387fecf4485c" rel="" target="" title="Jackie O files $82.25 million lawsuit after radio contract torn up"><strong><span>Jackie O files $82.25 million lawsuit after radio contract torn up</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Of course, trying to break the news to someone who's won big on April Fools' Day comes with its own challenges.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"A Hobart couple enjoyed the ultimate April Fools' Day surprise when they received a phone call from us revealing they'd won $775,000 in TattsLotto.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/lotto-news-lottery-insiders-debunk-the-most-common-lottery-myths-fooling-australians/9dd20384-6c60-4150-94ec-bdca0116a29f" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"April Fools' Day is a timely reminder that lotteries are games of chance.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"There are no shortcuts to winning big."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>Myth one - Major lottery prizes are taxed</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Major lottery prizes in Australia are tax free, which means winners receive the full prize amount.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>According to the Australian Taxation Office, Australians must </span><a href="https://www.ato.gov.au/individuals-and-families/income-deductions-offsets-and-records/income-you-must-declare/scholarships-prizes-and-awards/prizes-and-awards" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="declare certain prizes and awards"><span>declare certain prizes and awards</span></a><span> in their tax return.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>This includes the value of any prizes or benefits you receive from a prize draw or lottery run by your bank, building society, credit union and investment body.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>However you don't need to declare prizes won in "ordinary lotteries" such as lotto draws and raffles.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>Myth two - You're more likely to be struck by lightning</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The odds of winning an Australian lotto jackpot are slightly better than people expect.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>About 500 Australians won a major jackpot last year, while only a handful were struck by lightning.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>Myth three - Lottery winners have to go public</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>If you win the lottery, you'll be able to keep it a secret.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Personal information about winners is never disclosed without their consent and photos of the winners are rarely shared.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/reserve-bank-recommends-removing-card-fees-surcharges-in-new-report/b1946a2c-ea63-48bf-b1d4-676dc696f369" rel="" target="" title="Card surcharge ban 'doesn't pass the pub test', AHA boss says"><strong><span>Card surcharge ban 'doesn't pass the pub test', AHA boss says</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/makeup-giant-mecca-fined-almost-600000-failing-to-lodge-audited-financial-reports/e660ded3-ee73-46e7-aed9-6c69af6e4b25" rel="" target="" title="Australian beauty giant hit with $600k fine"><strong><span>Australian beauty giant hit with $600k fine</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>Myth four - Some lottery numbers are luckier than others</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Lotteries are games of chance and each number has an equal chance of being drawn.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Lottery balls are regularly weighed at the Australian government's National Measurement Institute to prevent any number bias.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><span>Myth five - Jackpots are always won by one person</span></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>While some people do win the entire prize, many of Australia's biggest jackpots have been shared wins.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Last year 15 Queensland residents shared a $70 million Oz Lotto jackpot, while four Australians split a $60 million Powerball prize.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>Myth six - Buying your tickets online gives you a higher chance</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Buying your ticket online or in store has no impact on your chance of winning.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>According to the Lott, 40 per cent of people buy a ticket online, while 60 per cent purchase a ticket in store, with major prize winners coming from both.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><strong><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a></li></ul></div></div>