Lottery Tips from a Seven-Time Winner

Millions of Americans are buying lottery tickets as the jackpot hits an all-time high of over $500 million. INSIDE EDITION gets some secrets to winning from the man who has won the lottery seven times.

Lottery fever is gripping the USA!

The biggest prize ever—a half a billion dollars—is up for grabs and everyone is scrambling for a ticket.

The drawing takes place this Friday. The odds of winning are astronomical—1 in 175 million! But there is one man who says you can increase your odds big-time, and he should know—he's won the lottery 7 times!

"Luck has nothing to do with this! People who rely on luck are fooling themselves!" said Richard Lustig.

Richard Lustig has won millions of dollars by using a system he says is a sure bet. He's even written a book, Learn How to Increase Your Chances of Winning the Lottery.

"People don't know how to play—and that's what I'm teaching them with my method," says Lustig.

So here are Lustig's tips:

First, choose your own numbers—don't let the machine pick them for you.

"Don't play quick picks—let me repeat that one more time: don't play quick picks. I know they're saying, 'What do you mean don't play quick picks? I always play quick picks!' Have you won yet?" said Lustig.

Next, don't pick all odd numbers or all even numbers.

Don't play patterns or diagonals on your lottery card.

And do your research to make sure your numbers haven't been drawn before.

"It's a simple process, you can go online and see if your set of numbers is good or bad," said Lustig.

"But how many tickets should you buy? Lustig re-invests a good portion of his lottery winnings.

"So is the trick then just to always be in the game?" asked INSIDE EDITION's Les Trent.

"Well, yes, it's like the old saying—you've got to be in it to win it. Being in it is important, but being in it correctly is the thing," said Lustig.