23

'O scemo — the simpleton

No full dossier yet for 23. The Smorfia line below is its place in the Neapolitan book of dreams; more dossiers are written over time.

Smorfia napoletana'O scemothe simpleton

Cultural interest — does not change your odds.

The reality check

What the machines actually did with 23, across every lottery this site holds a long record for.

Powerball117of 103 expected+1.48σ
UK Lotto109of 119 expected−0.99σ
EuroMillions118of 104 expected+1.41σ
SuperEnalotto140of 161 expected−1.71σ
Set for Life366of 378 expected−0.66σ

Across 5 lotteries that hold a 23, its average deviation from expectation is −0.09σ. Statistically ordinary, everywhere.

The one thing a belief about a number can measurably do is change how many people play it — and a jackpot shared more ways is worth less to each winner. That is the only real consequence, and it is arithmetic rather than folklore.