Thousands of Texans enjoy the thrill of playing the Texas Lottery. Many of us dream of winning big, thinking a single ticket could change our lives for the better. While it has for a select few, as you might imagine, hitting the jackpot is not an easy thing to do.

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Lotteries may have high payouts but the probabilities of winning are low. I'm not a "numbers" person. So when it comes to the Texas Lottery and all its games, I wanted things broken down to see what the chances actually are. Below is what I found out.

LOOK: FIND OUT YOUR REAL ODDS OF WINNING THESE 8 TEXAS LOTTERY GAMES

Portrait of a very happy young man in a rain of money
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Lotto Texas

Here's the big one. You pick 6 numbers out of 54. What are your chances of winning the jackpot? A whopping 1 in 25,827,165. To put that in focus, you're more likely to be struck by lightning.

Texas Two Step

A bit easier, but not much. You pick 4 numbers between 1 and 35, and a bonus ball. Your odds? 1 in 1,832,600. Better but still very slim.

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Cash Five

You choose 5 numbers from 1 to 35. The chances? 1 in 324,632. Better, but still tough.

Pick 3

You pick a 3-digit number. Odds depend on the style of play, but they can be as good as 1 in 1,000. That's not too shabby.

Photo: Canva
Photo: Canva
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Daily 4

Pick a 4-digit number. Again, the odds depend on how you play, but your chance of winning can go down to 1 in 10,000.

All or Nothing

Pick 12 numbers from 1 to 24. If you get all or none right, you win. Odds for each are 1 in 2,704,156.

Photo: Canva
Photo: Canva
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Scratch-Offs

These are instant games with various odds. You'll find these easier to win but the prizes are usually smaller.

Mega Millions and Powerball

These aren't Texas-specific games but are still big deals. The odds of winning either are 1 in over 300 million. You really have to be the right person at the right time.

Mega Millions Prize Passes $1 Billion
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So what does this all mean? Imagine filling a stadium with people, each holding a different lottery ticket for Lotto Texas. You would need about 25 additional stadiums to hold enough people to guarantee one jackpot winner. For Mega Millions or Powerball, you'd need to fill thousands of stadiums.

Buying a ticket can be fun, and the way I see it, someone's got to win eventually. Just remember that although it could happen, your chances of winning are extremely low. Always play for fun, and don't spend more than you can afford to lose. It's not a ticket to easy street. Think of it more like buying a dream for a couple of bucks.

In the event you do strike it rich, there are actions you need to take to protect yourself and your winnings. Scroll below to find out.

How To Protect Yourself And Your Money If You Win The Lottery

Whether you've recently won the lottery (or are planning to!), there are some things you should do right away to protect not only yourself but also your money. 

Gallery Credit: Traci Taylor

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