Six numbers in a different order: is that a new lotto combination?
If the game is an unordered six-number set, the same six numbers are not new combinations just arranged differently. The six different items have 720 possible orderings, but they only contain one set. This is why it is easy to overcount the coverage count in the spreadsheet.
Look at the members, not just the string
| It’s a fake record | Sorted comparison key |
|---|---|
| 01-08-14-22-31-42 | 01,08,14,22,31,42 |
| 42-31-22-14-08-01 | 01,08,14,22,31,42 |
| 01-08-14-22-31-41 | 01,08,14,22,31,41 |
Where does 720 come from?
Six can be placed in the first position, five in the second, up to one in the last: 6×5×4×3×2×1 = 720. That’s the arrangements of a set, not 720 distinct six-number selections from the entire game range.
The LottoMatik Game Manual, definition of combinations distinguishes between set-based combinations and order-sensitive permutations. Do not use this sorting method in the ordered digit game.
Two counts on the ledger
If there are two billed entries of the same set, there are two records and a unique combination. When the third row is newly set, the coverage is two unique combinations. If there is an actual award, the treatment of duplicate winning entries must be read in the applicable prize rules; that cannot be obtained from sorting.
Keep the original
Do not overwrite the raw string with the sorted key. The raw record is evidence of what you saw; the key is own processing for comparison. Include the game and draw identity in the duplicate key to avoid matching the same numbers from two different draws.
Related reading
For other formats, read bingo and lottery hub. Naa library of guides the topics are more detailed; the nustar has a general overview of the site.
Methodology: documentary reading and own example or calculation. Sources checked 6 October 2026; no ticket purchased or draw played for the guide. Hypothetical models are not live results, predictions or claim approvals.