---
title: "Lotto"
id: 72386
type: "computer_media"
slug: "lotto-3"
url: "http://localhost/computer_media/lotto-3/"
markdown_url: "http://localhost/computer_media/lotto-3.md"
published_at: "2026-10-23T07:47:10+00:00"
modified_at: "2026-10-23T07:47:10+00:00"
author: "David Anderson"
featured_image:
  url: "http://localhost/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/lottohill-1.png"
excerpt: "Pick your lottery numbers by moving an arrow cursor around a grid of 1 to 44 and pressing ENTER, with repeated picks flagged and rejected."
category:
  - name: "Archived Media"
    slug: "archived-media"
    taxonomy: "category"
    url: "http://localhost/category/archived-media/"
post_tag:
  - name: "Downloadable"
    slug: "downloadable"
    taxonomy: "post_tag"
    url: "http://localhost/tag/downloadable/"
  - name: "TS 2068"
    slug: "ts2068"
    taxonomy: "post_tag"
    url: "http://localhost/tag/ts2068/"
model:
  - name: "Timex/Sinclair 2068"
    slug: "ts-2068"
    taxonomy: "model"
    url: "http://localhost/model/ts-2068/"
indiv:
  - name: "Paul Hill"
    slug: "paul-hill"
    taxonomy: "indiv"
    url: "http://localhost/indiv/paul-hill/"
genre:
  - name: "Gambling"
    slug: "gambling"
    taxonomy: "genre"
    url: "http://localhost/type/gambling/"
media_contents:
  - id: 72439
    title: "SINCUS Exchange Tape 104"
    type: "computer_media"
    url: "http://localhost/computer_media/sincus-exchange-tape-104/"
media_type: "Program"
programmers:
  - name: "Paul Hill"
    slug: "paul-hill"
    taxonomy: "indiv"
    url: "http://localhost/indiv/paul-hill/"
download_url: "https://archive.org/download/timex-sinclair-software-archive/Lotto%20%281985%29%28Hill%2C%20Paul%29%28TS2068%29%28US%29%28Program%29.zip"
tsrun_member: "Lotto (1985)(Hill, Paul)(TS2068)(US)(Program)/Lotto (1985)(Hill, Paul)(TS2068)(US)(Program).tap"
mediadate: "1985"
images:
  - url: "http://localhost/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/lottohill-1.png"
  - url: "http://localhost/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/lottohill-2.png"
related_content:
  - id: 24807
    title: "Sinclair Computer Users Society (SINCUS)"
    type: "usergroup"
    url: "http://localhost/usergroup/sinclair-computer-users-society-sincus/"
media_type_tags: "Gambling"
license: false
---

# Lotto

Picks six lottery numbers from a grid of 1 to 44. The numbers are printed in four rows of eleven, and an arrow cursor moves under them with the cursor keys `5`–`8`. ENTER takes the number above the cursor, highlights it in the grid and adds it to the “Your pick of Lotto numbers” line. Choosing a number twice flashes REPEAT and asks again. The program runs two sets of six and then stops.

A REM credits Paul Hill of Johnson City, New York, February 1985, and names SINCUS. The same program is also on a SINCUS exchange-tape disk.

## Program Analysis

### Structure

- Lines 10–70: fill `m(4,11)` with the numbers 1 to 44.
- Lines 104–170: print the grid on rows 2, 4, 6 and 8, three columns per number.
- Lines 202–292: the cursor loop. `PAUSE 0` waits for a key, then `INKEY$` is read while the key is still down to move the cursor or catch ENTER.
- Lines 300–360: store the pick in `s$(6,2)`, check it against the earlier picks (subroutine 400) and show it.
- Lines 365–390: clear the screen and run the second set, then `STOP`.

### Picking a number

Line 340 turns the cursor position back into an array index: the row is `(r-1)/2` and the column is `c/30*10+1`, which is `c/3+1` for the three-character spacing.

## Notable Techniques

- Cursor movement uses Boolean arithmetic, such as `LET c=c+3*((INKEY$="8" AND c<30)-(INKEY$="5" AND c>0))`.
- `LET n=PI/PI` sets n to 1 without a numeric literal.

## Potential Issues

- Line 490 jumps to line 206, which does not exist, so execution carries on at line 220 and reprints the prompt. It works, but only by accident.
- Only the first set of numbers stays on screen long enough to read. The screen is cleared as soon as the sixth pick of a set is made.

This program came from an Oliger (JLO SAFE) disk, a copy of the SNUG library disk 13/14, and was converted to load from tape. The program needed no changes other than its autostart line. It was tested in ZEsarUX, picking a set of numbers.

## Source Code

```
    2 REM "Lotto by PaulHill,Feb. 1985 Johnson City,NY (SINCUS)
    5 CLS 
    8 REM ++set array of 44++
   10 DIM m(4,11)
   15 LET n=PI/PI
   20 FOR a=1 TO 4
   30 FOR b=1 TO 11
   40 LET m(a,b)=n
   50 LET n=n+1
   60 NEXT b
   70 NEXT a
  100 REM ++place numbers++
  104 FOR t=1 TO 2
  105 LET r=2
  120 FOR a=1 TO 4
  125 LET c=0
  130 FOR b=1 TO 11
  140 PRINT AT r,c;m(a,b)
  143 LET c=c+3
  148 IF c>31 THEN LET c=0
  150 NEXT b
  160 LET r=r+2
  170 NEXT a
  200 REM ++move cursor "^"++
  202 DIM s$(6,2)
  205 FOR s=1 TO 6
  220 PRINT AT 19,0;"Use Arrow KEYS to move cursor-^"
  225 PRINT """ENTER"" KEY to select number"
  280 LET r=3: LET c=0: LET a$="^"
  281 PRINT AT r,c;a$: PAUSE 0: PRINT AT r,c;" "
  282 LET c=c+3*((INKEY$="8" AND c<30)-(INKEY$="5" AND c>0))
  284 LET r=r+2*((INKEY$="6" AND r<9)-(INKEY$="7" AND r>3))
  289 IF INKEY$=CHR$ 13 THEN GO TO 300
  292 GO TO 281
  300 REM ++save number in s$++
  320 PRINT AT r,c;a$
  340 LET s$(s, TO 2)=STR$ m((r-1)/2,(c/30*10+1))
  342 IF s>=2 THEN GO SUB 400
  345 PRINT AT 15,0; INVERSE 1;"Your pick of Lotto numbers"
  350 PRINT AT 16,s*3;s$(s, TO 2);" ";
  352 PRINT AT r-1,c; BRIGHT 1; INVERSE 1;s$(s, TO 2)
  355 PRINT AT r,c;" "
  356 LET r=3: LET c=0
  360 NEXT s
  365 CLS 
  370 NEXT t
  390 STOP 
  400 REM ++chek for repete++
  410 FOR w=1 TO s-1
  420 IF s$(s, TO 2)=s$(w, TO 2) THEN GO TO 450
  430 NEXT w
  440 RETURN 
  450 REM ++ reset for repete ++
  460 PRINT AT r,c;" "
  470 PRINT FLASH 1;AT 15,13;"REPEAT"
  490 GO TO 206
```