How to Make and Use Ghost Leg Lottery - Paper and Online Instructions
Have you ever sat down with paper and pen and thought, "Wait, how do I actually draw a ghost leg lottery?" How many vertical lines do you need? Where do the horizontal rungs connect? Surprisingly few people remember the correct steps.
This article walks you through how to create a ghost leg lottery on paper step by step, and also covers how to use the online version. For the history and mathematical principles behind the ghost leg lottery, see this article.
How to Make a Ghost Leg Lottery on Paper
All you need is paper and a pen. Decide on the participants' names and the outcomes (roles, prizes, etc.) in advance. Here is an example with 5 people.
Step 1: Draw the Vertical Lines
Draw vertical lines equal to the number of participants, evenly spaced. A spacing of about 2 to 3 cm works well.
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Step 2: Write Participant Names at the Top
Write each participant's name above their vertical line.
Tanaka Sato Suzuki Yamada Takahashi
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Step 3: Add Horizontal Rungs
Connect adjacent vertical lines with horizontal rungs. The more rungs you add, the harder the result is to predict, and the fairer the outcome. Be careful that rungs do not cross each other.
Tanaka Sato Suzuki Yamada Takahashi
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|-----+ | | | <- Rung 1
| | |-----+ | <- Rung 2
| |-----+ | | <- Rung 3
| | | |------+ <- Rung 4
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To ensure fairness when adding rungs, have each participant add rungs randomly. You can use dice to determine positions or draw numbers from an envelope, preventing anyone from manipulating the result.
Step 4: Write Outcomes at the Bottom
Write the outcomes below each vertical line.
Tanaka Sato Suzuki Yamada Takahashi
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|-----+ | | |
| | |-----+ |
| |-----+ | |
| | | |------+
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A B C D E
A=Minutes, B=Facilitator, C=Timekeeper, D=Note-taker, E=None
Step 5: Trace the Lines
Each participant traces their line from top to bottom. When you encounter a horizontal rung, you must move sideways to the adjacent line and continue downward from there. If there is no rung, continue straight down.
Tanaka
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|-----+ <- Rung encountered, move right
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B
Result: Tanaka -> B (Facilitator)
Trace the lines for all participants, and the results are determined.
Common Mistakes
Several mistakes tend to occur when making a ghost leg lottery on paper.
The most frequent mistake is having a rung span three or more vertical lines. Each rung must connect exactly two adjacent lines only.
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|---+---+ <- Three lines connected (wrong)
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The correct approach is to draw separate rungs for each pair of lines.
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|---+ | <- OK (only two lines connected)
| |---+ <- OK
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Another common issue is rungs that are not fully connected. Make sure each rung reaches all the way to the adjacent line.
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|-- -| <- Not connected (wrong)
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|-------+ <- Fully connected (correct)
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If a vertical line is broken midway, that participant cannot reach any result. Always draw vertical lines as a single continuous line from top to bottom.
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| <- Line disappears midway (wrong)
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| | <- Continuous from top to bottom (correct)
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How to Use the Online Version
Try Amida-san Free Now
Once you are comfortable with the paper method, try the online version. For groups of 10 or more or remote settings, the online version is far more efficient. Here we introduce the steps using Amida-san. No registration is required, and it supports up to 299 participants.
First, go to Amida-san and click "Create Event." Enter an event name (e.g., "Today's Role Assignment") and set the outcomes (goals). Enter each role you want to assign, such as Minutes, Facilitator, Timekeeper, etc.
When you create the event, a URL is generated. Share this URL with participants via chat or email. Each participant accesses the URL from their phone or PC and taps "Add Rung" to add horizontal rungs. Once everyone has added their rungs, click "Start Drawing" and the lines are traced automatically, displaying the results.
Results are stored via URL for 180 days, making it convenient to check later. No need to photograph or file anything like you would with paper.
The online version has additional benefits. Since all participants contribute to adding rungs, no one can manipulate the result. It works during remote meetings on Zoom or Teams. For more details, see the article on lottery tools for Zoom meetings. The 3D presentation option ($5.99) can also be used to liven up events.
Choosing Between Paper and Online
The simplest way to choose between paper and online is by group size and location.
In schools, paper works well when students (such as elementary schoolers) do not have devices. Drawing the lines by hand also has educational value. On the other hand, for university seminar assignments or high school group divisions with larger numbers and remote participants, online is more convenient. See also fair decision-making in schools and university seminar assignment.
In the workplace, paper works for small in-person meetings. For remote meetings or large events (50+ people), online is essential. See also fair role assignment methods and company event lotteries.
Among family and friends, for groups of 3 to 5 people, gathering around a paper ghost leg lottery is itself a fun social activity. For groups of 10 or more friends, sharing a URL via LINE or other messaging apps is easier.
For events and parties, the handmade charm of paper works well at small scale, but as events grow larger, the ease of managing things online becomes more valuable. See also wedding reception lotteries and online prize drawing best practices.
Tips for Best Results
Add plenty of horizontal rungs. With paper ghost leg lotteries, more rungs make the result harder to predict, but mathematically fair results require a number of rungs proportional to the square of the number of participants (for 10 people, that means hundreds of rungs). With Amida-san, the algorithm guarantees fairness, so you do not need to worry about the number of rungs.
Having all participants add rungs increases transparency. With paper, each person adds 1 to 3 rungs. Online, use Amida-san's rung-adding feature. When everyone is involved, suspicions of "someone rigged it" are prevented.
Do not forget to record the results. For paper, take a photo with your phone. For online, save the URL. If a dispute arises later, having a record makes verification possible.
Before starting the drawing, explain the rules to all participants. Share how the ghost leg works, how to add rungs, and that everyone agrees to the result. This prevents complaints and disputes after the drawing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is paper or online better?
For 5 people or fewer all in the same place, paper is simple. For 10 or more people, or when remote participants are involved, an online tool like Amida-san is better suited.
How many rungs should I add?
With paper ghost leg lotteries, more rungs make the result harder to predict. However, a mathematically fair distribution requires a number of rungs proportional to the square of participants -- even for small groups, this means hundreds. With Amida-san, the algorithm guarantees fairness, so you can run a fair drawing without worrying about the number of rungs.
Can a ghost leg lottery be rigged?
With paper, it is theoretically possible by deliberately placing rungs. With Amida-san, since all participants add rungs, no single person can control the outcome.
Summary
A ghost leg lottery is a simple drawing method that only requires paper and a pen. Draw vertical lines, write participant names and outcomes, add horizontal rungs, and trace the lines to fairly determine results. For larger groups or remote settings, use Amida-san to let everyone participate just by sharing a URL.
Give the ghost leg lottery a try for your next role assignment or drawing.
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