by Gary Dreifus

The more I thought about this challenge, the more it seemed that one had to deconstruct it. Instead of worrying about forcing six numbers, consider how you would force ONE number. The easiest and most reliable way using ping-pong balls (which I believe should be used in keeping with the lottery theme) is to use a forcing or change bag. Since ten possible numbers could be used, there must be nine separate sections in the change bag. Difficult when we think of the commercial change bags we currently use, but not so hard if you use a large paper bag from the grocery store. Imagine an over-sized card index. Using a divider from a duplicate brown paper bag, make each section. Since you, the performer is the only one handling the bag, you could write the number one through zero on the dividers. Then have several ping-pong balls of each denomination placed in the proper section. To avoid any paranoia, you could have six of each numbered ball in every section. I really believe this is over-kill. The odds are very much against each volunteer from the audience choosing the same number. Three or four is all you probably need of each numeral.

Pick up the bag, explaining that there are several balls of each integer. You can even shake it several times. Then holding the bag above each volunteers head, have him or her reach inside. You have adequate time in waiting for the assistant to come up to the stage, asking their name and the review which digit is next.