Random draw from column with different values

[theroof]

Hello, I appreciate if anyone could steer me in the right direction. This may have been asked previously so I am interested to better understand the terminology or functions required to solve.

I have a list of entries into a competition with a summary of the number of entries of each participant in a separate column. I then seek to randomly choose (x) winners from the list considering the total number. A winner can only be selected from the list once. In the example I have attached Sam, Fiona and Barbara maybe chosen at random with weight of their selection determined by the numbers of their entries.

I appreciate your time
Chris (theRoof)

[AliGW]

Welcome to the forum.

If you wish the draw to be based on weightings, then it cannot be entirely random. Can you elaborate?

[theroof]

Thank you.
I possible have the terminology incorrect. I have updated my example to show how I currently solve this problem, this is a very manual process and very interested in learning how code or a script my solve.

In my example there are 8 Names with a varied number of entries from 112 to 542.
I would like to randomly select a winner based on a value from 1 to 2658. (entries)
If the randomly selected value was 1643 the winner would be Barbara as she has the entry values between 1428 and 1660.
I appreciate your time, thank you.

Chris (theRoof)

[AliGW]

So only one random number will be generated and that number will determine the winner? In the opening post you said winners, so I’m still somewhat unsure - is it one or more?

[josephteh]

Random number in C11=RANDBETWEEN(C2,C9)
Winner =INDEX(A2:A9,MATCH(LOOKUP(C11,C2:C9),C2:C9,0)+IF(ISNUMBER(MATCH(C11,C2:C9,0)),0,1))

[Phuocam]

Try this:

=INDEX(A2:A9,MATCH(RANDBETWEEN(1,SUM(B2:B9))-1,SUMIF(OFFSET(B1,0,0,ROW(B1:B8),1),">=0")))

Enter with Ctrl+Shift+Enter.

[josephteh]

random number in c11=randbetween(c2,c9)
winner =index(a2:a9,match(lookup(c11,c2:c9),c2:c9,0)+if(isnumber(match(c11,c2:c9,0)),0,1))

Formula for C11 should be =RANDBETWEEN(1,C9)

[wk9128]

Array formula

[theroof]

Excellent, thank you so very much for your time.

[wk9128]

You're Welcome. Thank You for the feedback and for marking the thread as 'Solved'