Pick 3 Details

[Highlights | How to Play | Odds | Prizes & Strategy | Number Generator]

Highlights

  • $1, $2, $5 or $10 per play.
  • Play up to 10 draws in advance.
  • Match the three-digit number drawn to win.
  • Tickets are sold until 9 p.m. (Eastern Time) for that day's draw.

    How to Play

    1. Mark one digit (from 0 to 9) in each of the three columns on a PICK-3 Selection Slip on up to five boards and indicate if you want Straight Play (match the three-digit number drawn in exact order to win) or Box Play (match the three-digit number drawn in any order to win). You can also choose the Quick Pick option and the lottery terminal will select your numbers.
    2. Determine how many consecutive days to play (up to 10) and the amount you want to spend on each selection per day ($1, $2, $5 or $10).
    3. In the box provided, mark either Straight Play or Box Play.
    4. Match numbers drawn to win.
    ENCORE is also available. You can purchase ENCORE up to 10 times per ticket.


    Odds of Winning
    Method Possibilities Probability Odds
    (approximate)
    Straight Play
    Player's Straight Play three-digit number matches the three-digit winning number drawn in the exact order.     		1 0.1% 1 in 1,000
     
    Box Play
    Player's Box Play three-digit number matches the three digit winning number drawn in any order:
    Player's number has three different digits (e.g., 125) 6 0.6% 1 in 166.7
    Player's number has two identical digits (e.g., 322) 3 0.3% 1 in 333.3

    Prizes

    Fifty per cent of each draw's ticket sales is reserved for prizes. Pick-3 prizes are determined on a shared basis. A special payout calculation determines the dollar amount of Straight Play and Box Play prizes. Included in this calculation is the prize pool amount and the number of Straight Play and Box Play winners. Players who play $2, $5 or $10 a day multiply the applicable prize value.

    Number of Prizes

    The number of prizes in each draw varies depending on the number of players and the popularity of the selections. The more popular the numbers drawn, the greater the number of winners and the smaller the prize share.

    Strategies

  • Avoid playing the popular numbers, e.g., 007, 123, 649, or 911. The payout is smaller than average for these numbers because too many people pick them.
  • Choose the $1 per day option, instead of $2, $5 or $10. If you want to spend more than $1, select more days or more numbers.
  • If you don't play everyday, play on the day when the prize pool tends to be bigger. Analyze the history of prize payouts on LotteryBuddy.com. For example, more people may play on a Saturday or when there is a big jackpot for the national lotteries.
  • Email us your strategies that work, or if you disagree with the above suggestions.

    Straight Play

    There are 1,000 possible numbers: 10 with all three digits identical, 720 with three unique digits, and 270 with two identical & one unigue.

  • Avoid playing the three identical digits, i.e., 000, 111, 222, 333, 444, 555, 666, 777, 888 and 999.
  • Straight Play has a slightly higher average payout than Box Play - 50.18% vs. 49.06%.

    Box Play

    There are 90 ways to play a 3-way Box (two identical & one unigue digit). These sets can be ordered three different ways (for a total of 270).

    There are 120 ways to play a 6-way Box (three different digits). Each can be written 6 different ways (for a total of 720).

  • Playing a 6-way Box has a higher payout than a 3-way Box - 52.14% vs. 45.36%.

    Random Number Generator

    If you have a JavaScript-enabled browser, click the button to choose your Pick-3 number
    (000 - 999).

    Frequency of Winning Numbers Drawn

    From Inception (January 16, 1989) to February 18, 1998

    The number 7 has been drawn the most times - 919.

    Number TotalGraph
    0 877
    1 878
    2 816
    3 818
    4 862
    5 827
    6 809
    7 919
    8 870
    9 916

    Results in Lottery Buddy ® are unofficial. [Top of page]