Pick 3 Overview
Pick 3 is a popular and exciting lottery game offered by the New Jersey Lottery, providing players with the chance to win cash prizes of up to $500 twice daily. This game is straightforward, fun, and offers multiple ways to play and win, making it a favorite among lottery enthusiasts in the Garden State.
Drawings occur twice daily. The Midday drawing takes place around 12:59 PM EST, and the Evening drawing happens at approximately 7:57 PM EST. Be sure to purchase your tickets before 12:53 PM for the Midday drawing and 7:53 PM for the Evening drawing to be included in the next draw. If you miss these times, your ticket will be entered into the following draw.
How to Play NJ Pick 3
In order to enter Pick 3, you need to select three numbers between 0 and 9 or opt for the Quick Pick option if you want your numbers to be randomly generated.
You then need to choose a bet type. There are five ways to play Pick-3 with FIREBALL. The starting amount of the wager is $0.50 and it can go up to $5.
Lastly, you must pick your drawing: Midday, Evening, or both.
Want to use the same numbers for multiple drawings? Go for the Multi Draw option to play for up to seven consecutive draws.
There are five ways to play Pick-3:
- Straight: Win if your numbers match the winning numbers in the exact order.
- Box: Win if your numbers match the winning numbers in any order. Play options include 3-Way Box or 6-Way Box.
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Straight/Box: This popular option combines Straight and Box bets. Win both the Straight and Box prizes by matching the numbers in the exact order, or win the Box prize by matching the numbers in any order.
The minimum play costs $1 (50 cents for Straight and 50 cents for Box). With FIREBALL, the minimum bet is $2. -
Wheel: Play all possible Straight combinations of your three numbers. Win if your numbers match in any order. This combination play type multiplies the base wager amount by the number of potential combinations.
Play as a 3-Way Wheel by selecting a three-digit number with two identical digits (e.g., 112), or as a 6-Way Wheel by choosing a three-digit number with three unique digits (e.g., 123). - Pair Bets: Select two numbers. Win by matching the first two numbers (Front Pair), the last two numbers (Back Pair), or the first and last numbers (Split Pair).
Fireball
The FIREBALL option gives you more chances to win by replacing one of the winning Pick-3 numbers with the FIREBALL number. If your numbers match any of the new FIREBALL winning combinations, you win a prize! Adding FIREBALL doubles the cost of your wagers.
Instant Match
For an additional $1 per play, you can add the Instant Match option for a chance to win up to $500 instantly!
Prizes and Odds
Below is an overview of the prizes and the odds of winning in each prize tier:
| Play Style | Pick | Match | $0.50 Bet Prize | $1 Bet Prize | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Straight | Any 3 digits | 3 digits in exact order | $250 | $500 | 1 in 1,000 |
| Box: 3-Way | 1 pair + 1 different number | 3 digits in any order | $80 | $160 | 1 in 333 |
| Box: 6-Way | Any 3 distinct numbers | 3 digits in any order | $40 | $80 | 1 in 166.7 |
| Wheel: 3-Way | 1 pair + 1 different number | 3 digits in any order | $250 | $500 | 1 in 333.3 |
| Wheel: 6-Way | Any 3 distinct numbers | 3 digits in any or exact order | $250 | $500 | 1 in 166.7 |
| Front Pair | Any 2 numbers | First 2 digits in exact order | $25 | $50 | 1 in 100 |
| Back Pair | Any 2 numbers | Last 2 digits in exact order | $25 | $50 | 1 in 100 |
| Split Pair | Any 2 numbers | First and last digits in exact irder | $25 | $50 | 1 in 100 |
Fireball
Added the Fireball extra to your Pick 3 ticket? Here’s what you could win:
| Play Style | Number of Winning Combinations | $0.50 Bet Prize | $1 Bet Prize | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Straight | 3 winning combinations | $90 | $180 | 1 in 333 |
| Box: 3-Way | 9 winning combinations | $30 | $60 | 1 in 111 |
| Box: 6-Way | 18 winning combinations | $15 | $30 | 1 in 56 |
| Wheel: 3-Way | 9 winning combinations | $90 | $180 | 1 in 111 |
| Wheel: 6-Way | 18 winning combinations | $90 | $180 | 1 in 56 |
| Front Pair | 3 winning combinations | $9 | $18 | 1 in 33 |
| Back Pair | 3 winning combinations | $9 | $18 | 1 in 33 |
| Spilt Pair | 18 winning combinations | $9 | $18 | 1 in 33 |
Instant Match
Check out the odds and prizes if you choose to add this option to your ticket:
| Prize | Odds |
|---|---|
| $500 | 1 in 75,000 |
| $100 | 1 in 25,000 |
| $50 | 1 in 2,000 |
| $20 | 1 in 2000 |
| $10 | 1 in 65 |
| $5 | 1 in 37 |
| $2 | 1 in 10 |