Pick-3
Pick-3 with FIREBALL is the New Jersey jackpot game with more $300 winners than all other NJ draw games combined! There are two draws a day and you can A add the FIREBALL option for even more excitement.
The Midday drawing is held at approximately 12:59 PM EST. The Evening drawing takes place at approximately 10:57 PM EST. The cut-off time for tickets is 12:53 PM for the Midday draw and 10:53 PM for the Evening draw. If you're late, you'll be entered into the following draw.
How to Play
Choose three numbers from 0 to 9, or mark the Quick Pick option to have the Lottery computer randomly generate your numbers.
Select a bet type. There are five ways to play Pick-3 with FIREBALL. The cost to play starts at just 50 cents.
Choose your drawing: Midday, Evening, or both.
Would you like to play the same numbers for more than one drawing? Then select Multi Draw to play for up to seven draws.
FIREBALL
The FIREBALL is an extra number that is drawn after the first three. If you add the FIREBALL option, which doubles the cost of a play, it gives you more ways to win. For example, if you choose 123 as a Straight and the numbers drawn are 120, this would normally be a loss. However, if the FIREBALL is 3, you can replace the 0 with the 3 to create a new winning combo.
Instant Match
Add the Instant Match option for an extra $1 per play for the chance to win up to $500 on the spot!
Bet Types
There are five ways to play Pick-3:
- Straight: You win if your numbers match the winning numbers drawn in the same EXACT ORDER.
- Box: You win if your numbers match the numbers drawn in ANY ORDER. Box can be played as 3-Way Box or 6-Way Box.
- Straight/Box: The most popular bet type is simply the Straight and Box types combined in one! You win the Straight AND Box prizes by matching the winning numbers in EXACT ORDER.
Win the Box prize if you match the winning numbers in ANY ORDER.
The minimum play costs $1 (that is, 50 cents for Straight and 50 cents for Box). If you add FIREBALL, the minimum bet becomes $2. - Wheel: An easy way to play all possible Straight combos of your three numbers. You win if you match the numbers drawn in ANY ORDER! This is a combination play type, so the base wager amount is
multipled by the number of potential combinations.
Wheel can be played as 3-Way Wheel, where you select a three-digit number with two of the same digits (e.g. 112) OR 6-Way Wheel, where you choose a three-digit number with three unique digits (e.g. 123). - Pair Bets: Select two numbers. You win if you match the first two (Front Pair), the last two (Back Pair), OR first and last (Split Pair)!
Pick-3 Prizes and Odds of Winning
Here's a breakdown of the prizes and odds of winning for each prize tier:
| Bet Type | If You Bet... | You Win If You Match... | Prize | Odds of Winning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Straight | 123 | 123 | $250 | 1 in 1,000 |
| 3-Way Box | 112 | 112, 121, 211 | $80 | 1 in 333 |
| 6-Way Box | 123 | 123, 213, 312, 132, 231, 321 | $40 | 1 in 167 |
| 3-Way Wheel | 112 | 112, 121, 211 | $250 | 1 in 333 |
| 6-Way Wheel | 123 | 123, 213, 312, 132, 231, 321 | $250 | 1 in 167 |
| Front Pair | 12X | Any 3-digit number starting with 12 | $25 | 1 in 100 |
| Back Pair | X23 | Any 3-digit number ending in 23 | $25 | 1 in 100 |
| Split Pair | 1X3 | Any 3-digit number that begins with 1 & ends with 3 | $25 | 1 in 100 |
FIREBALL Prizes and Odds of Winning
Take a look at the number of winning combinations there are if you add the FIREBALL feature, along with the prize you can win and the odds.
| Bet Type | Number of Winning Combinations | Prize | Odds of Winning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straight | 3 | $90 | 1 in 333 |
| 3-Way Box | 9 | $30 | 1 in 111 |
| 6-Way Box | 18 | $15 | 1 in 56 |
| 3-Way Wheel | 9 | $90 | 1 in 111 |
| 6-Way Wheel | 18 | $90 | 1 in 56 |
| Front Pair | 3 | $9 | 1 in 33 |
| Back Pair | 3 | $9 | 1 in 33 |
| Split Pair | 3 | $9 | 1 in 33 |
The New Jersey Lottery occasionally runs monthly promotions to provide even more excitement. The 'Straight Back Bonus', for example, gives you the chance to win $50 for a $0.50 wager if you match the winning numbers in reverse order.
If the winning numbers were 2-4-6, for example, and you had placed a Straight bet on 6-4-2, you would win the bonus. Typically, the 'Straight Back Bonus' has only been available for Evening draws and not Midday draws during the promotional periods.