Whether you’re a regular Pick 3 player in Virginia or new to the game, there may be some aspects that you’re not sure about. Some of the most frequently asked questions are answered below, providing more information on playing Pick 3 in the state.
Pick 3 draws take place twice a day – there’s one at 1:59 p.m. known as the Day draw, and a Night drawing at 11:00 p.m.
You can buy tickets for the Day drawing until 1:53 p.m., or enter the Night drawing anytime before 10:45 p.m.
There are a few steps to playing Pick 3. You have to choose a play type, decide how much to wager ($0.50 or $1) and pick your numbers from 0 to 9. The How to Play page outlines exactly what is required.
You can try to match the three winning numbers in Exact Order or Any Order, or play a 50/50 so that half your money goes on matching them exactly and half on matching them in any order. Alternatively, you can select a Combo and get an Exact Order play for every possible combination of a three-digit number. The final option is to play a Pair wager and select just two numbers rather than three. You can play Front Pair (first two numbers), Back Pair (last two numbers) or Split Pair (first and last numbers) – you have to get both numbers in the correct positions to win.
To win a prize, you have to match the winning numbers according to the requirements of your play type. For example, if you submit an Exact Order play, there is no prize for matching the numbers in a different order.
The amount you can win depends on your play type and play amount. The most you can win is $500, for a $1 Exact Play. For Any Order and 50/50 plays, the amount you can win also depends on whether you have played a 3-Way or a 6-Way combination.
A 3-Way combination is a set of numbers that includes two repeated numbers and one that is different, such as 112 or 878. A 6-Way combination has three different digits. The terms refer to how many possible ways those numbers can be ordered.
Your chances of winning an Exact Order play are 1 in 1,000, as they are the odds of any three-digit combination being drawn. Your chances of winning are better for all other play types. Go to the Prizes and Odds page for more information.
Fireball is an optional feature that you can add to your Pick 3 play for a better chance to win prizes. A fourth number – the Fireball – is selected in every draw, and you can use this to replace any of the three main numbers. Adding the Fireball doubles the cost of a wager. Go to the Fireball page for more information.
Yes, a Pick 3 playslip allows you to enter your numbers in up to seven consecutive drawings, or you can mark the 8+ option and then tell the retail clerk how many draws in a row you wish to play, up to a maximum of 91.
The minimum age to buy lottery tickets in Virginia is 18.
You can cancel Pick 3 tickets if the relevant draw has not yet taken place. You should return your ticket to the retailer where you made your purchase and ask for it to be canceled.
The winning numbers are selected using traditional draw machines. For each of the three main digits, a numbered ball from 0 to 9 is drawn at random from a separate pool. The Fireball draw works the same way.
You can collect Pick 3 winnings from Virginia Lottery retailers, customer service centers, or one of the prize zones. You can also mail in winning tickets to Virginia Lottery Claims, P. O. Box 1254, Richmond, VA, 23218-1254.
You have 180 days from the date of a drawing in which to claim any prizes you win.
