Daily 3 is an exciting CA Lottery game with two drawings a day. Unlike traditional lotteries, you can choose between a number of playstyles so there is a strategic element to taking part. Like all CA games, the prizes aren't fixed and the top prize is often worth more than $500!
Drawings take place daily, immediately after ticket sales close at 1:00 PM PT (Midday) and 6:30 PM PT (Evening).
To win a Daily 3 prize, all of your chosen numbers must match all of the numbers drawn. Each number is independent of the other two numbers. So, if the winning numbers are 1-2-3, you must have a one, a two, and a three in your selected numbers to win. You have to meet the requirements of your playstyle to win.
| Play Type | Example | 50¢ Play Payout | $1 Play Payout | Odds of Winning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Straight Match in exact order | ||||
| Straight | 1234 | $2,500 | $5,000 | 1 in 10,000 |
| Box Match in any order | ||||
| 4-Way | 1112 | $600 | $1,200 | 1 in 2,500 |
| 6-Way | 1122 | $400 | $800 | 1 in 1,666.67 |
| 12-Way | 1123 | $200 | $400 | 1 in 833.33 |
| 24-Way | 1234 | $100 | $200 | 1 in 416.67 |
| Straight/Box Match in exact OR any order. Cost: $1 | Box Payout | Straight Payout | ||
| 4-Way | 1112 | $600 | $3,100 | 1 in 10,000 & 1 in 2,500 |
| 6-Way | 1122 | $400 | $2,900 | 1 in 10,000 & 1 in 1,666.67 |
| 12-Way | 1123 | $200 | $2,700 | 1 in 10,000 & 1 in 833.33 |
| 24-Way | 1234 | $100 | $2,600 | 1 in 10,000 & 1 in 416.67 |
| Pairs Match two in exact order. | ||||
| Front Pair | 12xx | $25 | $50 | 1 in 100 |
| Mid Pair | x23x | $25 | $50 | 1 in 100 |
| Back Pair | xx34 | $25 | $50 | 1 in 100 |
| Combo All Straight combinations of a 4-digit number. Cost: $2-$24 depending on the numbers you choose. | ||||
| 4-Way | 1112 | $2,500 | $5,000 | 1 in 2,500 |
| 6-Way | 1122 | $2,500 | $5,000 | 1 in 1,666.67 |
| 12-Way | 1123 | $2,500 | $5,000 | 1 in 833.33 |
| 24-Way | 1234 | $2,500 | $5,000 | 1 in 416.67 |
| Payout | Odds of Winning |
|---|---|
| $ | 1 in |
Decide on how you want to play Daily 3. Do you want to go for a Straight Bet, Box Bet, or other type of bet? Remember that Straight bets generally have higher prizes but are more difficult to match. Box bets are easier to match but have lower payouts.
Choose three lucky numbers from 0 to 9, or use the Quick Pick option on your play slip to have three digits randomly generated for you. Each play costs $1, and you can play up to five times per play slip.
You can play the same numbers and playstyle in multiple (2-7 or 14) consecutive draws - simply mark the number you'd like in the Advance Play section of your play slip. Since Daily 3 has drawings twice a day, playing 14 consecutive draws gives you seven days of play.
Your numbers need to match the three winning numbers in the exact order they're drawn.
Your numbers need to match the three winning numbers in ANY order.
A combination of both playstyles. Your $1 play is split evenly between Straight and Box. If you match the winning numbers in drawn-order, you win half the Straight prize plus half the Box prize. Match the numbers drawn in any other order to win half the Box prize alone.
Win with a combination of Straight and Box combinations.
Win by matching any pair in the selection, like the front pair or back pair.
Winnings over $599 are subject to federal taxes and other offsets. However, California does not charge state or local taxes.
Prize amounts work on a pari-mutuel basis, so they differ from draw to draw. For Straight plays and Box plays, the payout is the total of the prize fund divided by the number of winners.
When you make a Straight/Box play, your $1 is split equally between each playstyle: Straight and Box. Therefore you have two ways to win: Straight, by matching in drawn-order, and Box, by matching in any order. If your numbers are 1-2-3 on a Straight/Box wager and the winning numbers are also 1-2-3 in that order, then you win both the Straight and the Box plays!
The Straight and Box playstyles can each have a different prize amount. In the example above, you would win half the Straight prize and half the Box prize. If the Straight prize was $400 and the Box prize was $200, you would win half the Straight prize ($200), and half the Box prize ($100), so your winnings would total $300.
Simply ask for a specific playstyle. If you don't specify one, you will receive the Straight playstyle by default.
The pari-mutuel prize system used in California means the amount you can win is determined by the funds in the prize pool and the number of winners for each draw.
Many players opt for the same popular numbers - for example, 999. What does that mean? If 999 is drawn, the prize would be divided between everyone who played 999. However, if a player chose numbers that were less often played and those numbers won, the player would share the prize amount with fewer winners. So, try your luck with less commonly-played numbers - your odds are the same, but you'll probably win a bigger prize!
