NE Pick 3 is a daily draw game that lets players win up to $500 every day, but if you'd like better odds, there are plenty of other play types to choose from. See, this game lets the players decide how they need to match their numbers for the win. In practice, you can pick your own rules, odds, and prizes!
Draws are held at 9:00 PM CT every night, and tickets cost just $1 per play.
Check the table below to find out what you could win playing Pick 3. Remember, you can only win the prize(s) relevant to the play type you've chosen for your ticket.
| Play Type | Example | Prize | Odds of Winning | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Straight Match all 3 digits in exact order | ||||
| Straight | 123 | $600 | 1 in 1,000 | |
| Box Match all 3 digits in any order | ||||
| 3-Way | 112 | $200 | 1 in 333 | |
| 6-Way | 123 | $100 | 1 in 167 | |
| Straight/Box Match in exact OR any order | ||||
| Straight | 123 in exact order | $350 | 1 in 1,000 | |
| 3-Way Box | 112, 121 or 211 | $126 | 1 in 500 | |
| 6-Way Box | 123, 132, 213, 231, 312 or 321 | $50 | 1 in 200 | |
| Combo Match 1, 2 or 3 numbers in the correct position | ||||
| 3 Numbers in Order | 123 | $100 | 1 in 1,000 | |
| 2 Numbers in Order | 12X | $8 | 1 in 37.04 | |
| 1 Number in Order | 1XX | $1 | 1 in 4 | |
In order to ensure they can pay out every player's winnings in full, the NE Lottery enforces a 'liability limit' on their Pick 3 numbers. If too many players purchase the same number combination, then sales of that combination will be halted until the next draw. Currently, this limit is $150,000, equivalent to 250X $600 Straight play prizes.
Filling out your play slip for Nebraska Pick 3 is a bit more involved compared to standard-format draw games where you only need to pick your numbers. Check the steps below:
Pick three numbers from 0 to 9. These are your numbers and you'll win a prize if you manage to match them. You can select the same digit multiple times and for some of the play types, this actually affects your odds and prizes.
Each play slip has room to make five different plays and, if you prefer using totally random numbers, you can use the Quick Pick option to have the lottery terminal randomly assign your digits for you.
Next, mark your desired play type on the play slip. You can only use one play type per play, and you'll only be able to win prizes according to the play type you chose.
The Nebraska Lottery provides a Multi-Draw feature on their play slips, allowing players to enter their chosen numbers and play type in up to 84 consecutive draws (equivalent to 12 weeks). This option will save you the trouble of purchasing each ticket individually if you're a regular player.
Once you've done, hand the slip to the clerk and they'll use the lottery terminal to generate your ticket(s).
Find out about the different ways to play NE Pick 3. For the Box play type, you can win if your numbers come up in any order. Crucially, there are more potential combinations for 1-2-3 (6-Way) compared to 0-1-1 (3-Way), giving 6-Way Box plays 2X better odds compared to 3-Way Box plays. To balance this, the prizes for 3-Way Box plays are higher than the 6-Way prizes.
Straight - To win a Straight play, you must match all three of your numbers in the order they're drawn.
Box - To win a Box play, your numbers must match the winning numbers, but the order is not important.
Straight/Box - For Straight/Box plays, you can win by matching the numbers in drawn-order, or win a smaller prize by matching them in any other order.
Combo - There are three different prizes for Pick 3 Combo plays. Match one number in the position it's drawn to win $1 (recover your ticket cost), two numbers in the correct position to win $8, or all three to win $100.
Nebraska Pick 3 tickets can be purchased at any from 5:00 AM to 3:00 AM, with a three-minute pause in sales at 9:00 PM while the draw is taking place.
In Nebraska, you must be 19 or older to purchase lottery tickets.
Nebraska Pick 3 tickets always cost $1, unlike many other states where ticket prices can vary based on your play.
No, there are no optional add-ons for NE Pick 3, unlike other states where options such as Sum-it-Up or the Pick Fireball are in use.
Pick 3 prizes under $500 can be claimed over the counter at any NE Lottery retailer. Prizes of any value can be claimed by mail, or in-person at one of the NE Lottery's claims centers. Find out more on our main Nebraska Lottery page.
Nebraska Pick 3 prizes must be redeemed within 180 days of the relevant draw, otherwise the ticket and its prize will expire, and cannot be recovered.
