How to Play Pick 3
Pick 3 is the daily online game where you have to match just three numbers to win up to R9,500. You can pick from five different bet types, each of which gives you a different way to win. Entries start from R9.50 and draws take place three times a day; at 1pm, 6pm and 9pm.
Pick 3 is only available online and cannot be played in betting shops. Follow the steps below to get your entries for the next draw:
- Pick three numbers between 0 and 9. You can select the same number more than once
- Select your bet type: Straight, Box, Straight/Box, Front Pair, Back Pair, or Combo
- Choose how many draws you want to enter
- Register an online account or sign in to an existing one
- Deposit funds into your online account and complete the purchase
Once you have completed the purchase of your bets you just need to look out for the winning numbers. The Pick 3 Results page is updated with the latest numbers straight after every twice-daily draw.
Prizes and Odds of Winning
As you get to choose your bet type you also get to pick which prizes to play for. Prize amounts and odds differ between each of the different bet types, so you can play a Straight to try and win the top R9,500 prize, or you can play one of the other types to get better odds of winning.
The following table shows all the prizes you can win for each bet type, as well a brief explanation of each type and how much each bet costs.
| Bet Type | Odds of Winning | Prize Payout | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straight - Match in exact order | R9.50 Bet | R19.00 Bet | |
| Straight | 1 in 1,000 | R4,750 | R9,500 |
| Box - Match in any order | R9.50 Bet | R19.00 Bet | |
| 3-way (2 like numbers) | 1 in 333 | R1,520 | R3,040 |
| 6-way (3 different numbers) | 1 in 167 | R760 | R1,520 |
| Straight/Box - Match in exact order or any order* | Box | Straight | |
| 3-way | 1 in 333/1 in 1,000 | R1,520 | R6,270 |
| 6-way | 1 in 167/1 in 1,000 | R760 | R5,510 |
| Combo - Covers all Straight combinations of a three-digit number** | R28.50 | R57.00 | |
| 3-way | 1 in 333 | R28.50 Bet | R57.00 Bet |
| 6-way | 1 in 167 | R57.00 Bet | R114.00 Bet |
| Pair - Match the first or last two in exact order | R9.50 Bet | R19.00 Bet | |
| Front Pair | 1 in 100 | R475 | R950 |
| Back Pair | 1 in 100 | R475 | R950 |
3-way and 6-way bets
The numbers you pick can directly affect how much you can win. For example, if your three-digit combination includes two identical numbers, you can only play ‘3-way’ bets, because those numbers can be ordered in three different ways. If you choose three different numbers, you would play a ‘6-way’ bet, as there are six ways of ordering those numbers. Here are some examples:
| Bet Type | Your Numbers | Winning Combinations |
|---|---|---|
| 3-way | 122 | 122, 212, 221 |
| 6-way | 123 | 123, 132, 213, 231, 312, 321 |
All Box, Straight/Box, and Combo bets you place will be either 3-way or 6-way bets. The cost of a Combo bet also changes depending on whether it’s a 3-way or 6-way bet, because with that type you place separate Straight bets on every combination of your three numbers. If you play a 3-way Combo you play three Straight bets and you pay for all three, and for a 6-way Combo you pay for six Straight bets.
These rules do not apply to Straight or Pair bets, as in both cases you have to match the winning numbers in the same order they’re drawn. The odds of doing so are the same whether you pick identical numbers or not.
FAQ
Take a look the answers to these frequently asked questions if you need any more information about how Pick 3 works.
There are two ticket prices for each type of bet placed. The larger ticket price allows you to win larger prizes.
- Straight: R9.50 / R19.00
- Box: R9.50 / R19.00
- Straight/Box: R19.00 / R38.00
- Front Pair/Back Pair: R9.50 / R19.00
- Combo: R28.50 / R57.00
You have until 12:50 UK time to enter the lunchtime draw and 16:50 to purchase entries for the teatime draw. Due to Daylight Saving, the cut-time local to South Africa will change through the year – please see the table below:
| Start Date | End Date | Cut-off Time in UK | Cut-off time in South Africa |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last Sunday in March | Last Sunday in October | 12:50 BST | 13:50 |
| Last Sunday in October | Last Sunday in March | 12:50 GMT | 14:50 |
| Start Date | End Date | Cut-off Time in UK | Cut-off time in South Africa |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last Sunday in March | Last Sunday in October | 17:50 BST | 18:50 |
| Last Sunday in October | Last Sunday in March | 17:50 GMT | 19:50 |
| Start Date | End Date | Cut-off Time in UK | Cut-off time in South Africa |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last Sunday in March | Last Sunday in October | 20:50 BST | 21:50 |
| Last Sunday in October | Last Sunday in March | 20:50 GMT | 22:50 |
You must specify one type for each bet you place. You can, however, place multiple bets at the same time and select a different bet type for each.
All Pick 3 prizes will be paid into your online player account after the draw. Just log in to your account and the prize money will be reflected in your balance. You can then use the winnings to pay for further Pick 3 entries or withdraw the money to your bank account.
The terms ‘3-way’ and ‘6-way’ describe how many different combinations you can make out of the three numbers you pick. For example, the numbers 223 can be arranged three different ways (223, 232, and 322) so that’s a 3-way combination.
The odds of winning certain bets with a 3-way combination are longer than if you play the same bet with a 6-way combination. For that reason, the prizes you win for 3-way bets are higher than those for 6-way bets. If you win a 3-way Box bet, you get up to R3,040, while for a 6-way Box bet you can win up to R1,520.
Yes, you can, but by doing so you limit your bet type to a Straight, as the only way to match three identical numbers is to match them exactly – it’s impossible to match them in a different order. There is only one possible combination of the numbers 111, for example, so there is no way to generate the 3-way or 6-way combinations required by Box bets and similar.