What is Pick 3?

Pick 3 is a three-digit number game from the South Carolina Education Lottery.  Pick 3 drawings are held every evening at 6:59 and aired live on local television stations.  Midday drawings are not televised and are held Monday through Saturday afternoons at 12:59.  No midday drawings are held on Sundays or on Christmas Day.  Pick 3 has four different play types providing numerous ways to win.  Players have the option of choosing to play a straight ticket to match numbers in the exact order drawn or to play a box ticket to match numbers drawn in any order.  There is a straight/box choice to cover both possibilities.  Players have the option of purchasing a combo ticket equal to 3 or 6 straight plays.

1.  A Pick 3 play slip may be obtained at any South Carolina Education Lottery online retailer.  ONLY use a pencil or a pen with blue or black ink to fill out a play slip.  Red ink will NOT be accepted.  Do NOT make stray marks on the play slip as the lottery terminal may read the marks as numbers or play options.  DO NOT ERASE a mistake in your number selections.  Instead, mark the "VOID" box at the bottom of the play area and move on to the next play area.

2.  There are five different play areas on a single play slip, marked "PLAY A" through "PLAY E."  Each play area represents a DIFFERENT Pick 3 play.  All selected numbers for a single play should be in the same play area.  Players may purchase up to five plays per play slip.

3.  Mark a three-digit number from 000 to 999.  Make a heavy vertical mark in the appropriate boxes in each play area.  Or, to have any or all of your plays selected at random by the lottery terminal, mark the “QUICK PICK” box at the bottom of the play area.


4.  Select the play amount of either 50¢ or $1.  This option is available for straight or box play ONLY and will default to $1 if not marked otherwise.  Combo tickets range in price:  a 3-way combo is $1.50 or $3 and a 6‑way combo is $3 or $6.

5.  Mark the play TYPE.  IF NO TYPE IS SPECIFIED, THE TYPE WILL DEFAULT TO A STRAIGHT PLAY.

STR = Straight Play:  Match winning numbers in exact order drawn.

STRAIGHT PLAY:
To win, the number you pick has to match the number we draw in exactly the same order.

BOX = Box Play:  Match winning numbers drawn in any order.

*6-WAY BOX:
Pick a number with three different digits and you'll have six possible winning combinations.

STR/BX = Straight/Box:  Combines a 50¢ Straight AND a 50¢ Box for a 3-digit number on a single play.  The Straight/Box play may only be played for $1 per play.

COMBO = Combination:  Equal to 3 or 6 Straight plays for 50¢ or $1. Win $250 or $500 if you match winning numbers drawn in any order in a single play.

6.  Under the “MULTI DRAW” heading, don't forget to mark the "DAY," "EVE," or “BOTH” box to select the drawing(s) you want to play.  The midday drawing (or "DAY") is at 12:59 p.m., and the evening drawing (or "EVE") is at 6:59 p.m.  If no box is selected, then the ticket will be valid for the next drawing that occurs.  Play up to 14 draws for "DAY" or "EVE" or 28 draws for “BOTH.”  Multi draw selections will be consecutive from the draw date selected.  NOTE:  There are NO midday drawings on Sundays or on Christmas Day.

7.  ADVANCE PLAY:  indicates a draw day other than the present day (not today).  Draw Selection:  indicates the daily draw that all plays and play options (multi draw and advance play) apply.

8. Present your completed Pick 3 play slip and total play amount to the online retailer, and you will receive your printed ticket selection(s). Be sure to verify that the selections on the ticket for the:  (1) numbers selected, (2) draw date(s), (3) play type, and (4) dollar amount are printed EXACTLY as the selections requested on the play slip BEFORE you leave the retail location.

It is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to make sure the ticket purchased represents the numbers you selected and the drawing(s) you want to enter.  The play slip is neither a valid receipt nor proof of purchase.  The printed ticket is the ONLY valid receipt for claiming a prize.

If there is an error, have the retailer CANCEL the ticket and print another.  REFUSE to pay for a ticket that is not printed clearly or is not exactly as you want.  There are rules as to how long a player has to cancel a ticket.  In some cases the player may not be able to have a ticket canceled.

Prior to each drawing, Pick 3 sales will be temporarily suspended to allow for the drawing.  Pick 3 sales are suspended at 12:45 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and at 6:45 p.m. every night.  After making a Pick 3 purchase, a player has up to 20 minutes to cancel the sale; however, a retailer may NOT cancel a ticket sold for a given draw after sales have been suspended for that drawing.

A player must be at least 18 years of age to purchase a ticket.

For more information on odds, drawings, winning numbers and remaining or unclaimed prizes, ask your lottery retailer, visit our website at www.sceducationlottery.com or call toll‑free 1-866-736-9819 during regular business hours.  (Except State Holidays)

Tickets, transactions, and winners are subject to SCEL rules and state law.  SCEL shall not be responsible for lost, stolen, or mutilated tickets.  For current or past winning numbers call (803) 734-IWON (4966) or check under the specific game on our website.

Gambling may be addictive.  If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call toll‑free 1‑877‑452‑5155.  Have Fun.  Play Smart.  Play Responsibly.

Draw Partner Stations:

Claiming Prizes

There are three ways to claim a prize:

1. At authorized Lottery Retailers - Any winning ticket up to and including $500.

2. By mail – Winning tickets up to and including $100,000 may be redeemed by mail.  The back of the winning ticket must be signed and accompanied by an official South Carolina Education Lottery claim form.  Claim forms are also available at any authorized South Carolina Education Lottery retailer.  A copy of a picture identification card (state I.D., driver’s license, or military I.D.) is required for all winnings over $500.  Winnings over $100,000 must be claimed in person at one of our four redemption centers.

3. At Claims Offices  - Any winning ticket up to and including $1,000,000 may be claimed in person at any of our four Claims Offices.  Winning tickets over $1,000,000 must be brought in person to the Columbia Claims Office listed for redemption.

• The risk of mailing tickets remains with the player. Registered mail is recommended.
• Prizes must be claimed within 180 days after the end of the draw.