How to Play Illinois Pick 3
50¢ or $1 a play · Every day · 12:40 PM and 9:22 PM CT
- 1Pick 3 digits from 0 to 9, or ask for a Quick Pick.
- 2Choose Straight, Box, Straight/Box, Combo, Front Pair or Back Pair.
- 3Choose a wager of 50¢, $1, $2, $3, $4 or $5. Straight/Box starts at $1.
- 4Add plus FIREBALL if you like. It doubles the cost.
- 5Choose Midday, Evening or both, and up to 7 days of drawings.
Ways to play
- StraightMatch all 3 digits in the exact order drawn.
- BoxMatch all 3 digits in any order.
- Straight/BoxA 50¢ Straight and a 50¢ Box on the same number, for $1.
- ComboA Straight on every order of your digits.
- Front PairMatch the first 2 digits drawn, in exact order.
- Back PairMatch the last 2 digits drawn, in exact order.
Add-ons
- FireballDoubles the cost of a playAn extra digit drawn after each drawing that can replace any one winning digit, for more ways to win.
You must be 18 or older to buy a ticket or claim a prize. Sales stop 5 minutes before the Midday drawing and 7 before the Evening. See every prize
More Pick 3 rulesStraight · Box · Straight/Box · Combo · Front Pair · Back Pair · Prizes · Liability limit · Fireball · Advance Play
- Straight
- Match all 3 digits in the exact order drawn.
- Box
- Match all 3 digits in any order. A number with a repeated digit, like 122, is a 3-way box, and three different digits, like 123, a 6-way box: the fewer orders, the bigger the prize. A number like 111 can only be played Straight.
- Straight/Box
- A 50¢ Straight and a 50¢ Box on the same number, for $1. The exact order wins both prizes, and any other order wins the Box prize.
- Combo
- A Straight on every order of your digits, at 50¢ or $1 each: 3 plays for a 3-way number, 6 for a 6-way. Whichever order is drawn wins one Straight prize.
- Front Pair
- Pick 2 digits. Win if they match the first 2 digits drawn, in exact order.
- Back Pair
- Pick 2 digits. Win if they match the last 2 digits drawn, in exact order.
- Prizes
- Every prize is a set amount for the play type and wager. Plays of $2, $3, $4 and $5 are sold too, but the lottery publishes prizes for 50¢ and $1 plays only, so only those are shown.
- Liability limit
- Pick 3 pays set prizes, so the lottery can stop taking bets on some numbers for a drawing when what it could owe on them gets too high.
- Fireball
- One plus FIREBALL digit from 0 to 9 is drawn right after each midday and evening drawing. It replaces each winning digit in turn to make new winning numbers, while your numbers stay the same. Your play wins the Fireball prize for each one it matches, on top of any base prize. plus FIREBALL costs as much as your wager, doubling it, and covers every play on the ticket. A store ticket says YES or NO for it.
- Advance Play
- Midday and evening drawings print on separate tickets. In a store, ask the clerk to play up to 7 days ahead, today included, or mark up to 6 on a play slip. Online, you can buy up to 6 drawings ahead or a subscription of up to 12 months.
Reviewed by Bishop Woosley, former Director of the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery and NASPL President.
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Good to know
- Before You PlayIllinois Lottery Draw Times Midday 12:40 PM, Evening 9:22 PM CT, every day. Sales stop 5 minutes before the Midday drawing and 7 before the Evening.
- After You WinHow to Claim an Illinois Lottery Prize Up to $600 at any lottery retailer. You have one year to claim.
- Keep MoreIllinois Lottery Tax Calculator Illinois taxes winnings at 4.95%. 4.95% state tax is withheld from prizes of $1,000 or more, plus 24% federal tax from prizes over $5,000.
How other Illinois games are played
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers about Illinois Pick 3 rules
How do you play Illinois Pick 3?
Pick 3 digits from 0 to 9, or ask for a Quick Pick. Choose Straight, Box, Straight/Box, Combo, Front Pair or Back Pair. Choose a wager of 50¢, $1, $2, $3, $4 or $5. Straight/Box starts at $1. Add plus FIREBALL if you like. It doubles the cost. Choose Midday, Evening or both, and up to 7 days of drawings.
What are the ways to play Pick 3?
Straight: Match all 3 digits in the exact order drawn. Box: Match all 3 digits in any order. Straight/Box: A 50¢ Straight and a 50¢ Box on the same number, for $1. Combo: A Straight on every order of your digits. Front Pair: Match the first 2 digits drawn, in exact order. Back Pair: Match the last 2 digits drawn, in exact order.
What is Fireball in Illinois Pick 3?
An extra digit drawn after each drawing that can replace any one winning digit, for more ways to win.
How much is a Pick 3 ticket in Illinois?
50¢ or $1 a play. Add-ons: Fireball (doubles the cost of a play).
How late can you buy Illinois Pick 3 tickets?
The Illinois Pick 3 cutoff time is 5 minutes before the Midday drawing and 7 before the Evening: 12:35 PM CT for the 12:40 PM Midday drawing and 9:15 PM CT for the 9:22 PM Evening drawing.
Still have questions? Email our support team
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