How to Play South Carolina Pick 3
50¢ or $1 a play · Every day · 12:59 PM (Mon–Sat) and 6:59 PM ET
- 1Pick 3 digits from 0 to 9, or 2 for a Front or Back Pair, or ask for a Quick Pick.
- 2Choose Straight, Box, Straight/Box, Combo, Front Pair or Back Pair.
- 3Choose 50¢ or $1 a play. Straight/Box is $1, and a Combo costs 3 or 6 plays.
- 4Add FIREBALL if you like. It doubles the cost.
- 5Choose Midday, Evening or both: up to 14 drawings of one, or 28 of both.
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 14 minutes before each drawing. See every prize
More Pick 3 rulesStraight · Box · Straight/Box · Combo · Front Pair · Back Pair · 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 two like digits, 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.
- Liability limit
- Pick 3 pays fixed prizes, so the lottery caps what it can owe on any one number at $5 million a drawing, whatever the play type. Once a number reaches that, it's closed for that drawing.
- Fireball
- One FIREBALL digit from 0 to 9 is drawn after each Midday and Evening drawing, and Pick 3 and Pick 4 share it. It replaces each of the 3 winning digits in turn to make new winning numbers, while your numbers stay the same. Each one your play matches is a FIREBALL win, paid on top of any base prize, so one play can win more than once. FIREBALL doubles the cost of the play it's added to and can't be bought alone.
- Advance Play
- A ticket covers up to 14 Midday or Evening drawings in a row, or 28 if you play both. Advance Play starts it on a later day instead of the next drawing. There are no Midday drawings on Sundays or Christmas Day.
Reviewed by Bishop Woosley, former Director of the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery and NASPL President.
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Good to know
- Before You PlaySouth Carolina Lottery Draw Times Midday 12:59 PM, Evening 6:59 PM ET, Mon–Sat. Sales stop 14 minutes before each drawing.
- After You WinHow to Claim a South Carolina Lottery Prize Up to $500 at any lottery retailer. You have 180 days to claim.
- Keep MoreSouth Carolina Lottery Tax Calculator South Carolina taxes winnings at up to 5.21%. 5.21% state tax is withheld from prizes over $500, plus 24% federal tax from prizes over $5,000.
How other South Carolina games are played
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers about South Carolina Pick 3 rules
How do you play South Carolina Pick 3?
Pick 3 digits from 0 to 9, or 2 for a Front or Back Pair, or ask for a Quick Pick. Choose Straight, Box, Straight/Box, Combo, Front Pair or Back Pair. Choose 50¢ or $1 a play. Straight/Box is $1, and a Combo costs 3 or 6 plays. Add FIREBALL if you like. It doubles the cost. Choose Midday, Evening or both: up to 14 drawings of one, or 28 of both.
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 South Carolina 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 South Carolina?
50¢ or $1 a play. Add-ons: Fireball (doubles the cost of a play).
How late can you buy South Carolina Pick 3 tickets?
The South Carolina Pick 3 cutoff time is 14 minutes before each drawing: 12:45 PM ET for the 12:59 PM Midday drawing and 6:45 PM ET for the 6:59 PM Evening drawing.
Still have questions? Email our support team
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