Tap to view the full version of this page.

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:

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.

Pick 3 Prizes and Odds
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.



+ How much does Pick 3 cost to play?

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
+ What is the cut-off time for entries?

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:

Lunchtime Draw
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
Teatime Draw
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
Night-time Draw
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
+ Can I play more than one bet type at a time?

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.

+ How do I claim my prize money?

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.

+ What’s the difference between 3-way and 6-way bets?

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.

+ Can I pick the same number three times?

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.