What is Daily 3?
Daily 3 is a shared prize pool game. That means Daily 3 prizes are based on the amount wagered per draw and the number of winners dividing that amount.
A shared prize pool turns less-played numbers into a better chance at bigger prizes. Players try selecting less-played numbers because Daily 3 prizes are split between all the winners of a specific draw. Since most players tend to play the same frequently-played numbers, the prizes for those popular number may be split between more winners.
Daily 3 pools close at 1:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Draw times for California State Daily 3 are 1:30 p.m. (Midday) and 7:00 p.m. (Evening).
How To Play Daily 3
Playing is easy and winning is fun! Here's how:
California Lottery Daily 3 is easy to play. Pick up a Daily 3 playslip. Select a set of three (3) numbers from a field of 0 to 9 (example: 1-3-5, 7-7-7, etc.) Then choose your playstyle: Straight, Box, or Straight/Box.Daily 3 Prize Categories and Lottery Odds:
| Playstyle | Match all numbers and win |
If your number is |
| Straight | Match exact order | 529 |
| Box |
Match any order (3 unique digits) |
529 |
| Match any order (2 Identical & 1 Unique) | 599 |
| Playstyle |
Winning number is |
Odds | Prize |
| Straight | 529 | 1 in 1,000 | pari-mutuel |
| Box |
529,592,952 925,259,295 |
1 in 167 | pari-mutuel |
| 599,959,995 | 1 in 333 | pari-mutuel |
Straight/Box
- Your $1 play is split between both Playstyles - 50 cents to Straight and 50 cents to Box.
- Since $1 is split between the two Playstyles, the potential payouts are approximately half the prize amounts.
- By matching the winning numbers in the exact order, you win approximately half the Straight prize plus approximately half the Box prize. If you match the winning numbers in any other order, you win approximately half the Box prize only.
- Prize is pari-mutuel*
*Pari-mutuel prize amounts will vary depending upon sales levels and number of winners.
You can select your own numbers or Play Quick PickŪ for $1.00 per play per draw. When you select Quick PickŪ, the Lottery terminal will randomly select your three Daily 3 numbers for you.
If you don't ask for a specific playstyle you will automatically receive Straight Daily 3 play. You can also play your number combinations for up to 14 consecutive draws with the Advance Play feature.
How To Get The Most From The Least-Played Numbers
A pari-mutuel prize structure means players' winnings can be determined by what numbers they play. For example: Most players frequently play the same popular numbers such as 777. If 777 were to be drawn the prize for that draw would be divided between all of the players who played 777. On the other hand if a player were to play less popular numbers and those numbers were drawn, he or she would share the prize amount with fewer winners. With this in mind, you might want to try playing less popular numbers as they just might be your ticket to bigger prizes. For a look at the most popular numbers as of February 1997, see the chart below.
| Most-Frequently played Daily 3 numbers: | ||
|
777 555 222 369 123 |
666 000 111 239 112 |
333 888 444 999 923 |