Daily 3
Daily 3 is a California lottery game that lets you play your favorite three numbers with drawings twice a day.
Players choose three lucky numbers from 0 to 9 - or choose Quick Pick to have your numbers randomly generated for you. Each play costs $1, and you can play up to five times per playslip.
You can also play the same numbers and playstyle in multiple (1-7 or 14) consecutive draws - simply mark Advance Play. Since Daily 3 has drawings twice a day, playing 14 consecutive draws gives you 7 days of play.
Choose your playstyle: Straight, Box, or Straight/Box.
Pick the draw you want to play - Midday, Evening, or both.
Drawings take place daily immediately after ticket sales close at 1:00 PM PT (Midday) and 6:30 PM PT (Evening).
After each draw, check the Daily 3 winning numbers pages to see if you're a winner!
Daily 3 Playstyles
Daily 3 has three playstyles: Straight, Box, or Straight/Box.
- Straight: Your numbers need to match the winning numbers drawn in exactly the same order.
- Box: Your numbers can match the winning numbers in ANY order.
- Straight/Box: A combination of both playstyles. Your $1 play is split evenly between Straight and Box. If you match the winning numbers in the exact order drawn, you win about half the Straight prize and about half the Box prize. Match the numbers drawn in any other order, and you win about half the Box prize.
To win a Daily 3 prize, all of your chosen numbers must match all of the numbers drawn. Each number is independent of the other two numbers. So, if the winning numbers are 1-2-3, you must have a one, a two, and a three in your selected numbers to win.
Daily 3 Odds of Winning
| If You Play: | Winning Numbers: | Prize: | Odds of Winning: |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straight: 5-1-6 Your numbers must match the winning numbers in exact order. |
5-1-6 | Straight prize | 1 in 1,000 |
| Box: 6-6-5 (2 like numbers) Your numbers must match the winning numbers in any order. |
6-6-5, 6-5-6, 5-6-6 |
Box prize | 1 in 333 |
| Box: 5-1-6 (3 different numbers) Your numbers must match the winning numbers in any order. |
6-1-5, 6-5-1, 5-1-6, 5-6-1, 1-6-5, 1-5-6 |
Box prize | 1 in 167 |
| Straight/Box: 7-9-7 (2 like numbers) |
7-9-7 Exact Order | Exact Order pays Straight & Box prize | 1 in 333 |
| 7-9-7, 9-7-7, 7-7-9 Any Order |
Any Order pays Box Only prize | ||
| Straight/Box: 6-5-1 (3 different numbers) |
6-5-1 Exact Order | Exact Order pays Straight & Box prize | 1 in 167 |
| 6-5-1, 5-1-6, 5-6-1, 1-6-5, 1-5-6 Any Order |
Any Order pays Box Only prize |
Daily 3 FAQs
What are the odds of winning Daily 3? Each playstyle has its own odds of winning a prize. Straight play: 1 in 1,000; Box play: 1 in 333; Straight/Box: 1 in 333.
Are prizes taxed? Winnings over $599 are subject to taxes and other offsets. However, California does not charge state or local taxes.
How is the prize calculated on a Straight/Box wager? When you make a Straight/Box play, your $1 is split equally between each playstyle: Straight and Box. Therefore you have two ways to win. Straight: You can win by matching your three numbers in the exact order of the winning numbers. Box: You can also win if your three numbers match the three winning numbers in any order.
What this means is that you can win for both Straight and Box. If your numbers are 1-2-3 on a Straight/Box wager and the winning numbers are also 1-2-3 in that order, then you win both the Straight and the Box plays! The Straight and Box playstyles can each have a different prize amount. In the example above, you would win half the Straight prize and half the Box prize. If the Straight prize was $400 and the Box prize was $200, you would win half the Straight prize ($200), and half the Box prize ($100), so your winnings would total $300.
How do I choose my playstyle using a Quick Pick? Simply ask for a specific playstyle. If you don't specify one, you will receive the Straight playstyle by default.
Is it better to play the most-common or least-common numbers? The pari-mutuel prize system used in California means the amount you can win is set by what numbers are played and the total number of players. Most players opt for the same popular numbers - for example, 999. What does that mean? If 999 is drawn, the prize would be divided between everyone who played 999. However, if a player chose numbers that were less often played and those numbers won, the player would share the prize amount with fewer winners. So, try your luck with less commonly-played numbers - you just might win a bigger prize!
Who gets the money from Daily 3? For every $1 spent by players on Daily 3, $0.95 goes back to the community - distributed to CA public schools and colleges, player prizes and retailer compensation.
How long do I have to claim a prize? You have 180 days from the draw date to claim your winnings.
What happens if a prize is not claimed in time? If a jackpot is not claimed within 180 days of the draw date, the unclaimed prize funds are given to California public education.
How to Claim a Prize
If you're lucky enough to win a Daily 3 prize, make sure you claim it correctly to ensure you get your winnings! You've got 180 days from the draw date to claim.
For prizes $599 and under:
Simply take your winning ticket to an authorized CA lottery retailer and they will give you your prize in cash on the spot..
Or you can download and print a claim form and mail it with your signed winning ticket to:
California Lottery
730 North 10th Street
Sacramento, CA 95811
Keep a copy of your signed winning ticket (front and back) and your claim form.
For prizes $600 and over:
Download and print a claim form and take it plus your winning ticket to a California Lottery District Office.
Or you can mail the claim form plus your signed winning ticket to:
California Lottery
730 North 10th Street
Sacramento, CA 95811
Keep a copy of your signed winning ticket (front and back) and your claim form.