Pick 3 – How To Play

About Pick3

Pick3 is a 3-digit game with pre-defined winnings and is drawn at predefined times, twice a day. The player picks three (3) digits (each between 0-9). Three (3) winning digita are randomly drawn and prizes are won based on the game type and numbers selected.

How to fill in a Pick3 playslip

Learn how to play different playing methods when using a Pick3 playslip

To play a Simple Column in Pick3, the player should mark one (1) to three (3) digits (with an ‘X’) according to type of game selected, in at least one (1) of the eight (8) Playing Board(s). Each digit should be selected out of a range of zero (0) to nine (9).
The player should also mark in which draw he/she would like to participate in between ‘MIDDAY’ and ‘EVENING’.
The three (3) game types available for Pick3 are:

  • Exact Order (Straight) – where a player picks three (3) digits and marks the box [EXACT ORDER] in the game type Board. A bet is placed on matching 3 digits in exact order.
  • Any Order (Box) – where a player picks three (3) digits and marks the box [ANY ORDER] in the game type Board. A bet is placed on matching 3 digits in any order.
  • Wheel – where a player picks one (1) or two (2) digits and marks the box [WHEEL] in the game type Board. The remaining digit(s) are irrelevant for winner selection. A bet is placed only on the digits picked by the player, in exact order.

Systems in Pick3 is not supported.

With the Quick Pick option, the terminal generates all of the numbers according to the game rules of the specific game type selected. The Quick Pick option is only supported for the ‘Exact Order’ and ‘Any Order’ only. The system doesn’t support Quick Pick and Game Type Wheel together.

For a Simple Column Quick Pick, the playslip should be filled in as follows:

  • A Game Type, from ‘Exact Order’ or ‘Any Order’ should be marked, according to the player’s preference.
  • A basic stake from; €1.00 or €2.00 should be marked.
  • The Quick Pick [QP] box should be marked.
  • At least one draw preference from [MID-DAY] and/or [EVENING] should be marked, according to player’s preference.

Different playing methods are allowed to be chosen by the player, on the same playslip.

The below example shows a simple column play in Game Board A, Quick Pick in Game Board B and Game Type Wheel in Game Board C.

The player is given the choice to participate with the same playslip in more than one draw by marking the relevant box/es in the ‘CONSECUTIVE DRAWS’ section. The playslip should be filled in as follows:

  • A number from two (2) to seven (7) should be marked on the playslip to increase the frequency of participation by two (2) and up to seven (7) draws.
  • Additionally, the player may further increase the selected number of participation draws if both the ‘Midday’ and ‘Evening’ draws are selected.
  • The player can participate up to a maximum of fourteen (14) consecutive draws.
  • The total cost must be paid when purchasing the ticket.

In the ‘MULTIPLIER’ section, the player has the option to multiply his/her basic stake. The player has the possibility to multiply the stake by two (2) up to ten (10) times. Additionally, the player may also choose to mark the boxes [x5] and/or [x10], to increase the stake amount. The maximum stake allowed is five hundred (500) times the stake by marking the boxes [10], [x5] and [x10].

General FAQs

General information on Pick3

What is Pick3?

Pick3 is a 3-digit game with pre-defined winnings and is drawn at predefined times, twice a day. The player picks three (3) digits (each between zero (0) to nine (9). Three (3) winning numbers are randomly drawn and prizes are won based on the game type and numbers selected.

Pick3 may be played at any one of National Lottery’s retail outlets around Malta and Gozo from Monday to Sunday during the allowed playing hours. A complete list of Points of Sales listed by locality may be found here.

You may play Pick3 up to 2.15 minutes before the draw. A Pick3 draw is held twice daily. Midday at 13:30hrs and the evening draw at 19:30hrs.

In order to play, just fill in a Pick3 playslip indicating your selected numbers, game type, stake and other playing options. Present the completed playslip to one of our Retailers at any one of the National Lottery retail outlet in Malta and Gozo. You may also choose to play by requesting your chosen numbers verbally.

A Column or Simple Column in Pick3 is created by selecting your game type from ‘EXACT ORDER’, ‘ANY ORDER’ and ‘WHEEL’, and mark the corresponding numbers per game type. In Exact Order (Straight) and Any Order (Box), you may select three (3) digits from zero (0) to nine (9) per line. For the game type Wheel, you may pick one (1) or two (2) digits. The remaining digit(s) are irrelevant for winner selection, as a bet is only placed in digits picked by the player, in exact order.

With Pick3 you can choose to play Game Type Exact Order, Any Order and Wheel. You may select one Game Type and the corresponding amount of numbers.
The three (3) game types available for Pick3 are:

  • Exact Order (Straight) – where a player picks three (3) digits and marks the box [EXACT ORDER] in the game type area. A bet is placed on matching 3 digits in exact order.
  • Any Order (Box) – where a player picks three (3) digits and mark the box [ANY ORDER] in the game type area. A bet is placed on matching three (3) digits in any order.
  • Wheel – where a player picks one (1) or two (2) digits and marks the box [WHEEL] in the game type area. The remaining digit(s) are irrelevant for winner selection. A bet is placed only on digits picked by the player, in exact order.

On each Playing Board, you may choose a stake from €1.00 or €2.00. You may also further multiply your stake by marking a selection of boxes from two (2) to (10) and [x5] and/or [x10] in the ‘MULTIPLIER’ section. The Multiplier box will multiply the total stake for all Playing Boards filled on the playslip.

A playslip is a printed form which is used by the player to choose and fill in his/her gaming preferences and submit it to the Retailer in one of the National Lottery retail outlets.
The ticket is the receipt you will be given after purchasing your selections from our retail outlets. The ticket is the only legal receipt which shall be used to claim a prize if the ticket has winning columns.

The draws take place through the National Lottery Central System with the use of a ‘Random Number Generator’ program. Both draws are transmitted live at the National Lottery points of sale, and both draw results are also broadcast on TV.
For each draw, the system randomly generates three (3) digits between zero (0) to nine (9).

Pick3 results and other information can be accessed from this website and The National Lottery Facebook or Instagram page, as well as at all National Lottery retail outlets. The winning numbers are also published on newspapers the following day. You may also contact Helpline by calling on 2600 7777 or send an email to [email protected]

PLAYSLIP

Yes, you can play different game types on each Playing Board on the Pick3 playslip.
For example, on the same playslip you may play Exact Order in Game Are A, Wheel in Playing Board B and a Quick Pick in Playing Board C.

Each Pick3 playslip contains of eight (8) Playing Boards or Boards (A to H). In each of the Playing Boards, you must choose the game type, select the desired digits, or mark the Quick Pick box if you would like the terminal to randomly select an amount of numbers and the stake amount. A Simple Column may be played in each Playing Board. On each playslip, you have to mark with an ‘X’ the preferred draw time, from [MIDDAY] and/or [EVENING].
Systems is not acceptable for play in Pick3.

Quick Pick is a fully automatic number selection method where the terminal generates all of the numbers according to the game rules.
For a Simple Column Quick Pick, mark the QUICK PICK [QP] box on any one of the eight (8) boards, together with the preferred Game Type. The system will randomly pick an amount of numbers equal to the Game Type number selected.
You should also mark a stake amount on the filled Playing Boards.

The ‘MULTIPLIER’ option allows you to multiply your basic stake by selecting the box with the multiplier of your choice. By marking the respective box within the ‘MULTIPLIER’ section from two (2) up to ten (10), you have the option to multiply the stake by two (2) up to ten (10) times. You may also additionally mark the box [x5] and/or [x10], together with one more multiplier box from two (2) up to ten (10). With this method you have the option of multiplying your stake up to a maximum of five hundred (500) times.
The ‘MULTIPLIER’ box marked will multiply the total stake for the Numbers Area/s filled on the playslip.

With the same playslip you may participate in more than one draw with the same numbers. You may increase the frequency of participation by two (2) and up to seven (7) draws, by marking the respective box from two (2) to seven (7) within the ‘CONSECUTIVE DRAWS’ section. You may then additionally mark the boxes [MID-DAY] and/or [EVENING] to further increase the selected number of participation draws.
You may participate up to a maximum of fourteen (14) consecutive draws, by selecting both the Midday and Evening draws boxes and box [7] in the Consecutive Draws section.
Please note that the CONSECUTIVE DRAWS selection is valid for all Playing Boards of the playslip. The total cost of all the consecutive draws must be paid when purchasing the ticket.

The ‘VOID’ box within a particular Playing Board is marked if you would like to cancel one of the Playing Boards. If, for example, you cancel Playing Board A, the choices you marked in Playing Board B would still be valid.
TICKET

It is your entire responsibility to ensure that the selections printed on the ticket are correct as the ones selected. You have the possibility to cancel a ticket from a retailer, within 10 minutes from the time the ticket was issued, but not later than the cancel close time. You have a right to a refund of your stake.

National Lottery is not responsible for lost or stolen tickets. To claim a prize, you have to present the winning ticket. It is important to note that the lottery ticket, which is the only valid proof-of-purchase, is the thermal receipt which the retailer issues after payment is received.

In the case of damaged tickets where both the Barcode Number and QR code are unreadable or destroyed, you can still claim your prizes from the Head Office of National Lottery plc, with the relevant ticket, only IF the ticket contains ALL of the following:

  • CRC Number
  • Draw Date
  • Retailer Number
  • Terminal Number
  • Playslip Number
WINNINGS

To win in Pick3, you must match the digits selected with the three (3) digits drawn. The order of the digits is relevant and may affect the winning outcome. Winning also depend on the game type and the stake amounts chosen.
Following is a table showing the corresponding winning amounts and odds of winning for each Game Type:

Game type Numbers matched Winning amount Odds
Order (Straight) Match all digits in exact order 600 x the stake 1:1,000
Any Order (Box) Match all digits in any order 100 x the stake 1:167
Wheel (2 digits picked by the player) Match 2 digits in exact position 60 x the stake 1:100
Wheel (1 digit picked by the player) Match 1 digit in exact position 6 x the stake 1:10

Pick3 will support a draw liability limit which shall be configured to a pre-defined amount. Once the liability limit has been reached, National Lottery plc shall reject any subsequent attempts to place Pick3 bets on specific combination(s) that would cause the draw liability to exceed the limit.

The printed ticket is the unique valid document for prize payment and only whoever presents the winning ticket may claim the prize. Pick3 prizes up to €5,000 are payable at any National Lottery retail outlets. Prizes over €5,000 are payable at the National Lottery plc Head Office against presentation of a valid and unexpired identification document. Winners have sixty (60) days from the respective draw date, to claim their prize/s.
The payment of a ticket that participates in consecutive draws and wins in more than one draw can be claimed as follows:

  • After the completion of each draw in which the ticket participates and wins, a payout ticket is printed at any retail outlet. The same is repeated for each of the next winning draws. The prizes can be claimed up to sixty (60) days from the respective draw date.
  • If two or more prizes are won with the same ticket, the winner can claim all the prizes together within sixty (60) days from the first draw date, or individually within 60 days from the date of each draw.

If you have a winning ticket, you can claim the prize within sixty (60) consecutive days from the respective draw date. If the last claim day falls on a Sunday or a Public holiday, the claim period will be extended to the first working day thereafter.

Any winner will not be able to claim his/her prize/s if:

  • The holder of the winning ticket is a minor or a prohibired ticket holder.
  • The ticket has been tampered with in any way.
  • Both the Barcode number and the QR code are unreadable or destroyed. In such circumstances, the players can still claim their prize from the Head Office of National Lottery if they present the actual ticket with the following data:
    • Draw Date
    • Retailer Number
    • Terminal Number
    • Playslip Number

The player must be aged 18 years or older to play and claim a prize.

Pick3 Results

Check your numbers with
the latest Pick3 results.

Archived Results

View all Pick3 past results
archived by year.

Pick3 Number Generator

Generate your own numbers here
for the next Pick3 draw.

How to Play?

Not yet sure how Pick3 works? Take a look at the step-by-step guide here.

Pick3 Statistics

Discover interesting statistics about the most common numbers drawn in Pick3.

Other Lottery Results

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