Whether you want to know the differences between the DC Pick 3 bet types or you are curious about the claims process, you can find the answers to all the most frequently asked questions about the game.
DC 3 is a three-digit lottery that is played three times a day. Each of the winning numbers is selected from a separate set of 0 to 9. There are lots of ways to play and a variety of prizes. Similar versions of the game are played around the country, where it is commonly known as Pick 3.
Midday drawings take place at 1:50 p.m., Evening drawings at 7:50 p.m., and Night drawings at 11:30 p.m.
Ticket sales stop at 1:49 p.m., 7:49 p.m. and 11:29 p.m., one minute before the drawings are held.
You are required to pick three numbers from 0 to 9 (or two if you are playing a Pair). There are several different bet types to choose from which offer different ways to play.
The bet types you can pick are Straight, Box, Straight/Box, Combo, Front Pair or Back Pair. Find out more about each one on the How to Play page.
This term refers to how many different combinations can be made from your set of numbers. When you pick three different numbers, such as 123, this is a 6-Way play. A 3-Way play has two numbers that are the same out of three, for example 112, which can only be ordered three ways (112, 121, 211).
You can use the Multi-Draw option to play up to seven consecutive drawings. It is also possible to play a future draw up to seven days in advance without having to enter all the preceding draws, just by marking the relevant day on your playslip.
You must be at least 18 years old to play any lottery in the District of Columbia.
You can decide whether to wager $0.50 or $1 per play for most bet types, although a Straight/Box is a fixed $1.
There is one prize for each bet type in DC Pick 3. The most you can win for a single play is $500, if you bet $1 on a Straight.
The odds of matching three numbers in order and winning the game’s top prize are 1 in 1,000. The odds are better for all of the other bet types.
There’s only a prize for matching two numbers if you play a Pair and match both digits in the correct positions. If you pick three numbers, you must match them all to be able to win and there is no sort of consolation prize for getting two correct.
You can claim DC Lottery prizes of up to $600 from lottery retailers or by mail. If claiming by mail, you’ll need to send in your signed winning ticket to DC Lottery Prize Center, 2235 Shannon Place, SE, Washington, D.C. 20020.
You must claim any prizes you win within 180 days of the draw taking place. Unclaimed prizes are transferred to the District of Columbia’s General Fund so they can be used to support essential services.
It is your responsibility to keep your ticket safe, so it is a good idea to sign the back of it. If a ticket is not signed, anyone holding one will be regarded as the rightful owner and will be able to make a claim. If you lose a ticket, you may therefore be unable to claim any prizes it might have been due.
As well as paying for prizes, the DC Lottery uses its revenue to help operate and administer games. It also transfers a large chunk to the General Fund, which helps education, recreation and parks, public safety, housing and senior and child services.
