Read through these frequently asked questions about New York’s Numbers game to find out everything you need to know, from purchasing tickets to winning prizes.
Numbers is the name of the lottery in New York which requires you to select a three-digit combination from 000 to 999. Other versions of the game found in other states are commonly known as Pick 3.
There are two draws every day - a Midday drawing at 2:30 p.m. and an Evening drawing at 10:30 p.m.
Ticket sales close at 2:15 p.m. for the Midday draw, and at 10:20 p.m. for the Evening draw.
To win a prize, you need the numbers you pick to match the winning numbers that are drawn. You also have to meet certain requirements based on the wager type you choose, for example whether you match the numbers in exact order or any order.
There are several wager types to choose from – Straight, Box, Straight/Box, Combination, Front Pair or Back Pair. Go to the How to Play page to find out more about each one.
You can decide whether to wager $0.50 or $1 per play.
Prize amounts are fixed, based on your wager amount and wager type. The most you can win is $500, if you play a Straight and wager $1.
The odds of matching all three numbers exactly - a Straight - are 1 in 1,000. You can improve your chances of winning by opting for a different wager type. Go to the Odds and Prizes page for more information.
Anyone aged 18 or over can play Numbers and other New York lottery games.
Although lottery prizes in New York are taxed at federal and state level, they only start to be applied on payouts worth $600 or more, so no taxes are withheld on Pick 3 payouts.
You can enter your numbers into up to seven consecutive draws by using the Multi-Draw area of your playslip.
The winning numbers are selected using a mechanical draw machine. There are two sets of balls (for the Midday and Evening drawings), which are changed every month.
You can claim prizes from authorized lottery retailers, or by mailing in your winning ticket to the New York Lottery, PO Box 7533, Schenectady, NY 12301-7533.
You have one year to claim any New York Lottery prize. Any unclaimed prize money is returned to the prize pool to pay winners in future draws or promotions, or is transferred to the state to support education.
It is your responsibility to keep hold of your lottery tickets, as they are regarded as bearer instruments and you would not be able to claim a prize without being in possession of a valid winning entry.
