Lotteries
Pick-3 Odds: Straight, Box and Pool Payouts
Check the odds of any Pick 3 number for OLG in Ontario and for WCLC: straight or box, how repeated digits change box odds, and how each lottery sets prizes.
112 is a pair: its digits can be drawn in 3 different orders, so a box bet on it wins 3 times as often as a straight bet, for a smaller prize.
Every bet of WCLC PICK 3
| Bet | Chance | Prize | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straight (exact order) | 1 in 1,000printed: 1,000 | $500 | 50.0% |
| Box, 3 ordersAAB · a pair | 1 in 333.3printed: 333 | $160 | 48.0% |
| Straight/box, 3 ordersAAB · a pair | 1 in 1,000exact orderprinted: 1,000 | $330 | 49.0% |
| 1 in 500another order | $80 | ||
| Box, 6 ordersABC · three different digits | 1 in 166.7printed: 167 | $80 | 48.0% |
| Straight/box, 6 ordersABC · three different digits | 1 in 1,000exact orderprinted: 1,000 | $290 | 49.0% |
| 1 in 200another order | $40 |
Playing every draw at $1 costs about $0.50 a day on average with the best of these bets (Straight (exact order)).
Show the formula
There are 1,000 equally likely draws (000 to 999). A bet covering w of them wins with chance w / 1,000.
orders of 112 = 3! / (repeats!) = 3
return = sum of (chance x prize) / price
Source: WCLC – PICK 3 Game Conditions and Prize Structure Statement, WCLC – PICK games page, WCLC – PICK 2 Game Conditions and Prize Structure Statement · checked 2026-10-29
Straight vs box
| Bet | Number pattern | Orders that match | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straight | Any number | One exact order | 1 in 1,000 |
| Box, six-way | All digits different (ABC) | Six orders | 1 in 166.7 |
| Box, three-way | One pair (AAB) | Three orders | 1 in 333.3 |
| Box | Triple (AAA) | Not offered – straight only | – |
A triple has only one order. OLG and WCLC accept it for a straight play only.
How box odds are counted
Box odds = straight odds ÷ number of different orders of your digits
Example: For example, a pair like AAB has three orders, so its box odds are 1 in 333.3 instead of 1 in 1,000.
How many numbers have each pattern
All digits different
72.0% of numbersPattern ABC. Six orders, so a box bet covers six draws – the six-way box.
One pair
27.0% of numbersPattern AAB. Two digits match, so only three orders exist – the three-way box.
Triple
1.0% of numbersPattern AAA. One order only, so straight play only.
OLG pool vs WCLC fixed
OLG – prize pool
- 50% of each draw's ticket sales forms the prize pool.
- The pool is split among all winning shares, counted per base wager.
- More winners on the same number means a smaller prize each.
- On a pair, the straight prize is three times the box prize.
- Bets: straight or box. Draws twice a day.
WCLC – fixed prizes
- Each prize is a fixed multiple of the wager, set in the paytable.
- The prize does not depend on how many people win.
- Bets: straight, box or straight/box.
- Straight/box: exact order pays more, any order pays less.
- Draws once a day.
WCLC share of wagers paid back
| Bet | Paid back as prizes on average |
|---|---|
| Straight | 50.0% |
| Box, six-way | 48.0% |
| Box, three-way | 48.0% |
| Straight/box, six-way | 49.0% |
| Straight/box, three-way | 49.0% |
The rest of each wager is the expected loss. In OLG's pool, prizes total 50% of sales. Read more on changing prize amounts.
Related games and tools
Sources
- OLG – PICK-3 Game Conditions · checked Oct 29, 2026
- WCLC – PICK 3 Game Conditions and Prize Structure Statement · checked Oct 29, 2026
- OLG – About PICK-3 · checked Oct 29, 2026
- OLG – PICK-3 past results and odds · checked Oct 29, 2026
- WCLC – PICK games page · checked Oct 29, 2026
- WCLC – PICK 2 Game Conditions and Prize Structure Statement · checked Oct 29, 2026
- WCLC – PICK 4 Game Conditions and Prize Structure Statement · checked Oct 29, 2026
Questions
What are the odds of a Pick 3 straight bet?
A straight play pays if all three digits match in exact order. The odds are 1 in 1,000 for every number, including triples.
What is a box bet in Pick 3?
A box play pays if your digits come up in any order. All-different digits have six orders (1 in 166.7); a pair has three (1 in 333.3). Triples are straight only.
Why do repeated digits change Pick 3 box odds?
A repeated digit cuts the number of different orders. ABC has six orders, AAB three, AAA one, so a box bet on a pair covers fewer draws.
How are Pick 3 prizes set in Ontario?
OLG puts 50% of each draw's sales into a prize pool and splits it among the winning shares, so the prize changes with the number of winners.
Does WCLC Pick 3 pay fixed prizes?
Yes. WCLC's game conditions set each prize as a fixed multiple of the wager. A straight bet pays back about 50.0% of wagers on average.