Pick 3 – NC Payouts, Straight vs. Box Odds & Value
Last updated: October 25, 2026 ET (updates after every new draw)
Fixed $500 Straight top prize (1 in 1,000 odds) · 52% average return every draw.
From headline to real value
- Cash EV
- -$0.48 Per $1 ticket
The estimated Pick 3 – NC jackpot for Sunday’s draw is $500, with a cash option of $500 and an estimated $315 after federal taxes.
The cash expected value is -$0.48 per $1 ticket before split risk. Fixed $500 Straight top prize (1 in 1,000 odds) · 52% average return every draw.
Data & model basis: official Pick 3 – NC data · 2026 tax inputs where applicable · Lucky Picks calculations
Quick poll: Playing Pick 3 – NC's next draw, or sitting out?
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Facts, sources & assumptions
Why trust this Pick 3 – NC breakdown
Withholding is a prepayment; final tax depends on filing circumstances.
Pick 3 – NC Jackpot Analysis & Payout Guide
What this means
Why Pick 3 – NC returns 52% on every draw
Unlike rollover games where expected value depends on the jackpot size, Pick 3 – NC pays fixed cash prizes every Midday and Evening drawing. A $1 Straight pays $500 at 1 in 1,000 odds (50¢ expected return per $1). Front and Back Pairs pay $50 at 1 in 100 odds (also 50¢ per $1).
Basis: Official fixed prize schedule · $1 base wager · no annuity discount
What this means
Trading payout size for hit frequency
A Box bet covers every permutation of your 3 digits on a single $1 ticket. For all-distinct digits, that improves hit odds to 1 in 167 (6-Way) for a $80 payout. Use our Rundown & Mirror Workstation to filter combinations and eliminate duplicate Box lines before you play.
Basis: 3-digit ordered combinatorics · Straight, Box, and Pair tiers
Pick 3 – NC Fixed Payouts, Straight vs. Box Odds & Return Breakdown
Oct 25, 2026
| Advertised Next Jackpot | $500 |
|---|
| Jackpot Odds | 1 in 1,000 |
|---|---|
| Fairness Signal | 🛡️ High Confidence |
| Expected Value | -$0.48 per ticket |
Quick poll: What's the max you've won so far on Pick 3 – NC?
Pick 3 – NC Expected Value (EV), Jackpot Thresholds & Break-Even Projections
The expected value (EV) captures the real cost-adjusted return of a lottery ticket. The following shows how the estimated EV of a single ticket changes as the jackpot grows. Cash-value and tax adjustments are applied where relevant.
Detailed EV and split-risk breakdown
| Metric | Value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Cash EV (Before Taxes) | -$0.48 | Prizes are paid directly in cash (before taxes). |
| Net EV (After Taxes) | -$0.48 | The actual bottom line. After 37% federal tax. |
Note: State taxes are not included and will further reduce the Net EV depending on where you live.
How Estimated Expected Value (EV) Is Calculated
The expected value shown here is an estimate based on publicly available rules and historical payout behavior. It is designed to show order-of-magnitude value, not predict exact outcomes for any single draw. Actual results may vary due to changes in lottery rules, taxes, and other factors such as prize splitting.
1
Calculate prize probabilities: For each of the 5 number-match categories, multiply the payout by its probability (for example, jackpot divided by 1,000). Multiplier variants belong to the same match category and must be weighted, not counted as additional chances.
2
Sum probability-weighted payouts: We use the jackpot’s published cash value, or the clearly labeled cash estimate when no current cash value is published.
3
Subtract ticket cost: We subtract the $1.00 ticket price to get the Cash Value EV (Before Taxes) (-$0.48).
Caveats: The headline estimated EV (-$0.48) uses the published cash prizes before taxes (there is no annuity or lump-sum discount). The Net EV (After Taxes) (-$0.48) shown above accounts for federal taxes. Variable prize tiers are modeled conservatively using historical payout distributions. Actual payouts may differ from draw to draw.
Fixed prizes: the best play returns about 52¢ per $1 on average, every draw.
The current estimated Cash Expected Value (pre-tax) is -$0.48, meaning you can expect to lose about 0.48 on average for every ticket.
Because Pick 3 – NC has fixed prizes that do not roll over, the expected value stays constant from draw to draw.
Pick 3 – NC payout chart
What each Pick 3 – NC prize tier pays after taxes
Pick a prize tier to see what usually lands in your account once the cash option, federal and state taxes, and jackpot sharing are priced in.
If your numbers come up Box (3-way) · 1 in 333 per line
Separate advertised prizes, withholding and final-tax planning. Weighted averages are estimates, not your ticket’s payout.
Box (3-way) pays $160 at 1 in 333 per line.
Choose another tier to update this payout view.
What each Pick 3 – NC prize costs to chase
The 50% modeled hit point is how many independent lines give a 50% chance of at least one hit at that tier. Prize coverage compares one prize with what those lines cost.
| Prize tier | Prize | Odds per line | Lines for a coin-flip shot | Cost of those lines | Prize covers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackpot (Straight) | $500 | 1 in 1,000 | 693 2 yrs at one line per draw |
$692.80 | 72% |
| Box (3-way) | $160 | 1 in 333 | 230 33 wk at one line per draw |
$230.47 | 69% |
| Box (6-way) | $80 | 1 in 167 | 115 16 wk at one line per draw |
$115.41 | 69% |
| Front Pair | $50 | 1 in 100 | 69 10 wk at one line per draw |
$68.97 | 72% |
| Back Pair | $50 | 1 in 100 | 69 10 wk at one line per draw |
$68.97 | 72% |
“Coin-flip shot” models independent chances; same-draw line overlap can change the exact probability. It is not the EV break-even threshold. “Prize covers” compares one prize (jackpot: current advertised amount before taxes and sharing) with what those lines cost. Free tickets are not cash.
For every prize’s payout and odds, see the Pick 3 – NC payout charts and how to win. The guide also covers the modeled hit points and what strategies can and cannot change.
Pick 3 – NC Next Draw Split Risk & Rollover Context
Pick 3 – NC rolls into the next draw with about $500 on the table
Across the last 3 completed draws, 9 of 9 main numbers landed at 9 or below. That helps explain why birthday-heavy and other common picks can make a shared jackpot more likely when casual play surges.
Rundown Workout (+1+1+1 / +1+2+3 / +3+1+7) is currently the strongest monitoring signal, showing +10.80% recent win-count change versus random across 100 draws and +93.59 quality-adjusted wins per 1,000 picks. We surface that as expected-value and split-risk context only – not as a prediction of the next winning numbers.
Pick 3 – NC vs. Powerball: Jackpot Growth Comparison
This chart compares how quickly Pick 3 – NC and Powerball jackpots grow between draws over the recent 6-month window, highlighting differences in rollover speed and peak jackpot accumulation.
Log scale active. Selected jackpot peaks differ by at least 10×, so equal vertical steps represent multiplication rather than equal dollar increases.
Chart tracks jackpot growth velocity and resets.
This page keeps the chart focused on the recent 6 months for faster loading. For longer history and broader comparisons, visit the Lottery Jackpots Hub.
Pick 3 – NC Numbers Drawn Last Night
Oct 24, 2026
Winning Numbers
Evening
Daytime
| Advertised Draw Jackpot | $500 |
| Est. Net Cash (after fed tax) | $315 |
Was This Draw Fair?
Quick answer
No obvious red flag
The broader audit for this lottery still looks consistent with a fair random process. Use the full historical audit for a stronger fairness read than one draw can provide.
Full audit
100/100
Highly Trustworthy • 5,000 draws analyzed
One draw never proves fairness on its own. Use the full audit for the historical test.
See the full Pick 3 – NC fairness auditWhat Can Strategy Actually Change?
Quick answer
Your bet structure & Box deduplication — not the draw odds
Every ordered Pick 3 – NC combination has the same probability in a single draw. Strategy helps you choose between Straight, 3-Way/6-Way Box, and $50 Front/Back Pair plays — and prevents overpaying for duplicate Box permutations.
Top positional workout
Rundown Workout (+3+1+7)
+10.8% recent position-hit difference vs. baseline · QUIET
Use the interactive rundown, mirror, and sum workstation to organize your play.
Open the Pick 3 – NC Rundown WorkstationFAQ
How much is the Pick 3 – NC jackpot for the next draw on Sunday?
The estimated Pick 3 – NC jackpot for Sunday, Oct 25, is $500.
What are the odds of winning the Pick 3 – NC jackpot?
The odds of winning the Pick 3 – NC jackpot are 1 in 1,000. Your overall odds of winning any prize are 1 in 1,000.
Is it worth playing the next Pick 3 – NC draw?
The current estimated Cash Expected Value (pre-tax) is -$0.48, meaning you can expect to lose about 0.48 on average for every ticket. Because Pick 3 – NC has fixed prizes that do not roll over, the expected value stays constant from draw to draw.
How much tax do I pay on Pick 3 – NC winnings?
Eligible US lottery winnings over $5,000 generally have 24% federal withholding. That is a prepayment, not the final tax rate; final liability depends on income and filing circumstances, and the federal marginal rate can reach 37%. State and local taxes can also apply. These are planning assumptions, not individual tax advice.
What is the cash value of the Pick 3 – NC jackpot?
The Pick 3 – NC top prize of $500 is paid directly as a lump-sum cash prize (there is no annuity schedule). Federal and state taxes may apply depending on the prize amount and jurisdiction.
What are the Pick 3 – NC odds of winning any prize?
Your overall odds of winning any Pick 3 – NC prize are 1 in 1,000. The jackpot odds are 1 in 1,000. Smaller prize categories have better odds than the jackpot.
When is the next Pick 3 – NC drawing?
The next Pick 3 – NC drawing is scheduled for Sunday, Oct 25. Check the official lottery for the ticket-sales cutoff in your location. Set up alerts in the Lucky Picks app to track the schedule.
What’s the best Pick 3 – NC strategy?
There isn’t a trick that changes the odds of a single ticket. The sensible approach is to treat lottery as entertainment, set a budget you can afford, and only play when the estimated expected value feels good enough to you. If you buy multiple lines, buying more numbers is the only proven way to improve coverage. Don’t chase losses or spend money you need elsewhere.
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