How to Play Pick 4
One of the advantages of Pick 4 is that it offers so many different ways to play – but that does mean it takes a bit longer to explain! Bear with us while we show you how to play Pick 4…
Buying your ticket
You can buy Pick 4 tickets at any authorized retailer in Florida. Each Pick 4 playslip has five panels. These are labeled from A to E. Each panel represents a single play.
You need to select a number from 0 to 9 from each column so that you have a total of four digits. Alternatively, you could opt for a Quick Pick and have the lottery terminal randomly generate your numbers.
Draw Times
On your playslip, you need to select the draw time you want to enter. Pick MID for the Midday draw, EVE for the Evening draw, or BOTH if you want to enter both draws.
The deadline for purchasing your tickets is 10 minutes before the drawing takes place. That's 1:20 PM ET for the Midday drawing, and 9:35 PM ET for the Evening drawing.
Play Types
Pick 4 has a number of different play types, each with different odds and prizes. These are: Straight, Box, Straight/Box, Combo, Front Pair, Mid Pair, and Back Pair. You can find the odds and prizes for these plays on our Odds and Prizes page.
Straight
For a Straight play, you must match the drawn numbers exactly in order.
Box
A Box play allows you to match the drawn numbers in any order.
Straight/Box
A Straight/Box splits your wager in half between the two play types, and you can win with both techniques simultaneously.
Combo
Opting for Combo play results in every possible combination of your numbers entered as a separate Straight. This is different to Box play because it costs more and returns greater prizes.
Pairs
The Pair play type allows you to bet on two numbers appearing beside each other in drawn order. You can bet on the Front Pair (balls 1 & 2), the Mid Pair (2 & 3) and the Back Pair (3 & 4).
Wager Amounts
You can bet $0.50 or $1 on Straights, Boxes, and Pairs, but Straight/Box plays always cost $1. The Combo play type is more versatile as you can wager between $2 and $24 - equivalent to 4 $0.50 straights and 24 $1 straights.
If you want to add the Fireball option, this will double the cost of your ticket, no matter what plays and wagers you’ve made. We’ll explain how the fireball works later on.
Winning Combinations
For Box, Straight/Box and Combo plays, the combination of numbers that you play makes a big difference in terms of the prizes you can win and the odds. Check the table below:
| Number of Ways | Description | Example | Winning Combinations | Combo Play Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4-Way | Three identical digits and one unique digit | 1112 | 1112, 1121, 1211, 2111 | $2 or $4 |
| 6-Way | Two sets of pairs | 3344 | 3344, 3434, 3443, 4334, 4343, 4433 | $3 or $6 |
| 12-Way | One pair and two unique digits | 5677 | 5677, 5767, 5766, 6577, 6757, 6775, 7567, 7576, 7657, 7675, 7756, 7765 | $6 or $12 |
| 24-Way | Four different numbers | 1234 | 1234, 1243, 1324, 1342, 1423, 1432, 2134, 2143, 2314, 2341, 2413, 2431, 3124, 3142, 3214, 3241, 3412, 3421, 4123, 4132, 4213, 4231, 4312, 4321 | $12 or $24 |
Fireball Option
Pick 4 has an add-on called Fireball. This feature allows you to increase your chances of winning by giving you the chance to create more winning combinations. Fireball doubles the cost of your play, and applies to all panels on your playslip.
The Fireball number, also ranging from 0 - 9, is drawn after the main Pick 4 numbers are selected. It works by letting you swap out one of the four winning numbers and replacing it with the Fireball. For example, if you play 1234 as a Straight play and the numbers drawn are 9234, this would be a loss in the base game. However, if the Fireball is a 1, you can switch it with the 9 that was drawn to create a winning combination of 1234.
Go to the Odds and Prizes page to see all the payouts, with and without Fireball.
Advance Play Option
If you want to enter multiple upcoming draws, make the most of the Advance Play option which allows you to enter up to 14 consecutive days.
When to check the results
We publish the latest Pick 4 results right after the draws take place, so you can check if your ticket is a winner as soon as possible. You will find the winning numbers on the Numbers page, after the Midday draw (1:30 PM ET) and after the Evening draw (9:45 PM ET) take place.