How to Play Pick 4
To play New Jersey Pick 4, you'll need to select either two or four numbers from 0 to 9. The fun part comes when you're picking what type of bet to make, and how much to stake on it. In this guide, we'll cover all the mechanics to this draw game – you'll leave with a full understanding of the rules.
Drawings take place daily at 12:59 PM and 10:53 PM ET. You must purchase your ticket before 12:53 PM for the midday draw, and before 10:53 PM for the evening draw.
Choose your numbers
Once you've got your playslip, mark 4 numbers from 0 to 9, one in each column. You can pick the same number multiple times. If you intend to make a Pair bet (more on this later), only select the front two numbers, or the back two numbers. If you want the lottery terminal to generate a set of random numbers for you, mark the "QP" box and leave the numbers blank. Each playslip has room for three plays.
Select a play type
There are lots of ways to bet on Pick 4, and you need to select one on your playslip. We'll explain how each bet works below:
Straight
You are betting that your chosen numbers will be drawn in the order you selected them. For example, the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4 would only win if those numbers were drawn in that exact order.
Box
You are betting that your chosen numbers will be drawn in any order. There are four types of Box play:
| Number of Ways | Description | Example | Winning Combinations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4-Way | Three identical digits, and a fourth separate one | 1112 | 1112, 1121, 1211, 2111 |
| 6-Way | Two pairs of identical digits | 4488 | 4488, 4848, 4884, 8484, 8448, 8844 |
| 12-Way | A pair of identical numbers, and two unique numbers | 5567 | 5567, 5576, 5657, 5675, 5756, 5765, 6557, 6575, 6755, 7556, 7565,7655 |
| 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 |
Straight/Box
You are betting on both outcomes – that the numbers will appear in any order, and that they will appear in drawn-order. If you win the Straight prize, you can also claim the box prize too!
Wheel
You are betting that your four numbers will be drawn in any order – the same as a Box play. However, every possible combination of your numbers will be purchased as a separate Straight bet! This can raise the cost of the ticket quite a lot, but massively increases your odds of winning the top prize.
Pairs
You are only need to select two numbers for this one – the Front Pair, or the Back Pair. You are betting that the two numbers you select will appear in those positions, in drawn order.
Choose your wager amount
You can bet different amounts depending on which play type you've chosen. Naturally, bigger bets get bigger prizes. Here's how it works:
- You can choose to bet from $0.50 to $5 on Straight, Box, and Pair plays.
- You can bet from $1 to $5 on Straight/Box plays. The amount you bet is split evenly between the Straight & Box plays, should you win a prize.
- Wheel plays vary a lot in price. You can bet from $0.50 to $5, and this bet is multiplied by however many ways you play. Prices start at $2 for a 4-Way (at $0.50 per combination), going up to $120 for a 24-Way at $5 per combination.
The Fireball add-on
This optional extra doubles the prize of your ticket and significantly boosts your chances of winning a prize. A fifth number, the Fireball, is drawn immediately after the main numbers. You can replace one of the winning numbers with the Fireball to make a winning combination.
For example, if you made a Straight bet on 2, 4, 6, 8 and the winning numbers were 2, 4, 6, 0, that would normally be a loss. However, if you've paid for the Fireball, and the Fireball happens to be 8, you could substitute the 0 for the 8 and win a prize!
In practice, it's like having a fifth number that you don't get to pick – it's a gamechanger!
Multi Draw
You can use the Multi Draw panel on your playslip to play the same numbers in upcoming draws. Pick from the next 2 – 7 draws, or leave blank to play just the one.
Odds and Prizes
All those play types and bets, there are dozens of prizes available! We would recommend checking the tables on our Odds and Prizes page for the full details. For now, we'll mention that the top prize is $5,000 for a $1 Straight play, while the lowest prize is $7 for winning a $0.50 Pair play using the Fireball (still a $6 gain though!).
Instant Match
Finally, for anyone who wants even more ways to win, you can apply the Instant Match add-on for an extra $1 per play. Here's how it works:
- Check the Instant Match box at the bottom of your Pick 4 playslip.
- When you get your Pick 4 ticket, it'll show your chosen numbers along with 4 random numbers from 0 to 9. Each of the random numbers will be assigned a prize from $2 to $500.
- If any of your Pick 4 numbers match the Instant Match numbers, you can claim the attached prize instantly at the store. Nice!
- The overall odds of winning any prize are 1 in 7, but the prize values are assigned at different rates. To check them all, visit the Odds and Prizes page.
Claiming your Prize
If you end up winning NJ Pick 4, there are a few ways to make your claim, depending on the value of the prize, and whether you're currently in New Jersey. For more details, visit our How to Claim page. However, you should know that prizes can only be redeemed within 1 year of the winning drawing. After this, the ticket will be considered 'expired'.
The combined Powerball and Mega Millions jackpots are currently estimated at...
