This is actually about pick 4, but it's also about pick 3. I guess I could pick up a couple of slips at the store and just look at them, but since I'm a member of a site where there are lottery experts....
I realize that the pick 3 and pick 4 games have a lot of different ways you can win. (I've read the instructions! LOL) They say:
1. Select the amount you want to play: 50 cents or $1.
2. Select the play type: Straight, Box, Straight/Box, Combo, Front Pair, or Back Pair.
3. Select one numbers (from 0 through 9) from each column for a total of three digits, or mark the QP (Quick Pick) box and let the terminal randomly pick some or all of your numbers. For a Front Pair play, select numbers from the first two columns only; and, for a Back Pair play, select numbers from the last two columns only.
4. Select the draw time. Select MID for the midday drawing (1:30 p.m. ET), EVE for the evening drawing (7:57 p.m. ET) draw, or BOTH for both the midday and evening drawings. If no draw time is marked, the terminal will automatically print a ticket for the next available draw. If BOTH is selected, two separate tickets will print – one for the midday drawing and one for the evening drawing.
I think #2 & #3 answers my question which is "If you ask for a QP, do you have to also indicate straight or boxed?" This is the reason:
My neighbor won $330 last week. According to the FL site, that is the prize for a pick-3 boxed $1 bet. She said "I had $5 in my pocket, so I walked up to the counter and asked the girl "Do I look lucky tonight?" and then she asked for "5 tickets for the pick 3" (her words.) Maybe she was asked "straight or boxed?" $0.50 or $1? I think I'd probably fill out a slip & pick some numbers, but she got me thinking. (after all, I am an LP member, right? LOL)
So what would happen if you just asked for 5 Quick Picks? (for either pick 4 or pick 5) Does the clerk ask "Do you want to bet $1 or $0.50? or "Boxed/Straight?" Day/Evening? I get irritated when I'm in line and someone is calling out numbers and the various ways he/she wants to play, etc. Sometimes the tickets are printed & I hear "that's wrong" and want to say "so fill out a slip, you big pain in the rear."
Just me being curious.