You’re standing at the gas station counter, ticket in hand, wondering if those three or four numbers you’ve been playing for months finally hit. It’s a ritual for thousands across the Palmetto State. But honestly, keeping up with the South Carolina lottery results pick 3 and pick 4 can feel like a part-time job if you don't know where to look or how the "Fireball" actually changes the math.
The South Carolina Education Lottery (SCEL) runs these draws twice a day, every day, except for a few specific holiday windows. Whether you're a "straight" bet purist or a "box" strategist, the midday and evening draws are the heartbeat of the local gaming scene.
The Latest Numbers: South Carolina Lottery Results Pick 3 and Pick 4
If you missed the draw on Sunday, January 18, 2026, or the night before, here is the breakdown of what fell out of the hopper.
Pick 3 Results
For the midday drawing on Saturday, January 17, the winning numbers were 7 - 1 - 6. The evening draw followed up with 5 - 1 - 2.
Wait, did you add the Fireball? For that Saturday evening draw, the Fireball was 6. That little extra digit is basically a lifeline. If you had a ticket that was just one number off, the Fireball can step in and replace any of the drawn numbers to create a winning combination. It doubles your bet, sure, but it also creates three new ways to win on a single line.
Pick 4 Results
The four-digit game is a different beast entirely. On Saturday, January 17, the midday numbers were 7 - 1 - 6 - 5. By the time the sun went down, the evening draw produced 5 - 1 - 2 - 6.
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If you’re checking the most recent South Carolina lottery results pick 3 and pick 4 for Sunday, January 18, the midday numbers for Pick 3 were 3 - 2 - 6 and for Pick 4 they were 4 - 0 - 0 - 0. Yes, "quads" actually happen. People love playing 0-0-0-0 or 1-1-1-1, and when they hit, the lottery payout is usually massive because so many people play those specific patterns.
How the Drawing Schedule Actually Works
You can't just walk in at 7:00 p.m. and expect to buy a ticket for that night's game. There’s a cutoff.
- Midday Draws: These happen at 12:59 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
- Evening Draws: These occur at 6:59 p.m. every single night.
- Sunday Exception: There is no midday drawing on Sundays. You only get the evening draw.
- Holiday Rule: Christmas Day is the only other time the midday balls stay in the machine.
Most people don't realize that while the evening draws are televised on local partner stations like WIS in Columbia or WSPA in Spartanburg, the midday draws aren't. They’re digital-only or recorded, which is why everyone rushes to the official website or a retail terminal to check their luck after lunch.
Why Everyone Is Obsessed With the Fireball
Basically, the Fireball is a "wild card." After the regular Pick 3 or Pick 4 numbers are drawn, a separate Fireball number (0-9) is pulled from its own machine.
If you spent the extra buck to add it to your ticket, you can swap that Fireball number for any of the winning numbers drawn.
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Example time: Imagine you played 1-2-3 in Pick 3. The lottery draws 1-2-9 with a Fireball of 3. Without Fireball, you've got nothing but a piece of scrap paper. With Fireball, you replace that 9 with the 3, and suddenly you’ve hit a "straight" for a nice payout.
It’s important to note that you can actually win multiple times on one ticket this way. If the Fireball creates two different winning combinations across the slots, you get paid for both.
The Math: Odds and Payouts
Let's talk reality. The odds of hitting a Pick 3 "straight" (the numbers in the exact order) are 1 in 1,000. It’s clean math. If you bet $1, you win $500.
Pick 4 is significantly harder. The odds of a straight hit jump to 1 in 10,000. But the reward reflects that struggle, with a $1 bet returning $5,000.
Play Types Explained
- Straight: You must match the numbers exactly. 1-2-3 must be 1-2-3.
- Box: You match the numbers in any order. If you play a 6-way box on 1-2-3, you win if it comes up 3-2-1, 2-3-1, etc.
- Combo: This is just a fancy way of buying every possible "straight" combination of your numbers on one ticket. It’s more expensive, but it pays the full $500 (for Pick 3) instead of the smaller "box" prize.
- Pairs: You can actually just bet on the front two numbers or the back two numbers. It’s a niche way to play, but some people swear by it.
Common Misconceptions About SC Pick Games
I’ve heard people say the machines are "due" for a certain number. Honestly? That's not how probability works. Every draw is an independent event. The 1-1-1-1 that hit last month has the exact same statistical chance of hitting tonight as 4-8-2-9.
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Another myth is that you have to go to Columbia to claim any prize. Nope. If you win $500 or less, any authorized lottery retailer—your local gas station or grocery store—can pay you out in cash right there, provided they have the funds in the drawer. For prizes over $500 up to $100,000, you can mail it in or visit a regional claims center in Charleston, Florence, Greenville, or the main office in Columbia.
What to Do If You Win
First, sign the back of that ticket immediately. In South Carolina, a lottery ticket is a "bearer instrument." This means whoever holds the ticket owns the prize. If you drop a winning ticket on the sidewalk and haven't signed it, whoever picks it up can legally claim your money.
Second, check the South Carolina lottery results pick 3 and pick 4 across multiple sources. Don't just trust a third-party app that might have a typo. Use the official SC Education Lottery website or their official app.
Lastly, keep an eye on the expiration date. You have 180 days from the date of the drawing to claim your prize. After that, the money goes back into the state's education fund. While that's a noble cause, you’d probably prefer the cash in your own pocket.
To maximize your chances of a smooth experience, always keep your play slips clean and unwrinkled. The scanners at the retailers can be finicky, and nobody wants a delay when they're trying to collect a few hundred bucks. If you’re playing regularly, consider the "Multi-Draw" option. You can play the same numbers for up to 28 consecutive draws, which saves you the daily trip to the store.
Check your tickets, sign the back, and play within your limits. The numbers move fast, but the thrill is in the daily ritual.