The Daily 4 is a popular lottery game offered by the Texas Lottery. Players choose four numbers from 0 to 9, and there are two drawings held every day. The odds of winning any prize in the Daily 4 game are 1 in 10. Let’s take a closer look at how the game works and the odds for different types of bets.
How to Play the Texas Daily 4
To play the Daily 4, players choose four numbers between 0 and 9. There are several different bet types available:
- Straight – Pick the exact four numbers in the exact order.
- Box – Pick four numbers, and you’ll win if they come up in any order.
- Straight/Box – Combine a straight bet and box bet on the same four numbers.
- Front Pair – Pick the first two numbers to match in exact order.
- Back Pair – Pick the last two numbers to match in exact order.
Drawings are held twice per day, once midday and again in the evening. Tickets can be purchased until 10:45 pm CT for the evening drawing. It costs 50 cents per play per drawing. There are a few different ways to win prizes in the Daily 4:
- Match all four numbers in exact order (Straight bet) – top prize
- Match all four numbers in any order (Box bet) – second prize
- Match first two numbers or last two numbers in order (Pair bet) – third prize
- Match three numbers in any order – fourth prize
- Match two numbers in any order – fifth prize
Odds of Winning the Texas Daily 4
With four numbers selected from 0 to 9, there are a total of 10,000 possible number combinations. Your odds of winning are determined by the type of bet you make:
| Bet Type | Odds of Winning |
|---|---|
| Straight | 1 in 10,000 |
| Box | 1 in 2,500 |
| Straight/Box | Straight: 1 in 10,000 Box: 1 in 2,500 |
| Front Pair | 1 in 100 |
| Back Pair | 1 in 100 |
As you can see, a Straight bet has the highest odds, while Pair bets have the best odds. Let’s take a closer look at the key bet types:
Straight Bet Odds
A Straight bet has the highest odds, but also the biggest payouts. You must match all four numbers in the exact order. With four numbers each selected from 0 to 9, there are 10,000 total combinations. So your odds of winning with a Straight bet are 1 in 10,000.
Box Bet Odds
With a Box bet, you win if your four numbers come up in any order. There are 24 possible combinations of four numbers taken four at a time. So your odds of winning with a Box bet improve to 1 in 2,500.
Pair Bet Odds
Matching just the Front Pair or Back Pair is easier than matching all four numbers. Since there are 10 options for each of the two digits, there are 100 possible pairs. This means your odds for a Pair bet are 1 in 100.
Payouts for Winning Bets
The payouts for winning bets are based on the wager amount and the odds of that bet type:
| Bet Type | Payout |
|---|---|
| Straight | $5,000 on $1 bet |
| Box | $1,250 on $1 bet |
| Straight/Box | Straight: $5,000 on $1 bet Box: $1,250 on $1 bet |
| Front Pair | $125 on $1 bet |
| Back Pair | $125 on $1 bet |
As you can see, hitting all four numbers in order in a Straight bet pays out the most, while just matching the Front or Back Pair pays the least. Let’s look at an example.
Payout Example
Say you make the following bets:
- Straight: 1-2-3-4 for $1
- Box: 1-2-3-4 for $1
- Front Pair: 1-2 for $1
- Back Pair: 3-4 for $1
If the numbers drawn are 1-2-3-4 in that order, here is what you would win:
- Straight: $5,000
- Box: $1,250
- Front Pair: $125
- Back Pair: $125
Your total payout would be $6,500 on the $4 bet.
Factors that Affect Your Odds
There are a few key factors that can impact your overall odds of winning:
Bet Type
As we’ve seen, the bet type greatly impacts your chances. A Straight bet is much harder to hit than a Pair bet.
Number of Tickets
Your odds improve with every ticket purchased. Buying 100 tickets gives you 100 chances to win compared to just 1.
Consistency
Some players always bet the same numbers while others choose different numbers each time. Consistently betting the same numbers doesn’t increase your odds for that particular drawing but could improve your cumulative odds over many draws.
Game Frequency
The Daily 4 holds two drawings per day, allowing for more chances to win compared to lotteries that draw less frequently.
Jackpot Size
As the Daily 4 jackpot grows, more players tend to buy tickets, increasing your competition. Bigger jackpots don’t actually lower your odds, but they do reduce your expected value.
Strategies for Improving Your Odds
There’s no way to guarantee a Daily 4 win. But here are some tips that may help improve your odds:
Stick to a Consistent Set of Numbers
Always playing the same main numbers can increase your chances of hitting them, compared to changing numbers each time.
Buy Multiple Tickets
Playing more tickets gives you more chances to win, so consider buying tickets for both the midday and evening drawings.
Use a Balanced Selection Strategy
Try choosing a balance of high and low numbers as well as a mix of odd and even digits. Don’t use all sequential numbers.
Consider All Bet Types
Betting straight numbers offers the biggest payout but the lowest odds. Box and pair bets pay less but give you better odds.
Look for Number Patterns
Keep track of frequently drawn numbers and combinations that could point to number patterns.
Pool Your Money
Form a lottery pool or syndicate to buy more tickets and increase your group’s chance of winning.
Odds Compared to Other Texas Lottery Games
The Daily 4 has better odds than some other Texas Lottery games, but worse odds than others. Here’s a quick odds comparison:
| Game | Odds of Any Prize |
|---|---|
| Daily 4 | 1 in 10 |
| Lotto Texas | 1 in 32 |
| Mega Millions | 1 in 24 |
| Powerball | 1 in 24.9 |
| Pick 3 | 1 in 8.3 |
As you can see, the Daily 4 offers better odds than the big national games like Mega Millions and Powerball. But Texas’ own Pick 3 lottery has slightly better odds. The tradeoff is that Daily 4 has bigger possible payouts compared to Pick 3.
Most Common Daily 4 Numbers
Some numbers tend to come up more often than others in Texas’ Daily 4 results:
| Number | Frequency |
|---|---|
| 7 | Appears in 14.2% of draws |
| 3 | Appears in 12.7% of draws |
| 2 | Appears in 11.2% of draws |
| 4 | Appears in 10.8% of draws |
The most common pairs are 3-7, 4-7, 5-7, and 4-3. Some players use these hot numbers to look for patterns and increase their chances of finally picking the right combination.
When Are Your Odds the Best?
For the Texas Daily 4 game, your odds don’t really change. The same 10,000 number combinations are always in play for each drawing. But that doesn’t mean timing won’t impact your potential winnings.
Here are some times when the game may be most favorable to players:
When the Jackpot is Small
Your odds don’t change based on the size of the jackpot. But your expected value and potential payouts do go down as more players buy tickets chasing a growing prize. Your odds will be most in your favor when the jackpot has just been reset after someone hit the big prize.
Right After Someone Wins
There’s no statistical reason why, but some players think right after someone hits the jackpot can be a good time to play. The theory is that winning numbers may strike again sooner than normal.
When Lottery Activity is Lower
Less competition from other players means a better chance to win. Holidays and weekends tend to have the highest Daily 4 ticket sales. Try playing when fewer people are likely to be playing.
When You’re Due
The odds are technically the same every drawing. But there may be something comforting about playing your favorite numbers when you’ve had a streak of losses. Law of averages says you’ll eventually win, right?
Can You Improve Your Chances of Winning?
The odds of winning the Texas Daily 4 are fixed, so there’s no definitive way to improve your chances. Every number combination has the same 1 in 10,000 odds each drawing. But these strategies may give the perception of boosting your chances:
- Stick to the same set of numbers to reinforce the likelihood they’ll eventually be drawn.
- Never miss a drawing to increase your lifetime chances.
- Buy more tickets to gain more chances to win.
- Pool your money with other players to purchase more tickets.
- Focus on bet types with better odds (Box and Pair bets).
In the end, your chances mostly come down to luck. But these tips could help you feel like you’re giving yourself the best probability of success.
How to Find the Winning Numbers
There are a few ways to find the winning Daily 4 numbers in Texas:
Texas Lottery Website
The official Texas Lottery site posts the latest Daily 4 results shortly after the midday and evening drawings. You can also look up past winning numbers going back several weeks.
Mobile App
The Texas Lottery also has a free app for iOS and Android where you can find the most recent Daily 4 numbers. Get alerts and save your favorite numbers to track results.
Retailers
Most lottery retailers display the latest Daily 4 results near the ticket terminals after the drawings. You can also ask the cashier to print out a report of recent winning numbers.
Newspapers
Many local newspapers publish the Daily 4 results in their classifieds section the day after the drawings. Copies of the paper are usually available at public libraries as well.
Television
Texas news stations may include the Daily 4 numbers during their evening newscasts after the drawings. Listings may also appear on the rolling ticker at the bottom of the screen.
Be sure to carefully check your tickets after the drawings to see if you matched any winning numbers. Winners can redeem prizes up to $599 at any Texas Lottery retailer. Jackpots over $600 must be claimed at 1 of the 24 regional Lottery claim centers around the state.
Conclusion
The Texas Daily 4 gives players decent odds to win compared to many other lottery games. The odds are fixed at 1 in 10,000 for each drawing, regardless of the jackpot size or number of players. Your best chances come from playing Pair bets, buying multiple tickets, and consistently playing the same sets of numbers.
While luck is a major factor, using some savvy playing strategies could help improve your chances and lead you to more Daily 4 wins in Texas. Just be sure to responsibly play within your entertainment budget.