'Double Draw' for second consecutive evening Pick 3 drawing

The Red Ball appeared again Friday night, triggering a Double Draw for a second consecutive evening Pick 3 drawing - and extending the payout to two sets of winning numbers.

First, Pick 3 players with the numbers 8-3-1 won $223,414. Then folks with the numbers 7-3-7 won another $94,207 in the Double Draw.

Friday marks the third time in six nights a Pick 3 Double Draw has been held since the promotion began less than a week ago. Here's how it works:

- Before every evening Pick 3 drawing through March 26, a ball is drawn from the Double Draw machine. It starts loaded with six white balls and one Red Ball.

- If a white ball is drawn, it is removed from the machine, increasing the chances that the Red Ball will be drawn the following night. When a white ball is drawn, only the regular Pick 3 evening drawing is held.

- When the Red Ball is drawn, a second Pick 3 drawing - a Double Draw - is held immediately after the regular evening drawing. The following night, the Double Draw machine is reoaded with six white balls and a Red Ball, and the fun begins again. This guarantees the Red Ball will be drawn - and a Double Draw will be held - at least once a week.

So as you can see, the Double Draw promotion has already been luckier than expected for Pick 3 players. Who knows, it could happen again Saturday night!