Kent

Regarding your lottery chances the point is the slots (order of appearance)are not important, 1-2-3 is the same as 2-1-3 and 3-1-2.

If the number and order were significant your calculation would be correct

with 3 slots (balls drawn and only 4 balls)

of your 24 combinations only 6 would not contain three numbers you selected and so you would have a 18 in 24 chance - 3 in 4 of winning.

Little chance of somebody running this lottery unless it involves cups and balls.

Regards
john