History of New Jersey Lottery in Timeline
The New Jersey Lottery is operated by the state of New Jersey and offers a variety of draw games, including both in-house and multi-jurisdictional options. In-house games include Pick-3, Pick-4, Jersey Cash 5, Pick-6, Quick Draw, and Cash Pop. Multi-jurisdictional games feature Cash4Life, Mega Millions, and Powerball. Additionally, the Lottery sells Fast Play and scratch-off tickets. The headquarters for the New Jersey Lottery is located in Lawrence Township, Mercer County.
May 22, 1975: Pick-3 launch
On May 22, 1975, Pick-3 was launched as a daily game, it was the nation's first game where players could choose their own numbers and play type.
June 16, 1975: Instant Games offered
Since June 16, 1975, the New Jersey has offered numerous scratchcard games, called "Instant Games", with various price points, prizes, formats and themes.
July 9, 1977: Pick-4 introduced
On July 9, 1977, Pick-4 was introduced as a weekly game.
February 6, 1980: Lottery Bingo launch
On February 6, 1980, Lottery Bingo, a Pick 5 style game, was launched.
May 9, 1980: Pick-6 launch
On May 9, 1980, Pick-6 began as one of the first games of its kind in the US, originally a pick-6 of 36 numbers. Players paid $1 for each game, and a winning ticket needed at least four correct numbers.
July 29, 1981: Lottery Bingo end
On July 29, 1981, Lottery Bingo was discontinued.
June 1984: Pick-6 format change
In June 1984, Pick-6 was changed to a 6/39 format.
February 1986: Pick-6 format change
In February 1986, Pick-6 later went to a 6/42 matrix.
1987: Pick-it changes to Pick-3
In 1987, the name of the 'Pick-it' game changed to 'Pick-3' to distinguish it from the newer Pick-4 game.
January 11, 1988: 5 Card Lotto launch
On January 11, 1988, the New Jersey Lottery launched 5 Card Lotto, a terminal-based, all-cash game designed to offer higher prizes than Pick-3 and Pick-4.
January 1989: Pick-6 format change
In January 1989, Pick-6 underwent an additional change to a 6/46 matrix, making even higher jackpots possible.
March 10, 1990: Limited run Lottery game
On March 10, 1990, a limited run lottery game ended, having been played from February 3 through March 10, 1990.
September 18, 1990: 5 Card Lotto end
On September 18, 1990, the original version of 5 Card Lotto was discontinued.
September 20, 1992: Jersey Cash 5 launch
On September 20, 1992, Jersey Cash 5 began as a pick-5-of-38 game, offering parimutuel prizes for matching at least three numbers. The original version did not have a rolling jackpot.
September 6, 1996: The Big Game launch
On September 6, 1996, six lotteries began a multi-jurisdictional game, then known as The Big Game.
1997: Pick-6 Cash Option Started
In 1997, the Pick-6 cash option began, it applied only to the regular game.
June 14, 1998: Lotzee launch
On June 14, 1998, the New Jersey Lottery launched Lotzee.
May 1999: New Jersey Lottery joins The Big Game
In May 1999, the New Jersey Lottery became an additional member of The Big Game.
September 2000: Pick-6 format change
In September 2000, Pick-6 adopted the 6/49 format, adding a $3 prize for matching three numbers.
2000: Pick-6 bonus number until 2000
Until 2000, Pick-6 drawings included a five-digit "bonus" number; an exact match entered the player into a special drawing where the top prize was $50,000 yearly in 20 installments, with no cash option.
November 2001: Pick-3 Midday drawings
In November 2001, Midday drawings were introduced to the Pick-3 game.
November 2001: Pick-4 becomes twice-daily
In November 2001, Pick-4 became a twice-daily game.
2001: Power Play option introduced
In 2001, the Power Play option was introduced, costing $2 per game.
May 2002: The Big Game becomes Mega Millions
In May 2002, The Big Game became known as The Big Game Mega Millions; a short time later, The Big Game was dropped from the name. Mega Millions' starting jackpots is $15 million; a cash option is available.
2002: Lotzee Number Change
In 2002, Lotzee players had to choose 4 numbers from 00 to 76 (previously 00 to 99).
September 13, 2003: Lotzee discontinued
On September 13, 2003, Lotzee was discontinued due to its unpopularity with players.
September 2003: Jersey Cash 5 format change
In September 2003, two numbers were added to Jersey Cash 5, making it a 5/40 game, and the top prize level was changed to a progressive jackpot.
October 13, 2009: Mega Millions and MUSL agreement
On October 13, 2009, the Mega Millions consortium and Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL) reached an agreement in principle to cross-sell Mega Millions and Powerball in U.S. lottery jurisdictions.
January 31, 2010: Mega Millions and Powerball cross-sell expansion
On January 31, 2010, many MUSL members (until then offering only Powerball) joined Mega Millions; likewise, most Mega Millions members added Powerball; New Jersey offered both games as of the cross-sell expansion date.
March 13, 2010: New Jersey Powerball Jackpot
On March 13, 2010, New Jersey became the first previously Mega Millions-only jurisdiction to produce a jackpot ticket for Powerball after the cross-sell expansion. The annuity value of the jackpot was over $211 million.
January 2011: Megaplier option available in New Jersey
During January 2011, the Megaplier option, initially available only in Texas, became available to Mega Millions players in New Jersey.
July 1, 2011: Lottery drawings streamed live
On July 1, 2011, the New Jersey Lottery became the first in the nation to stream its drawings live from its headquarters.
September 6, 2011: Drawings returned to broadcast television
On September 6, 2011, lottery drawings returned to broadcast television on NJTV on a one-hour tape delay, while live drawings continued to be streamed online.
January 15, 2012: Powerball Format Change
On January 15, 2012, the most recent format change for Powerball included a price increase; games are $2 each, or $3 with Power Play. The minimum jackpot was doubled, to $40 million.
June 4, 2012: Live drawings moved to Livestream
On June 4, 2012, the live drawings from the New Jersey Lottery's Ustream channel moved to Livestream.
January 1, 2013: Lottery drawings returned to broadcast television
On January 1, 2013, the New Jersey Lottery drawings returned to broadcast television on WLNY and WPSG-TV.
June 13, 2014: Cash4Life Sales Begin
On June 13, 2014, New York and New Jersey began sales of Cash4Life, which replaced Sweet Million in New York. Games are $2 each.
July 1, 2014: Lottery drawings moved to WPIX/WPHL
On July 1, 2014, the New Jersey Lottery live drawings moved to WPIX/channel 11 (New York City) and WPHL/channel 17 (Philadelphia), and Erica Young was introduced as the new draw host.
September 14, 2014: Jersey Cash 5 field of numbers increased
On September 14, 2014, Jersey Cash 5 increased its field of numbers from 40 to 43 and became a 5/43 game. Its estimated starting jackpot prize was also increased from $50,000 to $75,000.
October 19, 2014: Monopoly Millionaires' Club launch
On October 19, 2014, the Monopoly Millionaires' Club began.
December 2014: Monopoly Millionaires' Club suspension announced
In December 2014, due to low sales, it was announced that sales of the Monopoly Millionaires' Club game were to be suspended.
2015: Fast Play games introduced
In 2015, Instant Games were replaced by a series of games known as Fast Play, which are instant games similar to a scratchcard, but generated by the lottery terminal.
2015: Pick-6 XTRA option added
In 2015, Pick-6 added its "XTRA" option, an additional $1 per play per drawing. Matching five, four, or three of the six numbers means the basic parimutuel prize is multiplied by the "XTRA" number.
May 16, 2016: 5 Card Cash revival
On May 16, 2016, the game was revived as 5 Card Cash, costing $2 per play with two plays: "Win Now" and "Win Tonight".
October 3, 2016: "Xtra" feature added to Jersey Cash 5
On October 3, 2016, the "Xtra" feature was added to Jersey Cash 5, allowing players to multiply non-jackpot winnings up to 5 times by matching 3 or 4 out of 5 numbers. Matching 2 out of 5 numbers with the "Xtra" feature wins $2.
February 19, 2017: “So Close” play type removed
On February 19, 2017, prior to the introduction of Fireball, the "So Close" play type for Pick-3 and Pick-4 was discontinued.
February 27, 2017: Fireball feature added to Pick-3 and Pick-4
On February 27, 2017, the Fireball feature was added to Pick-3 and Pick-4, replacing the "So Close" play type. This feature gives players an additional opportunity to create winning combinations by swapping one of the drawn numbers with the Fireball number.
May 15, 2017: Doubler NJ added to Cash4Life
On May 15, 2017, Doubler NJ (available only in New Jersey) was added to each Cash4Life play for $1 extra. All non-"for Life" prizes double winnings.
July 17, 2017: Quick Draw launch
On July 17, 2017, Quick Draw was launched. It is a keno-style draw game drawn every four minutes from 5:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. using a random number generator (RNG).
May 11, 2018: Erica Young's final drawing
On May 11, 2018, Erica Young hosted her final New Jersey Lottery drawing, and the lottery announced it would no longer televise midday drawings on WPIX & WPHL.
May 14, 2018: Lauren Berman introduced as new draw host
On May 14, 2018, Lauren Berman was introduced as the New Jersey Lottery's new draw host.
September 30, 2018: Quick Draw retailers
Up until September 30, 2018, Quick Draw was only offered at a limited number of lottery retailers (who have an HDTV monitor) showing each drawing.
October 1, 2018: Quick Draw's Bullseye feature launched
On October 1, 2018, Quick Draw's Bullseye feature was launched giving players higher chances of winning. On the same day, the Quick Draw ePlayslip was also launched where players can generate a bet slip by selecting their own numbers and bets through the NJ Lottery app.
July 1, 2019: Cash4Life Expansion
As of July 1, 2019, Cash4Life is offered by nine state lotteries and is drawn nightly.
September 30, 2019: Cash Pop launched
The Cash Pop game launched on September 30, 2019. Players select how much to wager and choose from 1 to 15 numbers. One number from 1 through 15 is drawn by an RNG.
May 3, 2020: 5 Card Cash end
On May 3, 2020, the game 5 Card Cash was discontinued.
May 4, 2020: 5 Card Cash temporarily suspended
On May 4, 2020, 5 Card Cash was temporarily suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
June 22, 2020: Drawings no longer broadcast on WPIX and WPHL
On June 22, 2020, the New Jersey State Lottery announced it would no longer broadcast drawings on WPIX and WPHL, but would still live stream them on their website, Facebook page, Youtube channel and Livestream. The evening drawings moved from 7:57 pm to 10:57 pm.
June 29, 2020: Jersey Cash 5 starting jackpot increased
On June 29, 2020, the starting jackpot for Jersey Cash 5 was increased from $75,000 to $100,000 and its field of numbers increased from 43 to 45.
October 5, 2020: 5 Card Cash officially ended
On October 5, 2020, New Jersey Lottery officially ended 5 Card Cash.
October 16, 2020: New Fast Play Progressive game launched
On October 16, 2020, a new poker-themed version of the game was launched as a Fast Play Progressive game, carrying forward the remaining "All In" prize pool.
June 7, 2021: Quick Draw Multiplier Feature
On June 7, 2021, the Multiplier feature was launched for Quick Draw. This feature gives lottery players the opportunity to multiply their winnings up to 10 times.
April 7, 2022: Pick-6 Changes
On April 7, 2022, the Pick-6 game matrix scaled back to the 6/46 matrix, the price increased to $2 per play and a new feature called Double Play was added to the game.
June 27, 2022: Cash Pop drawing frequency increased
Since Monday, June 27, 2022, Cash Pop drawings take place every 4 minutes instead of every 15 minutes.
November 14, 2022: Pick 3 prize change
As of November 14, 2022, the New Jersey Lottery started paying fixed prize amounts to players who have pick 3 tickets that match the winning numbers for the play type they choose. Prior to November 14th, 2022, prizes in pick 3 were awarded on a parimutuel basis.
March 26, 2024: Largest prize won on ticket sold in New Jersey
On March 26, 2024, the largest prize won on a ticket sold in New Jersey was for the Mega Millions drawing. The annuity value of the ticket was approximately $1.128 billion.
July 1, 2024: Jersey Cash 5 Major Changes
On July 1, 2024, Jersey Cash 5 underwent major changes, including a change in the ticket price to $2 per play, the addition of the new Bullseye feature, the game’s instant match feature discontinued and the starting jackpot increased to $150,000.
2025: Pick-6 Saturday drawing addition
In 2025, the New Jersey lottery added a Saturday drawing to Pick-6 to allow for more excitement in the game with bigger jackpots to happen more frequently.
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