New Jersey Online Lottery
The New Jersey Lottery is one of the nation’s most successful state lotteries on a per-capita basis, thanks to a diverse game list and frequent newsworthy payouts.
One of the NJ Lottery’s most significant developments in recent years is its approval of third-party apps for online ticket sales. Players can now buy New Jersey Lottery tickets online safely and legally through registered courier services like Jackpocket and Lotto.com.
New Jersey Online Lottery Apps
$3 Off First TicketsMust be 18 or older to play the lottery. Jackpocket is not affiliated with any State Lottery. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER. Please visit Terms of Service at Jackpocket.com for full terms of service.
Last year alone, more than 250 players won prizes worth at least $100,000, and 45 of those exceeded $1 million playing the New Jersey Lottery online and in person. “Anything can happen in Jersey” is an appropriate tagline indeed.
The New Jersey Lottery offers multi-state jackpot games, daily drawings, instant win scratch cards, and keno through nearly 7,000 retailers statewide.
Players can also buy New Jersey Lottery tickets online from anywhere in the state through the Jackpocket app. As a registered courier service, Jackpocket facilitates New Jersey online lottery sales with the state’s approval.
Continue below for BettingUSA’s complete guide to playing the NJ Lottery online. This page explains where to buy New Jersey Lottery tickets online legally, the odds of winning, and much more.
Where to Buy New Jersey Lottery Tickets Online
A little-known New Jersey law passed in 2016 allows online ticket sales through approved third-party lottery apps, also known as courier services.
The New Jersey Lottery endorses online ticket sales through two registered courier services:
- Jackpocket.com (recommended)
- Lotto.com
Both operators offer the following NJ Lottery games for online purchases:
- Mega Millions
- Powerball
- Cash 4 Life
- Pick 6 Lotto
- Jersey Cash 5
- Pick 4
- Pick 3
There are many other third-party lottery sites with NJ Lottery tickets for sale, but Jackpocket and Lotto.com are the only operators registered in New Jersey. All other NJ Lottery sites are unregulated, unvetted, and usually headquartered overseas.
In contrast, registered New Jersey Lottery sites must comply with more than 70 pages of consumer protection regulations adopted by the state. Some of the key rules governing registered lottery couriers in New Jersey follow.
Registered couriers must:
- Only serve customers 18 or older
- Charge face value on all tickets outside of special promotions approved by the Executive Director of the Division of the State Lottery
- Pay prizes less than $600 directly to customers’ accounts
- Not keep any portion or percentage of winnings as fees; players must receive 100% of any prizes they win
- Provide customers the physical ticket upon request for the purpose of redemption
- Securely maintain all customers’ private information
- Promote responsible gambling
Readers can verify the legitimacy of any lottery site by visiting this page on the official NJ Lottery website and scrolling to the bottom of the page. If an online lottery app doesn’t appear there, it’s not registered in New Jersey.
How to Buy New Jersey Lottery Tickets Online
The safest, fastest, and easiest way to play the NJ lottery online is through a courier app or website registered in New Jersey.
Buying NJ Lottery tickets online is a straightforward process that involves signing up for an account, depositing funds, and purchasing tickets. In all, it takes most users five minutes or less from start to finish.
Note: The process is largely the same at different lottery sites, but the following steps will use examples from BettingUSA’s recommended provider, Jackpocket.com.
Follow any link on this page to visit Jackpocket.com.
On the homepage, select “Get the App” to download the Jackpocket app for iOS/Android or select “Order Online” to buy tickets from any desktop computer.
If you downloaded the Jackpocket app: Launch it and ensure the state selector at the top of the screen says “New Jersey.” If it displays any other state, tap the dropdown arrow to view all states, then select New Jersey.
Next, hit “Play Now” under any game on the home screen, then choose “Sign Up” to register.
If you selected “Order Online” in Step 1: Select “Get Started” or “Play Now” under any game to sign up.
Next, new customers complete a standard registration form that asks for each user’s name, address, and phone number. State law requires all registered couriers to collect this information for identity verification and to prevent underage gambling.
New Jersey lottery apps can usually verify customers’ identities with the information they provide when registering. However, if an operator cannot verify a new user’s identity, it will ask them to submit a selfie and a picture of a state-issued photo ID.
Customers can fund their online lottery accounts by logging in to the app or website and selecting “Add Funds” on the home screen. From there, users can choose a payment method and follow the on-screen instructions to upload funds.
Funding methods vary by provider and state, but players can expect to find a handful of instant electronic methods. For example, Jackpocket accepts the following payment methods in New Jersey:
- Apple Pay (Visa, Mastercard, and Discover)
- Electronic bank transfers
- Credit and Debit Cards
- PayPal
- Venmo
New Jersey lottery players can purchase tickets by logging in, hitting the “Play” button next to any game, and selecting numbers or choosing “Quick Pick.”
Once they have made their selections, users can visit the cart to pay for their orders.
After customers order NJ Lottery tickets online, Jackpocket buys physical lottery tickets from an authorized retailer on their behalf, scans a copy of each, and uploads the images to customers’ accounts.
Players can log in anytime to view their ticket purchases, check for winners, cash out smaller prizes, or arrange the safe delivery of any tickets that have won larger prizes.
Winnings under $600 are instantly credited to customers’ accounts, while winnings of $600 to $5,000 result in the ticket being mailed to the customer for redemption. If a customer wins more than $5,000, they must visit a Jackpocket location in person to verify their identity and claim the ticket through the normal NJ Lottery process.
NJ Lottery Games
The New Jersey Lottery frequently introduces new ways to play, but a core collection of draw games provides consistency, familiarity, and some of the nation’s biggest jackpots.
NJ Lottery Draw Games Compared
*All times Eastern
**Recent average is of the last ten jackpots won, not just rolled over
| Game | Base Price | Drawings* | Avg Jackpot** | Record Jackpot | Any Prize Odds | Jackpot Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Powerball | $2.00 | Mo/We/Sa 10:59 PM | $720M | $2.04B | 1 in 24.87 | 1 in 292.2M |
| Mega Millions | $2.00 | Tu/Fr 11:00 PM | $433M | $1.6B | 1 in 24 | 1 in 302.6M |
| Cash4Life | $2.00 | Daily 9:00 PM | $1,000 Per Day for Life | N/A | 1 in 8 | 1 in 21,846,048 |
| Pick-6 | $2.00 | Mo/Th 10:57 PM | $11.9M | $48.9M | 1 in 44.7 | 1 in 9,366,819 |
| Jersey Cash 5 | $1 | Daily 10:57 PM | $309.6K | $2.09M | 1 in 153 | 1 in 1,221,759 |
| Pick-4 | $0.50 | 2x Daily | N/A | $25K Fixed | Varies | 1 in 10,000 |
| Pick-3 | $0.50 | 2x Daily | N/A | $2,500 Fixed | Varies | 1 in 1,000 |
New Jersey Lottery Subscriptions
The New Jersey Lottery does not offer subscriptions, but players can set up recurring buys through Jackpocket.com and Lotto.com so they never miss a drawing.
Jackpocket and Lotto.com support recurring purchases for all NJ Lottery draw games. Players can use either app to establish Powerball subscriptions in New Jersey, Mega Millions subscriptions, and recurring buys for all daily drawing games (Pick-6, Jersey Cash 5, etc.).
How to Set Up Jackpocket NJ Lottery Subscriptions
- Log in to the Jackpocket app or website
- Select “Smart Order” at the bottom of the screen
- Choose your game and drawing
- Choose “Quick Pick” to let Jackpocket pick random numbers for your tickets every drawing or “Pick Your Own” to use your own numbers on repeat
Smart Orders mimic lottery subscriptions, except they run continuously until users either deactivate the recurring order or run out of funds in their account. However, players can also enable Jackpocket’s Auto Fund feature to set up automatic deposits.
Jackpocket Smart Orders also provide an optional minimum jackpot threshold feature. For example, players can establish NJ Powerball subscriptions that only purchase tickets when the current jackpot is over $100 million.
How to Set Up Lotto.com NJ Lottery Subscriptions
- Log in to the Lotto.com app or website
- On the home screen, select “Play Now” under any draw game
- Choose your numbers or select “Quick Pick”
- Select “Review Your Order”
- Choose “Subscription” under the “Ticket Type” option
- Select “Checkout” to initiate the subscription
Lotto.com NJ Lottery subscriptions run continuously and automatically bill the customer’s chosen payment method for each drawing. Players can cancel their subscriptions anytime by logging in and visiting the “My Orders” area.
New Jersey Lottery Syndicates
Groups of friends and coworkers may form NJ Lottery pools on their own, but the state provides little support beyond advising groups to designate one member as the primary contact and prize claimant.
The NJ Lottery pays lump sum prizes to the primary contact person only, but if a syndicate chooses the annuity option, the NJ Lottery will send separate checks to each winner annually.
The NJ Lottery also recommends all groups to fill out IRS form 5754 related to splitting lottery prizes. In addition, the NJ Lottery advises groups to make copies of the winning ticket and all claim forms for each group member.
New Jersey Lottery App Review
Players can get the official New Jersey Lottery app for iOS or Android to scan tickets for winners, see the latest estimated jackpots, and more. It’s a standard-issue lottery app overall, but it offers a decent selection of useful features for frequent players.
Note: The NJ Lottery app does not offer online ticket sales. Residents who want to play the NJ Lottery online need the Jackpocket app, which is authorized by the state to purchase tickets on behalf of players.
This video from the NJ Lottery provides a brief rundown of the app’s capabilities:
In our experience, the NJ Lottery app’s most useful features include:
- Ticket scanner: Scan draw game and scratch-off tickets for winners
- Second chance drawings: Scan non-winning tickets to enter them into second chance drawing promotions
- Current jackpots and remaining prizes: Quickly view the current estimated jackpots for NJ Lottery drawings and remaining prizes for scratch-off games
- Jackpot alerts: Activate push notifications when jackpots exceed predefined thresholds
- ePayslips: Create ePayslips for your favorite games and numbers to scan at the register for faster checkouts at NJ Lottery retailers
NJ Lottery Results
The three best places to view recent and past NJ Lottery results are:
- The official NJ Lottery website: Latest results, winning numbers, drawing videos, schedules, game rules, and more
- The NJ Lottery app for iOS or Android: See the latest NJ Lottery results and scan tickets for winners
- The Jackpocket app: Results and legal NJ Lottery online ticket purchases
New Jersey Lottery Ticket Checker
The New Jersey Lottery app is the fastest and most convenient way to scan tickets for winners. The NJ Lottery ticket scanner tool is accurate, free, and doesn’t require a trip to the nearest retailer.
Here’s how it works:
- Get the NJ Lottery app for iOS or Android
- Launch the app and scroll to the bottom of the home screen
- Hit the “Check My Ticket” button
- The next screen explains where to point the camera to scan your ticket
- Hit “Scan Ticket Now”
- Grant the NJ Lottery app access to your phone’s camera if requested
- Point the camera at the ticket’s barcode or QR code so that the code is within the frame
- The app will tell you if the ticket is a winner
How to Claim New Jersey Lottery Prizes
Players have four ways to claim New Jersey lottery winnings, and the best option usually depends on the prize amount.
First, players should always sign the back of the winning ticket ASAP.
Second, the prize amount determines whether players need to submit claim forms and if they can redeem tickets for cash.
- Prizes under $599.99: Redeem the winning ticket for instant cash at any NJ Lottery retailer
- Prizes over $599.99: All prizes over $599.99 require winners to file claim forms, available at any retailer or on the NJ Lottery website here.
Anyone with a prize over $599.99 has several options after completing a claim form. Most players opt to mail the winning ticket and claim form to the NJ Lottery office in Trenton at this address:
New Jersey Lottery
Attn: Validations
P.O. Box 041
Trenton, NJ 08625-0041
Note: Anyone claiming a prize by mail should make copies of the claim form and both sides of the winning ticket. Players should also consider using registered mail.
Winners who would rather play it extra safe may also drop off the winning ticket and claim form in a secure drop box at the NJ Lottery office between 8:30 AM and 4:30 PM Monday through Friday at this address:
Lawrence Park Complex
1333 Brunswick Avenue Circle
Trenton, NJ 08648
And finally, anyone who wins a substantial prize and would rather claim their winnings in person with a lottery representative can call 1-800-222-0996 to schedule an appointment.
Where the New Jersey Lottery Money Goes
More than half the money generated by NJ Lottery sales goes back to players as prizes. Last year, NJ Lottery winnings paid to players amounted to nearly 61% of the lottery’s gross sales.
Despite paying more than $2 billion to players last year, the NJ Lottery contributed more than $1 billion to support pensions for teachers, police, firefighters, and other government employees.
Biggest NJ Lottery Jackpot Payouts
New Jerseyans win about $2 billion in lottery prizes every year, including hundreds of six-figure prizes and dozens of seven-figure prizes. However, a select few players have set all-time New Jersey Lottery records with payouts that far exceed typical jackpots.
Below are the largest New Jersey Lottery jackpots residents have ever won from games with rolling jackpots.
- NJ Mega Millions jackpot record: $533 million in 2018
- NJ Powerball jackpot record: $429 million in 2016
- Pick 6 jackpot record: $48.9 million in 2001
- Jersey Cash 5 record: $2.094 million split among three winners in 2023
New Jersey Lottery FAQ
Wes Burns has more than a decade’s worth of experience as a writer, researcher and analyst in the legal gambling industry and is co-founder of BettingUSA.com. As a former professional online poker player, Wes approaches his work from the viewpoint of players.