New Jersey

How to get a free Mega Millions ticket in New Jersey

Published

3 days ago

December 31, 2024

How to get a free Mega Millions ticket in New Jersey

The Mega Millions $1.269 billion jackpot was won in Northern California on Friday and now the New Jersey Lottery is running “The Jackpot Was Hit!” promotion where Jersey players can get a free lottery ticket.

Every time the Mega Millions jackpot is won, the New Jersey Lottery offers players a free Mega Millions ticket when they buy three. The promotion runs for seven days.

How can you get a free Mega Millions?

The New Jersey Lottery rules state that a lottery player must buy “EXACTLY three Mega Millions plays on a single ticket” and then will receive a free $2 Mega Millions Quick Pick ticket.

The promotion began on Saturday and will run until Friday, Jan. 3.

The Mega Millions jackpot is an estimated $20 million for Tuesday night’s drawing.

Players can still purchase the Megaplier on their three tickets, but “it does not count towards the qualifying purchase.” So, you still need to purchase three tickets total.

The free ticket does not include the Megaplier.

“The Jackpot Was Hit!” promotion also is run after the Powerball or NJ Lottery’s Pick-6 jackpots are hit.

When is next Mega Millions drawing?

Mega Millions drawings are held every Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m.

How do I play Mega Millions?

The cost is $2 per ticket, but you can add the Megaplier for $1, which will increase the amount of your potential prize up to five times the original prize (except for the jackpot).

Each player selects five numbers from 1 to 70 for the white balls and one number from 1 to 25 for the Mega Ball. However, you can also have the lottery machine generate a random Quick Pick for you. You don’t need to be a U.S. citizen or a resident of a particular state where you purchase your ticket.

How many balls do I need to match for Mega Millions prize?

You can win $2 for the matching just one – the Mega Ball. Short of the jackpot, you can win up to $1 million for matching all five white balls (except in California). You can check all the prize payouts on the Mega Millions site here.

Where is the Mega Millions available?

You can play the game in 45 states plus the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The states not offering Mega Millions are: Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada and Utah.

Where can you buy lottery tickets?  

Tickets can be purchased in-person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.

You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, Washington D.C. and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.

What is deadline for buying Mega Millions tickets?

The deadline for purchasing a Mega Millions ticket varies by state so don’t wait until the last minute. It can be 15 minutes to an hour or more before the actual drawing. For some third-party lottery apps, the deadline can be closer to two hours before the drawing. For example, Jackpocket in New Jersey has a deadline of 9:15 p.m. for the 11 p.m. ET drawing.

Click here to check the deadline for where you live.

What are the Top 10 Mega Millions jackpots?

Here are the Top 10 Mega Millions jackpots ever:

$1.602 billion, Aug. 8, 2023: Won in Florida
$1.537 billion, Oct. 23, 2018: Won in South Carolina
$1.348 billion, Jan. 13, 2023: Won in Maine
$1.337 billion, July 29, 2022: Won in Illinois
$1.269 billion, Dec. 27, 2024: Won in California
$1.128 billion, March 26, 2024: Won in New Jersey
$1.05 billion, Jan. 22, 2021: Won in Michigan
$810 million, Sept. 10, 2024: Won in Texas
$656 million, March 30, 2012: Three winners in Illinois, Kansas, Maryland
$648 million, Dec. 17, 2013: Two winners in California, Georgia

What was largest U.S. lottery jackpot ever?

Here’s a look at the top jackpots won in the United States, between the Powerball and the Mega Millions lotteries:

$2.04 billion, Powerball, Nov. 7, 2022: Won in California
$1.765 billion, Powerball, Oct. 11, 2023: Won in California
$1.602 billion, Mega Millions, Aug. 8, 2023: Won in Florida
$1.586 billion, Powerball, Jan. 13, 2016: Three winners in California, Florida, Tennessee
$1.537 billion, Mega Millions, Oct. 23, 2018: Won in South Carolina
$1.348 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 13, 2022: Won in Maine
$1.337 billion, Mega Millions, July 29, 2022: Won in Illinois
$1.326 billion, Powerball, April 6, 2024: Won in Oregon
$1.269 billion, Mega Millions, Dec. 27, 2024: Won in California
$1.128 billion, Mega Millions, March 26, 2024: Won in New Jersey
$1.08 billion, Powerball, July 19, 2023: Won in California
$1.05 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 22, 2021: Won in Michigan
$842.4 million, Powerball, Jan. 1, 2024: Won in Michigan
$810 million, Mega Millions, Sept. 10, 2024: Won in Texas
$768.4 million, Powerball, March 27, 2019: Won in Wisconsin
$758.7 million, Powerball, Aug. 23, 2017: Won in Massachusetts
$754.6 million, Powerball: Feb. 6, 2023: Won in Washington
$731.1 million,, Powerball, Jan. 20, 2021: Won in Maryland
$699.8 million, Powerball, Oct. 4, 2021: Won in California
$687.8 million, Powerball, Oct. 27, 2018: Two winners in Iowa, New York

Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. Must be 18+, 21+ in AZ and 19+ in NE. Not affiliated with any State Lottery. Gambling Problem? Call 1-877-8-HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY); 1-800-327-5050 (MA); 1-877-MYLIMIT (OR); 1-800-GAMBLER (all others). Visit jackpocket.com/tos for full terms and conditions.

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New Jersey

Today’s audio update: Snow in the forecast, rattlesnake bites senator, N.J. primary election change

Published

6 hours ago

January 3, 2025

Press Room

Today’s audio update: Snow in the forecast, rattlesnake bites senator, N.J. primary election change

Hey there New Jersey! Here’s your audio update highlighting the latest snow forecast, a state senator hospitalized for a rattlesnake bite and Rutgers settling a federal lawsuit.

Plus, we’ll tell you about a change to New Jersey’s primary election change.

Listen by clicking the play button above.

This audio presentation is an editorially-curated selection of stories, selected by an editor, and then summarized and read aloud by artificial intelligence. Some variations in pronunciation, tone or diction may result.

We want to know what you think! All feedback is valuable. After you’ve listened, take our 3-question survey here to let us know what you think.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

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New Jersey

Police seek ID of body found in refrigerator in Cape May County

Published

14 hours ago

January 2, 2025

Press Room

Police seek ID of body found in refrigerator in Cape May County

From Philly and the Pa. suburbs to South Jersey and Delaware, what would you like WHYY News to cover? Let us know!

Authorities in New Jersey are asking for the public’s help in identifying a body recovered in Belleplain State Forest in Dennis Township, Cape May County.

According to State Police, on Dec. 22, troopers discovered the body believed to be of a Caucasian or a Hispanic woman, approximately 5 feet, 1 inch tall, inside a refrigerator that was dumped in the woods. The body has two tattoos: a koi fish on the upper right portion of the back and a rose on the left ribs, extending from the chest to the hip.

The body of an unidentified woman found in Cape May County has two tattoos. Police are asking for the public’s help in identifying the deceased. (New Jersey State Police)

Police would not comment on what led them to the body, but said they found a yoga mat and necklace at the scene.

Anyone with any information about the case is asked to contact the New Jersey State Police at 609-861-5698, or the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office at 609-465-1135, ext. 3480. Anonymous tips are welcome.

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New Jersey

Woman that drove her car into N.J. emergency room called police for help earlier the same day

Published

22 hours ago

January 2, 2025

Press Room

Woman that drove her car into N.J. emergency room called police for help earlier the same day

The Delaware woman that drove her car into a New Jersey hospital on New Year’s Eve had called authorities earlier in the night asking for help, according to police.

The 38-year-old woman from New Castle, Delaware, said that she called New Jersey State Police in Seabrook earlier in the night asking to be admitted to the hospital for a “crisis” after she was upset with her mother-in-law, authorities wrote in a warrant for her arrest.

When police responded, the woman declined to be taken to the hospital and stated she did not want to be transported to the hospital, but wanted to drive herself with an escort, according to the affidavit of probable cause.

Once state police left, she found the keys to her car and struck two other vehicles in Seabrook before driving to Bridgeton to find help, she told police after she was arrested.

The woman told police she saw the Inspira hospital and thinking no one would help her, decided to drive her car through the double door entrance to the emergency room hoping to knock herself unconscious.

The incident happened around 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday and the woman’s car reached about 60 feet down a hallway and almost struck a security guard, Bridgeton police said Wednesday.

Authorities said the woman exited the car and was taken to another area of the hospital where she waited for authorities to arrive and was uncooperative, according to charging documents.

A state police spokesperson did not immediately return a request for comment Thursday.

The hospital security guard suffered a minor injury jumping out of the way of the vehicle, according to an Inspira spokesperson.

No one was else was injured, authorities said. The woman was charged with assault by motor vehicle, endangering others and third-degree criminal mischief, according to court documents.

The damage to the hospital was estimated at over $135,000 and ambulances were rerouted away from the hospital until about 3:30 a.m. Wednesday to allow authorities to secure the damaged entrance and establish a new temporary entrance, the spokesperson for the hospital said.

The woman did not have an attorney listed in court records as of Thursday.

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Matthew Enuco may be reached at Menuco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Matt on X

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