The excitement surrounding New Jersey's lottery scene continues to grow as several recent draws have produced life-changing prizes for lucky winners. In particular, the Mega Millions drawing on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, saw an estimated jackpot of $301 million up for grabs, along with an enticing cash option of $139.5 million for any potential winner.
The eagerly awaited winning numbers for this drawing have been revealed as 27, 28, 31, 32, and 33, with the Mega Ball being 24, and a Megaplier of 3X. Lottery officials remind players that if the jackpot remains unclaimed, it will roll over to the next drawing scheduled for 10:59 p.m. on Friday, March 21, 2025. As of now, players face daunting odds of 1 in 302,575,350 to win the Mega Millions jackpot by matching all five drawn balls plus the gold Mega Ball.
This year, lottery enthusiasts have not only been charmed by the possibility of striking it rich with the Mega Millions but have also been thrilled by the success stories from local scratch-off games. Notably, a $1 million winning scratch-off ticket was sold on March 14, 2025, at the Hamilton Deli & Grill in Hamilton Township, Mercer County. This winning ticket was part of the Mega Hot 7's game, which debuted during the winter season and has proven to be a hit. Out of three available million-dollar prizes for this game, one has already found a lucky owner!
Interestingly, the cash value of this $1 million prize, which reflects the amount the winner would actually take home, stands at an impressive $601,400. As one local source remarked, "The $1 million is the annuity value. The prize's cash value is $601,400. That's still an amazing prize. I'd take it, wouldn't you?" This highlights the dual allure of participating in the lottery—not only the thrill of potentially winning big but also the tangible rewards that come with it.
In addition to the buzz from scratch-off wins, March 18 also saw New Jersey's daily draw games yielding exciting results. The New Jersey Lottery reported on this day as well that the Pick-3 and Pick-4 games boasted some enticing outcomes. For the midday Pick-3, the winning numbers were 1, 3, and 7, with a Fireball of 5. The evening Pick-3 results were 8, 1, and 3, again featuring a Fireball, this time numbered 6. Meanwhile, in the Pick-4 and Jersey Cash 5 draws, contrasting numbers emerged, providing numerous opportunities for low-stake players to enjoy wins.
The Pick-4 results yielded midday numbers of 1, 5, 4, and 9, while the evening drawing revealed 3, 5, 8, and 4 along with respective Fireballs of 5 and 6 for each draw. The Jersey Cash 5 winning numbers were recorded as 07, 11, 22, 30, and 35, with an Xtra numbered 04. Furthermore, those interested in a daily chance at a jackpot can participate in the Cash4Life, with results from March 18 stated as 02, 11, 15, 45, 54, and Cash Ball 03, which is drawn every evening at 9:00 p.m.
Such considerable payouts have energized players participating across New Jersey, where winning stories seem to multiply. Recently, from March 10 to March 16, 2025, 26 players won $10,000 or more playing various lottery games. This impressive tally included a notable Powerball player who won $150,000 in Middlesex County on March 15. Notably, this amount came from the Million Dollar Replay, a special event that invites players to enter non-winning tickets for a chance at a large cash prize.
The Mega Hot 7's game, which includes three other variations (Red Hot, Sizzling Hot, and Super Hot), is also part of a broader series with over $158 million in prizes. As the local lottery community continues to celebrate and rally around these stories of fortune, residents can only speculate about who the next winner might be, creating a shared sense of excitement and hope.
In summary, the current landscape of lottery winnings in New Jersey speaks to a higher engagement level than ever. From sizable scratch-off prizes to substantial Mega Millions jackpots, the games are enticing players with the promise of life-changing opportunities. With the next Mega Millions drawing just around the corner, ticket sales are expected to soar as players dream of what they might do with a fortune of their own.
