Ocean County couple wins $3M lottery prize months after $1M jackpot in same county
TRENTON, NJ – A New Jersey couple who already beat the odds once is defying all probability again after claiming a $3 million top prize from a Scratch-Off ticket—just months after winning $1 million from another ticket bought in the same county.
The pair, who reside in Ocean County and are expecting their third child, presented the winning Jackpot Millions Scratch-Off ticket worth $3 million at New Jersey Lottery headquarters after purchasing it at the Fischer Bay Exxon on Fischer Boulevard in Toms River. The ticket is one of just three top prizes in the $30 game, which carries odds of roughly 1 in 2 million.
The couple, already parents to a 5-year-old and an 11-month-old, previously won a $1 million prize on April 1 after playing the $1,000,000 Ultimate Spectacular ticket, also sold in Ocean County. The odds of winning both prizes is estimated at roughly 1 in 2 trillion.
According to lottery officials, the couple’s second jackpot win began like many of their evenings—buying a handful of tickets and scratching them after putting the kids to bed. What started as a lighthearted game turned serious when the husband handed the ticket to his wife to confirm a possible prize.
Their routine win-and-scratch ritual has now earned them life-changing winnings totaling $4 million in just over six months. The first win, they say, came with a celebration that may have led to their current pregnancy, the wife joked. She is now five months along with their third child.
New Jersey Lottery Director James Carey said the dual win is a striking example of extraordinary luck. “I’ve always said that you only need one ticket to win big,” he stated. “But I guess, in this case, two tickets certainly didn’t hurt.”
Despite the eye-watering odds and the buzz surrounding their back-to-back wins, the couple says the money gives them a chance to shape a more stable future for their growing family. Under state law, New Jersey Lottery winners can remain anonymous, but the couple chose to share their story to highlight how they approach lottery play—as a form of entertainment rather than income.
They aren’t the only winners this month. Other recent Scratch-Off prizes across New Jersey include:
- Nov. 10: A $500,000 win on the Lion’s Share ticket at Wawa #396 in Bellmawr, Camden County
- Nov. 14: A $600,000 prize from a Crossword Xtreme ticket sold at Krauser’s in Bloomfield, Essex County
The New Jersey Lottery has contributed nearly $34.7 billion to the state since 1970 and continues to support public programs, including pension funding through a 30-year agreement signed in 2017.
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Key Points
- Ocean County couple wins $3 million just months after a $1 million prize
- Both tickets were purchased locally in Toms River
- Combined odds of winning both top prizes estimated at 1 in 2 trillion