ROSELAND, N.J. — A Roseland gas station that has sold New Jersey Lottery tickets for three decades has finally handed out its first major jackpot-winning ticket.
The Eisenhower Exxon, located at the intersection of Eagle Rock Avenue and Eisenhower Parkway, sold a winning Pick-6 ticket worth $5.9 million on May 22. The winning numbers were 20, 21, 30, 31, 42, and 44. It marks the store’s first major prize winner since receiving its lottery license in May 1995.
“Thirty years and we finally got one,” said Jack Atmeh, who co-owns the gas station with longtime business partner Robert Wakile. “Now, we can say we’re a lucky store.”
The prize has not yet been claimed by the ticket holder. However, the sale guarantees the retailer a $10,000 bonus payout from the New Jersey Lottery, part of the state’s retailer incentive program. Last year, more than $214 million was paid to nearly 6,800 retailers across the state in commissions and bonuses.
“This is the best part of my job: I get to celebrate with players on their best days, but I also get to meet and celebrate with our partner retailers,” said Lottery Deputy Director Marc Marseglia.
History of the game and recent wins
The Pick-6 jackpot has surpassed the $40 million mark only a few times since its inception. The largest prize awarded was $48.9 million in Clifton in 2001. More recently, on March 28, 2024, two tickets split a $30 million prize in Morris and Monmouth counties.
Additional significant wins in the past year include a $4.5 million ticket sold in Morris County on May 13 and a $3 million winner in Burlington County on June 13.
The current jackpot stands at $2.3 million going into Thursday night’s drawing.
The long wait ends in Roseland as Eisenhower Exxon cashes in on a three-decade lottery dry spell.
