TRENTON, NJ – New Jersey Lottery sales totaled $3.3 billion for the fiscal year ending Sunday, a decline of $288 million or 7.9 percent from the previous year, but still resulted in more than $1 billion in profit and contributions to the state’s pension fund.
Scratch-Offs led all product categories with $1.8 billion in sales. Pick-3 and Pick-4 followed with $380 million and $226 million, respectively. Jersey Cash 5 saw a 26.4 percent jump to $176.09 million, producing 15 jackpots over $1 million. Cash Pop rose 10.1 percent to $67.5 million in sales.
Players across New Jersey claimed $2 billion in prizes. There were 180 wins of $100,000 or more, including over 50 prizes of at least $1 million. Highlights included a $32 million Pick-6 jackpot, two Mega Millions winners of $4 million, and a Cash 4 Life jackpot valued at $7 million. The largest Scratch-Off prize was $5 million.
Powerball and Mega Millions saw sharp declines. Powerball sales fell $202.3 million and Mega Millions dropped $69.56 million. The decline was largely due to only one jackpot between the two games exceeding $1 billion this year, compared to five the previous year.
The lottery’s contribution to the state pension fund reached $989.5 million by the end of June. That figure is expected to exceed $1 billion once year-end accounting is complete, including more than $20 million in interest income.
More than 6,500 businesses across New Jersey earned $195.7 million in commissions and $2.1 million in bonuses through their partnerships with the Lottery. These include small businesses that sell tickets and process claims.
Northstar New Jersey Lottery Group, the Lottery’s private operator, missed performance targets and will owe a shortfall payment to the State. The amount will be finalized after the financial audit concludes.
The New Jersey Lottery was established in 1970 and has contributed more than $34.6 billion to state programs. Under a 30-year agreement enacted in 2017, all profits currently support the public employee pension system for teachers, police officers, firefighters, and other public workers.
Despite weaker jackpots and growing competition from online gambling, the Lottery maintained its billion-dollar role in supporting New Jersey pensions.
