News writer
The latest audited financial report for New Jersey confirms what many lottery insiders have been noticing all year.
While sales for the billion-dollar Mega Millions and Powerball jackpots slowed down during this fiscal year, in-state draw games seem to have stepped up in a big way. This shift is helping to reshape how New Jerseyans play the lottery.
Smaller games step into the spotlight
For this audited fiscal year 2025, the New Jersey Lottery reported it had total sales of $3.34 billion. This was another solid showing for the state lottery, which has exceeded $3 billion in sales since fiscal year 2015. However, the FY 2025 sales numbers were down 7.9% (or $288 million) from the previous year.
This decline in sales wasn't driven by in-state games. Instead, there were fewer big Powerball and Mega Millions jackpots during this timeframe, which led to softer sales in those multistate games.
However, some of the in-state draw games seem to be surging.
Big jackpots help Jersey Cash 5 surge
Jersey Cash 5 has long been a beloved draw game for New Jerseyans. The nightly drawings and strong odds guided players to purchase more tickets, as sales soared to $176 million for FY 2025. Part of the draw was multiple million-dollar jackpots throughout the year. In fact, there were over 15 in FY 2025.
In addition, Jersey Cash 5 brings consistent local excitement to the state. It doesn't rely on unpredictable national jackpot cycles. Yes, the multistate games slowed down, but Jersey Cash 5 helped stabilize the overall revenue for the state, showing us that homegrown games can still pack a punch.
Double-digit growth for Cash Pop
Another breakout star for the New Jersey Lottery was Cash Pop. This quick-play game posted a 10% increase in sales, one of the biggest growth rates of any product offered by the New Jersey Lottery.
The appeal of Cash is simple: it's one number, one draw. It brings fast results, so the chance to win more quickly than having to wait until Tuesday or Friday for the next Mega Millions drawing.
Lottery officials said these kinds of games help attract the casual lottery player. These types of players are chasing that big Powerball jackpot, but instead want a thrill for a small wager.
The changing landscape for the New Jersey Lottery
While the New Jersey Lottery did see an increase in the smaller games, it is part of a broader trend: players are diversifying their lottery habits. It's not only about Powerball or Mega Millions and winning the big jackpot.
Instead, we are seeing online sports betting and digital gaming competing for attention. The state lottery being able to capture interest from these players with fast, easy, and frequently rewarding games is very important.
These other types of games help the state lottery stay relevant in a crowded market, especially when the multistate jackpots don't climb to record highs.
In the end, New Jersey Lottery players do love big winnings. However, they seem to love regular opportunities even more.
As the multistate jackpots seem to ebb and flow, the state's local games are showing lottery officials they can shine on their own. They are offering dependable excitement and steady funding for the state, no matter what happens with the multistate games.
Enjoy playing the New Jersey Lottery, and please remember to play responsibly.
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