News writer
The New Jersey Lottery previously announced it was seeking the public's help in designing a first-of-its-kind scratch-off game. The catch? The tickets would feature real pets from across The Garden State. The scratch-off game is called “Jersey Dog,” and it's set to launch on May 4.
Now, lottery officials have announced the 18 dogs who will be featured on the ticket. Each of these dogs was selected from thousands of entries submitted by proud pet owners this past fall.
Each of the 18 dogs will appear on the ticket with its photo, name, and hometown. This is giving the game a uniquely local and personal touch.
Thousands of entries
The contest was first announced in August 2025. Since its launch, residents did not mess around. Thousands of entries were submitted, all wanting their dog to be featured on one of the tickers.
After the submission deadline, a public vote was held. This narrowed the field down to 50 finalists.
From those 50 dogs, lottery officials picked the final 18 dogs. Lottery officials said they were aiming to represent a wide variety of breeds, sizes, and personalities.
The 18 featured dogs are:
- Arlo of Red Bank
- Bailey of Netcong
- Bear of Hamilton
- Brantley of Wall
- Cash of Wanaque
- Dallas of Browns Mills
- Duke of Roselle Park
- Frankie of Union
- George of Cape May Court House
- Ginger of Old Bridge
- Goose of Bridgeton
- Huck of Piscataway
- Jersey of Belle Mead
- Jezebel of Lake Hopatcong
- Lula of Tinton Falls
- Magic of Toms River
- Teddy of Port Monmouth
- Trapper of Egg Harbor City
Those finalists that didn't get selected to be featured didn't go home empty-pawed. They will still be featured in the scratch-off game's image-match play area.
Pet owners win too
Not only are the 18 dogs winners, but their owners are too. These dog owners get to see their pet on a lottery ticket, which is a thrill in itself.
Nikki Gural is the owner of Arlo. She said the decision to enter the contest was an easy one. Gural said:
He's such a big part of our lives, so when I came across the (contest) I didn't even think twice. I entered him right away.
After hearing that Arlo was selected as one of the winners, she said the excitement felt natural. She told NJ.com, “We might be a little biased, but he really is just so adorable.”
Since Arlo will be on some of the tickets, Gural said she plans on buying multiple tickets. And she even plans on framing one of them as a keepsake.
What does this mean for players?
This new ticket represents more than just a fun theme. It's showing a shift toward more interactive and community-driven lottery games.
By letting players get directly involved in the design process, the New Jersey Lottery is tapping into something deeper than just gameplay. They are getting that connection side of things that many people search for.
These players are just buying a ticket. Instead, they may also be supporting a neighbor's pet, recognizing a familiar hometown, or even spotting a local celebrity dog.
This is just an added layer of engagement that could help make the whole experience a little more memorable, even if the ticket ends up being a loser.
Enjoy playing the New Jersey Lottery, and please remember to play responsibly.
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