News writer
As a prelude to the holiday season, with the return of its second-chance lottery promotion, the New Jersey Lottery is—once again—showing extreme signs of generosity.
From November 6 through December 3, 2023, both winning and non-winning players in New Jersey Lottery's Jersey Cash 5 Green Ball Promotion will automatically get a free second shot at the jackpot prize of $100,000.
As explained by the New Jersey State Lottery:
“After the Lottery draws the standard nightly Jersey Cash 5 winning numbers, a separate machine containing five white balls and one green ball will be used for a ‘bonus’ drawing.”
However, in order for a second chance drawing to occur, a green ball — essentially the equivalent of getting ‘the green light’ — must first be drawn.
Should the green ball be selected, immediately following the regular drawing, a second Jersey Cash 5 drawing will take place, giving players another run at their numbers (and money).
With the Jersey Cash Five Green Ball Promotion, not only do players have one chance to win, but at no additional cost—plus a whole lot of luck— it is even possible they may win twice.
How do you play, you ask?
For a ticket price of $1, upon purchasing their tickets, players select five numbers between 1 and 45.
For an additional $1, players can add on the XTRA number, whereby (depending on the numbered ball selected) they potentially can multiply their potential winnings by two, three, four, or even five times.
The odds of winning Jersey’s Cash Five game are 1 in 1,221,759. Should an evening’s drawing not result in a top prize winner, prize amounts roll over until a lucky player is able to match all five numbers and win the jackpot. Jersey Cash 5 drawings are held nightly at approximately 10:57 p.m. EST.
Since making its welcome return on November 6, 2023, the New Jersey Lottery has already reported having its first big ‘Green Ball’ win.
Two days after its relaunch, on November 8, 2023, during the follow-up drawing of Jersey’s Cash 5 Green Ball Promotion, the first green ball of the season emerged — and one player, fortunate enough to match all five numbers: 14, 16, 21, 37, and 44, was declared as winning the top $100,000 Green Ball jackpot prize.
In a congratulatory statement issued by the New Jersey Lottery’s Executive Director, James Carey, he exclaimed, “To our first Jersey Cash 5 Green Ball winner! We hope this incredible prize brings joy and happiness as it’s exciting to see players get a free second chance on their tickets!”
Known for the saying, “Giving Dreams a Chance Since 1970,” in 2020, the New Jersey Lottery celebrated 50 years of operations. As part of the anniversary announcement, the New Jersey Lottery stated that since its inception, they have awarded over $42 billion in prize money and contributed in excess of $28 billion to the state.
This past year, the New Jersey Lottery was able to return an all-time high amount of $1.11 billion back to the state due to a massive increase in sales of the multi-state games. The money goes to help fund the state’s pension system for public employees, e.g., teachers, administrators, police officers, and firefighters.
In reference to the good the lottery does, NJ Lottery’s Executive Director James A. Carey stated, “Because the contributions help to improve the fiscal health of the entire State, the sale of lottery tickets serves to benefit all residents of New Jersey.”
With the return of Jersey’s Cash Five Green Ball Promotion, and in staying true to the state’s two tried and true mottos, Liberty and Prosperity, by all counts, it certainly does appear as if the state is making good on its promise to encourage abundance in all areas of one’s life, including one’s pocketbook.
