News writer, Interviewer
On Tuesday, November 10, New Jersey Lottery players won more than $2 million on Pick-3 in a single day. That’s a record.
Most of it came from one bonus drawing. The Green Ball promotion gives Pick-3 players a free second chance on the same ticket. Tuesday night, the Green Ball was drawn. The bonus numbers came up 2-2-2.
Here’s what happened and how the promotion works.
A big night in the Garden State
After the evening drawing, the Green Ball came out of a separate machine. That triggered a second set of Pick-3 numbers. All three drums landed on 2.
Winning tickets followed across the state. The 2-2-2 drawing alone generated more than $1.3 million in new prizes. It is the largest amount ever won in a single Pick-3 drawing.
Add the midday, evening, and Green Ball drawings, and players won more than $2 million. That sets a new single-day payout record for New Jersey Lottery Pick-3.
Here are Tuesday’s results:
- Midday: 7-3-3, Fireball 5
- Evening: 1-3-9, Fireball 7
- Green Ball: 2-2-2
A straight win on a $0.50 wager pays $250. Multiply that by every ticket holding 2-2-2, and the total climbs fast.
How does the Green Ball work?
The setup is simple. After each evening Pick-3 drawing, the Lottery draws from a separate machine. It holds six white balls and one Green Ball.
If a white ball comes out, it is removed. The next evening, the draw repeats with one fewer white ball. The Green Ball gets more likely each night.
When the Green Ball is drawn, a second set of Pick-3 numbers follows. Players get a free second chance on the same wager. Then all six white balls and the Green Ball go back in the machine, and the cycle starts over.
What players need to know
Does it cost extra? No. Do regular Pick-3 prizes change? No. The prize structure and odds stay the same.
A few more details:
- Same ticket, two chances. Players can win in the regular drawing and the Green Ball drawing.
- Fireball applies only to the original drawing. It does not apply to Green Ball numbers.
- Multi-Draw tickets qualify. They must cover evening drawings between November 2 and 29, 2026.
- Courier wagers count. Tickets bought through a Registered Courier Service are eligible.
Will we see the Green Ball again?
Here is a fair guess: maybe. The promotion runs through November 29 and covers evening drawings only. Each white ball removed makes the Green Ball more likely the next night. We will see it again.
Enjoy the New Jersey Lottery, and please play responsibly.
