For many people in New Jersey, buying a lottery ticket is part of their daily routine. Whether it’s a small hope for a big win or just the fun of choosing a lucky number, the state’s most popular daily games — Pick 3 and Pick 4 — continue to attract loyal players across towns and cities.
These two simple games might not have the jaw-dropping jackpots of Powerball or Mega Millions, but don’t let that fool you. They’ve created thousands of winners over the years. In fact, these games give players much better odds of winning and often pay out big — especially for people who play smart.
Let’s take a closer look at how New Jersey’s Pick 3 and Pick 4 games work, why they’re so popular, and how some locals are cashing in with their favorite lucky numbers.
As the names suggest, Pick 3 involves choosing a three-digit number (from 000 to 999), while Pick 4 involves picking a four-digit number (from 0000 to 9999). Players can choose their own numbers or go with the easy Quick Pick option where the system picks random digits for them.
The real magic happens with the betting options. These games offer various ways to play — and win.
For example, in Pick 3:
Pick 4 offers similar choices but with a larger number pool and higher potential payouts.
The biggest draw of Pick 3 and Pick 4 is simplicity and flexibility. Unlike other lottery games where you have to wait days for a drawing, these games are played twice a day — once in the midday and once in the evening. That means double the chances to win, every single day.
Another big reason people love these games is the custom betting. You can bet as little as 50 cents or go higher depending on your risk level. Want to bet $1 on a straight Pick 4? You could win up to $5,000. That’s not life-changing money like a Powerball win, but it can help pay bills, buy groceries, or even go on a small vacation.
For many, it’s also a game of habit and tradition. Some players use birthdays, anniversaries, or street addresses. Others stick to numbers they’ve dreamed about or seen during the day. There’s a kind of mystique to it that makes the experience more fun than just buying a scratch-off.
Each week, there are thousands of winners across the state. Just recently, a woman from Newark won $2,600 on a Pick 4 straight/box bet she placed at a local gas station. Her numbers? Her kids’ birth years.
Another winner from Camden took home $5,000 after betting on 4321 — a number he said he kept seeing on license plates all week.
One retired teacher from Trenton shared that she plays Pick 3 every day using the same three digits: 713. “It’s my mother’s birthday, and it came out last month in the midday drawing,” she said. “I only bet 50 cents, but still walked away with $250!”
These stories are not unusual. Every day, New Jersey Lottery’s website posts a list of winners, along with the stores where the winning tickets were sold. It’s a reminder that someone, somewhere, is winning — and it could be you.
If you’re new to Pick 3 and Pick 4, here’s how easy it is to start playing:
The midday drawing is held at 12:59 p.m., and the evening drawing takes place at 10:57 p.m. You can check the results online at NJLottery.com, through the NJ Lottery mobile app, or on TV stations that broadcast local results.
One of the reasons Pick 3 and Pick 4 are so popular is because they offer much better odds than bigger jackpot games.
Compare that to Powerball, where the odds of hitting the jackpot are over 1 in 292 million, and it’s easy to see why some players stick with the daily numbers.
Payouts depend on how you bet:
Ask any Pick 3 or Pick 4 player and they’ll tell you — everyone has a “system.” Here are some common strategies:
The New Jersey Lottery also encourages responsible gaming. They have a slogan: “You’ve gotta be in it to win it,” but they also remind players to “Play for fun, not to get rich.”
Pick 3 and Pick 4 may not be the flashiest games in the lottery world, but they’ve been a steady favorite for good reason. With quick drawings, low-cost bets, and solid payouts, they offer a fun and fast-paced way to test your luck.
So whether you’re using your wedding date, your license plate, or just letting the machine pick, your lucky numbers might just be around the corner. With two chances to win every single day, all it takes is one right combo to turn an ordinary moment into a winning one
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