You’re standing at the Wawa counter, coffee in one hand, looking at the plexiglass lottery stand. You see the massive Powerball numbers and that tempting Mega Millions billion-dollar dream. But if you're a Jersey local who actually wants a realistic shot at a life-changing check, you’re probably looking at the wrong screen. Honestly, the jersey cash 5 nj results from this past week prove exactly why this "little" game is the actual king of the Garden State lottery scene.
While everyone else is chasing 1-in-300-million odds, Jersey Cash 5 is quietly minting six-figure winners in Somerset and Middlesex counties.
Just look at Friday, January 16, 2026. The winning numbers were 13, 25, 38, 39, and 41. One lucky ticket sold in Somerset County matched all five, netting a cool $634,313. That's not "retire on a private island" money, but it’s definitely "pay off the mortgage and buy a boat" money. And the best part? The odds of hitting that jackpot are 1 in 1,221,759. Compare that to the national games. It's not even a contest.
The Bullseye Change: What You Probably Missed
The game isn't what it used to be. If you haven't played since before July 2024, the ticket in your hand looks different now. The New Jersey Lottery basically overhauled the whole system. They got rid of that old Instant Match feature—you know, the one where you’d see if you won right at the register—and replaced it with something called Bullseye.
Now, every single $2 ticket you buy automatically has Bullseye included.
Here is how it works: the fifth number drawn in the nightly sequence is designated as the Bullseye. If you match that specific number along with others, your prize doesn't just go up—it leaps. For example, matching 4 out of 5 numbers usually gets you about $250. But if one of those four happens to be the Bullseye? That prize jumps to $500. It basically doubles your take-home for the mid-tier wins.
Recent Winners and the 2026 Hot Streak
We are only a few weeks into 2026, and the Jersey Cash 5 NJ results are already looking spicy.
- On January 10, a player in Middlesex County hit a massive $1,997,829 jackpot.
- Less than a week later, that Somerset County winner we mentioned grabbed over $600k.
- In between, dozens of people have been collecting $500 to $2,500 prizes by utilizing the XTRA multiplier.
The jackpot resets to $150,000 every time someone wins. It’s a rolling jackpot, so it grows every single night until someone hits. If you see the jackpot climbing toward the $2 million mark like it did earlier this month, you can bet the lines at the local bodega are going to be out the door.
Why XTRA is Still Worth the Extra Buck
You’ve already spent $2 on the base play (which includes Bullseye). The machine asks if you want to add "XTRA" for another $1.
Do it.
Seriously. Without XTRA, you need to match at least three numbers to win anything at all. But if you add XTRA, you win $2 just for matching two numbers. It basically gives you a "free play" or your money back for a very common outcome. Plus, it multiplies any non-jackpot prize by 2, 3, 4, or 5 times. If you match 4 numbers with XTRA and the multiplier is 5X, you’re looking at a $1,250 payday instead of a couple hundred bucks.
How to Read Your Jersey Cash 5 NJ Results
The drawings happen every single night at roughly 10:57 PM.
If you’re watching the live stream or checking the numbers online later, don’t just look for the five digits. Look for the XTRA multiplier and the Bullseye. On January 16, the XTRA was X2. That means if you matched four numbers without the Bullseye, you walked away with $500 instead of $250.
You have exactly one year from the date of the drawing to claim your prize.
If you win less than $599.50, any lottery retailer in NJ can pay you out in cash right there. If you’re lucky enough to hit the jackpot or a big XTRA-boosted prize, you’ll need to head to the Lottery Headquarters in Trenton or mail in a claim form. Pro tip: sign the back of your ticket immediately. If you lose an unsigned winning ticket, whoever finds it can technically claim your money.
Strategy? Sorta.
Let’s be real: it’s a game of pure luck. But there are ways to play smarter. Some people swear by "overdue" numbers, while others play the same family birthdays for thirty years.
Actually, the "smartest" way to play is to watch the jackpot size. When the jackpot exceeds $500,000, the "value" of the $2 ticket increases relative to the odds. Also, check the retail locations of recent winners. While it doesn't actually change your odds, there's a certain vibe to buying a ticket from a "lucky" store like the ones in North Brunswick or Edison that seem to pop up in the news every other month.
Things to Remember Before the 10:53 PM Cutoff
- Tickets cost $2: This includes the Bullseye feature automatically.
- The cutoff is 10:53 PM: If you buy at 10:54 PM, you're playing for tomorrow's draw.
- Number range: You're picking 5 numbers from 1 to 45.
- The Multiplier: The XTRA ball is drawn separately and applies to all non-jackpot tiers.
If you’re looking for the latest jersey cash 5 nj results, the official NJ Lottery website is the gold standard, but the Jackpocket app is also great for getting those push notifications the second the balls drop.
Next time you're out, check the current jackpot. If it's over half a million, it might be worth throwing a couple of bucks at it. Just make sure you check for that Bullseye—it’s the difference between a nice dinner out and a brand-new car.
To stay on top of your game, check your tickets from the last 30 days against the official archive to ensure you haven't left any "Match 2 with XTRA" money on the table. You can also download the NJ Lottery app to scan your barcodes instantly rather than squinting at the numbers late at night.