You’re standing at the counter of a Wawa in Somerset County. You have two dollars. That’s all it takes to get in the game, but honestly, most people just hand over the cash, take the slip of paper, and hope for the best without really knowing how the math or the mechanics work.
Jersey Cash 5 NJ winning numbers are drawn every single night at roughly 10:57 PM. It’s a ritual for thousands across the Garden State. Just yesterday, Friday, January 16, 2026, a massive jackpot was hit. One lucky player in Somerset County matched all five numbers—13, 25, 38, 39, and 41—to take home a staggering $634,313. The Bullseye was 39 and the XTRA multiplier was 02. This was the second time someone hit the top prize already this year.
If you didn’t win that one, don't worry. The jackpot reset to its $150,000 baseline for the Saturday, January 17 draw.
How the Jersey Cash 5 Draw Actually Works
It’s a 5/45 game. You pick five numbers from 1 to 45. Simple, right? But since July 2024, the New Jersey Lottery changed things up by baking the "Bullseye" feature into every $2 ticket.
The Bullseye is always the fifth number drawn. It’s not a separate ball; it’s just the final one to roll out of the machine. If you match it along with your other numbers, the payout jumps significantly. For instance, matching 4 out of 5 numbers normally gets you $250. If one of those four is the Bullseye, that prize doubles to $500 instantly.
Most people forget about the XTRA option. For an extra dollar, you get a multiplier. It won’t touch your jackpot—sorry, you aren’t turning $150,000 into $750,000—but it can quintuple the smaller prizes.
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Recent Winning Numbers and Trends
Checking the history of Jersey Cash 5 NJ winning numbers reveals a lot about how random "random" really is. Let's look at the numbers from earlier this month:
On January 15, the numbers were 15, 16, 17, 39, and 45. Look at that 15-16-17 sequence. People often avoid consecutive numbers because they feel "wrong," but they happen more often than you’d think. Then, on January 16, we saw 13, 25, 38, 39, and 41.
If you’re a Somerset County resident, you might want to visit Raritan Oil at 40 East Somerset Street. That’s where the $634k ticket was sold. The retailer gets a $2,000 bonus, and the town gets a new local legend.
The Math Behind the 1 in 1.2 Million Odds
Let’s be real for a second. The odds of matching all five numbers are 1 in 1,221,759.
That sounds impossible. Compared to Powerball’s 1 in 292 million, it’s actually a "friendly" game. That is why it’s so popular in NJ. You have a legitimate, albeit slim, chance of seeing that jackpot hit every few weeks.
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The overall odds of winning any prize are 1 in 25.71. If you play with XTRA, you only need to match two numbers to win $2. Basically, you’re just getting your money back for a free play the next day, but a win is a win.
Why You Shouldn’t Use Birthdays
I see it every time I’m at the lottery machine. People punching in birthdays.
The problem? Months only go to 12. Days only go to 31. If you only play birthdays, you are completely ignoring numbers 32 through 45. Look at the January 16 winning set again: 38, 39, 41. If you only played birthdays, you never would have stood a chance.
Kinda makes you rethink those "lucky" numbers, doesn't it?
Where to Check Your Ticket Officially
Don't trust some random screenshot on Facebook. I’ve seen people get their hopes up over old results that were reposted by mistake.
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The most reliable way is the official NJ Lottery app. You can actually scan the barcode on your ticket to see if it’s a winner. If you’ve won between $600 and $10,000, the app even lets you file a mobile claim now.
You can also check the official website or visit a local retailer. If you use services like Jackpocket, they usually notify you via email immediately after the 10:57 PM draw.
Claiming Your Prize
If you find yourself holding a ticket that matches those Jersey Cash 5 NJ winning numbers, take a breath.
Sign the back of it immediately. That piece of paper is "bearer instrument," meaning whoever holds it, owns it. If you drop it in the parking lot and it’s unsigned, someone else could technically claim your $600,000.
For prizes over $599.50, you’ll need to fill out a claim form. You can mail it in, but for a jackpot, you’re probably better off making an appointment at the lottery headquarters in Trenton.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Play
Stop playing the same patterns every week. Statistics don't care about your "system," but logic can help you avoid sharing a prize. If you pick 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and it hits, you’ll likely be splitting that jackpot with hundreds of other people who thought they were being clever.
- Vary your range. Make sure you’re picking at least two numbers above 31 to avoid the "birthday trap."
- Consider the Bullseye. It’s included in the $2 price now anyway, so check that fifth number carefully.
- Check the cutoff. You have until 10:53 PM to get your ticket for the nightly draw. If you’re at 10:54 PM, you’re playing for tomorrow.
- Use the "Scan" feature. Human eyes make mistakes, especially late at night. Let the app's laser do the work.
Watching the Jersey Cash 5 NJ winning numbers can be a thrill, especially when the jackpot starts climbing toward that half-million-dollar mark like it did this week. Just remember to play responsibly and keep that ticket in a safe spot.