Checking the mega millions nj results after a long Tuesday or Friday night is a Jersey ritual. Honestly, it’s basically part of the state's DNA, right up there with arguing about pork roll vs. Taylor Ham. You’re standing in a Wawa or a QuickChek, scanning that little slip of paper, hoping the machine makes that specific "winner" noise.
But let's be real. Most people just glance at the jackpot and the first two numbers. If those don't match, they toss the ticket. That is a massive mistake.
The Winning Numbers You Might Have Missed
If you played the most recent drawing on Friday, January 16, 2026, the numbers were 02, 22, 33, 42, 67 and the Gold Mega Ball was 01.
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Nobody hit the big one. That means the jackpot for the next drawing on Tuesday, January 20, is sitting at a cool $250 million. The cash option is roughly $113.5 million. Not bad for a $2 investment.
Wait, did you check for the Megaplier?
A lot of folks in the Garden State forget that even if you don't hit the jackpot, the secondary prizes are nothing to sneeze at. Just this past Friday, two players nationally—one in North Carolina and one in Texas—won $2 million each because they had the Megaplier. In New Jersey, we’ve seen plenty of $10,000 and $20,000 winners who almost threw their tickets away because they didn't see the "big" numbers match.
Why NJ Lottery Players are Different
New Jersey is actually one of the luckier states when it comes to the lottery. I know, everyone says that about their own backyard, but the stats back it up. In 2025 alone, nearly 900 players in NJ won prizes of $10,000 or more.
More than 60 of those people became millionaires.
There's this couple from Ocean County—I heard about them through the grapevine and the local news—who hit the lottery twice in one year. They won $1 million on a scratch-off in April, then turned around and won $3 million on another one in the fall. The odds? One in two trillion. It’s enough to make you want to drive down to Toms River just to buy a bottle of water and hope some of that luck rubs off.
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How to Properly Check Your Mega Millions NJ Results
Don't just trust your eyes at 11:30 PM when you're tired.
- Use the Official App: The NJ Lottery app is actually decent. It has a scanner. Use it. It'll tell you exactly what you won, even if it's just $2 to buy your next ticket.
- The "Jackpot Was Hit" Rule: New for 2026, the NJ Lottery started this "Jackpot Was Hit!" promotion. Basically, if someone wins the big jackpot and it resets to $50 million, you can get a free $5 Quick Pick if you buy three plays on one ticket.
- Check the Megaplier: If you spent the extra dollar, a $500 prize can suddenly become $2,500.
Drawings happen at 11:00 PM ET. If you're buying tickets at a retailer, you have until 10:45 PM to get in on the action.
The Tax Man in Trenton
Here's the part nobody likes to talk about: the taxes. If you do happen to beat the 1 in 302 million odds, the state of New Jersey is going to want its cut. For prizes over $10,000 and up to $500,000, the state tax rate is 5%. If you win more than $500,000, that rate jumps to 8.97%.
And that’s before the federal government takes their 24% (at least).
It’s still a lot of money, but it’s always good to have a CPA on speed dial before you go running to Lawrenceville to claim your check.
Common Misconceptions About the NJ Draw
People think certain stores are "lucky."
Maybe.
But really, stores like the South River Convenience Store or Ralph's Liquors in Newark just sell a high volume of tickets. More tickets sold equals more winners. It’s basic math, though it feels like magic when you’re the one holding the ticket.
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Another thing? People think you have to be a US citizen to win. Nope. You just have to be 18 or older and have a valid ticket purchased in the state.
Actionable Next Steps for NJ Players
If you're holding a ticket right now, do these three things:
- Sign the back of it immediately. A lottery ticket is a "bearer instrument." If you lose it and haven't signed it, whoever finds it can claim the prize.
- Check the secondary tiers. Even matching just the Mega Ball gets you your $2 back. Matching four white balls and the Mega Ball is $10,000.
- Watch the Tuesday drawing. With the jackpot at $250 million, the buzz is starting to build again.
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER. It’s meant to be fun, so keep it that way.
The next mega millions nj results will be posted late Tuesday night. Make sure you've checked your old tickets before you buy new ones. You might already be a winner and not even know it.