You’re standing there, ticket in hand, staring at the screen. Maybe you’re at a Wawa or just refreshing your phone in the kitchen. It’s that familiar Jersey ritual. Checking the nj lottery pick 3 and pick 4 results is basically a state pastime at this point.
But honestly? Most people just look at the numbers and walk away. They miss the nuance of the Fireball or why certain "sold out" numbers actually matter.
The Latest Numbers: Did You Win?
Let’s get right to it. If you’re looking for the most recent winning combinations, here is the breakdown for the latest drawings as of January 17, 2026.
For the Pick 3 Midday on Saturday, the numbers were 8-7-3. The Fireball was 4.
The Pick 3 Evening came in at 8-7-7 with a Fireball of 8.
Moving over to the Pick 4 Midday, we saw 1-0-1-3 pop up, and the Fireball was 4.
The Pick 4 Evening results were 2-6-2-1 with a Fireball of 2.
It’s funny how these numbers work. You see a sequence like 8-7-7 and think, "Who would ever play that?" Well, plenty of people. In fact, triples and "doubles" (where two numbers are the same) are some of the most heavily bet combinations in the Garden State.
Why the NJ Lottery Pick 3 and Pick 4 Results Feel Different Lately
Ever since November 2022, the game changed in a way that some veterans still haven't quite processed. New Jersey moved away from the "pari-mutuel" system.
What does that mean for your wallet?
Basically, the prize is now a fixed amount. In the old days, if a lot of people won, the payout was smaller because you all had to share the pot. Now, if you hit a $1 Straight on Pick 3, you're getting **$500**. Period.
Pick 4 is even more significant. A $1 Straight bet on Pick 4 pays out a clean **$5,000**.
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There’s a catch, though. Because the prizes are fixed, the Lottery Commission has a "liability limit." If 50,000 people all try to bet on "1234" in the same day, the system will actually stop selling that number. It’s called "selling out." It doesn't happen often, but on popular dates or "lucky" sequences, you might find your local retailer telling you they can't take the bet.
The Fireball: The $2 Question
People ask me all the time: "Is the Fireball worth it?"
It doubles your bet. A $1 game becomes a $2 game.
Here is how it works: the lottery draws an extra "Fireball" number. You can use that number to replace any of the drawn numbers to create a winning combination.
Let’s say you played 1-2-4 Straight.
The actual result is 1-2-3 with a Fireball of 4.
Normally? You've got nothing. But with Fireball, you swap that 3 for the 4. Suddenly, you've got your 1-2-4.
It makes winning much more likely, but the payouts for Fireball wins are lower than the standard game. It’s a trade-off. You’re buying "insurance" and more ways to win, but you aren't going to get the full $500 on a $1 Pick 3 Straight if you only won because of the Fireball.
The Green Ball Promotion: A Seasonal Perk
If you’re checking results in early 2026, you might have noticed something extra. The Pick-3 Green Ball Promotion is back. This thing runs from January 5 through February 1, 2026.
It’s kind of a "second chance" inside the actual drawing. After the regular evening Pick-3 numbers are drawn, they pull a ball from a separate machine. That machine has six white balls and one green ball.
If they pull a white ball? It goes away, and they try again the next night.
If they pull the Green Ball? Boom. They immediately draw a second set of winning Pick-3 numbers.
It’s essentially a "Double Draw" night. If you have a ticket for the evening draw on a Green Ball night, you have two chances to win with your numbers. This only applies to the evening draws, so midday players are out of luck on this one.
How to Check Your Tickets Without Getting a Headache
Honestly, the best way to keep track of nj lottery pick 3 and pick 4 results isn't just staring at the TV at 10:57 PM.
- The Official App: It’s gotten better. You can scan your ticket barcode. If it says "Not a Winner," you can believe it. Plus, it enters you into "Second Chance" drawings like the Million Dollar Replay.
- The Website: njlottery.com is the source of truth. Don't trust random third-party sites that might have a typo.
- Livestreams: If you’re the suspicious type and want to see the balls drop yourself, the lottery livestreams the drawings on their website and Facebook page. Midday happens at 12:59 PM, and evening is at 10:57 PM.
Payout Realities and Odds
Let's talk math for a second. Don't worry, I'll keep it simple.
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The odds of hitting a Pick 3 Straight are 1 in 1,000. That makes sense—there are 1,000 combinations from 000 to 999.
Pick 4 is a different beast. Your odds of hitting a Straight are 1 in 10,000.
Most people play "Box" bets because they’re easier to hit. If you play a "6-way Box" in Pick 3 (meaning you pick three different numbers like 1-2-3), you win if those numbers come up in any order. Your odds jump to 1 in 167, but your payout on a $1 bet drops to **$80**.
What to Do If You Actually Win
First off, sign the back of the ticket. Now.
If you won under $600, any NJ Lottery retailer can pay you out in cash. If you’re lucky enough to hit a Pick 4 Straight for $5,000, you’ll need to file a claim.
You can actually do this through the mobile app now for prizes up to $10,000, which is a massive upgrade from the old "mail it in and pray" system. For anything larger, you’re headed to the lottery headquarters in Lawrenceville.
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Actionable Steps for Your Next Play
- Check the liability: If you’re playing a popular number like 1-1-1 or 1-2-3-4, try to buy your ticket early in the day before it sells out.
- Use the App: Stop manually checking numbers. The scanner is much more reliable and saves you from the "I thought that was a 7" heartbreak.
- Watch the Green Ball: Since the promotion ends February 1, 2026, keep an eye on how many white balls are left. The fewer white balls in the machine, the higher the statistical chance the Green Ball (and that extra drawing) will happen the next night.
- Set a Limit: It’s a game. Keep it that way. If you find yourself chasing "hot" numbers or spending the grocery money, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Next time you’re checking the nj lottery pick 3 and pick 4 results, remember that it’s not just about the three or four digits. Between the Fireball, the fixed payouts, and the seasonal promotions, there’s a lot more strategy—and luck—involved than there used to be.