Checking the Pick 3 New Jersey today results is basically a ritual for thousands of people across the Garden State. It’s that twice-daily adrenaline hit that happens right around lunch and then again just before the late-night news.
But here’s the thing: most people just glance at the numbers, sigh, and toss their ticket. They don’t actually realize how the "Green Ball" or the "Fireball" can completely flip a losing ticket into a winner.
The Numbers for January 17, 2026
If you’ve got your ticket in hand, let’s get straight to it.
The Midday numbers were drawn at 12:59 PM. The Evening numbers followed at 7:57 PM.
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Midday Draw:
The winning numbers were 8-7-7.
The Fireball was 8.
Evening Draw:
The winning numbers were 4-6-6.
The Fireball was 0.
Wait, did you notice the Green Ball promo? Right now, the New Jersey Lottery is running the Green Ball promotion (from January 5 through February 1, 2026). This means during the evening draws, if that green ball pops out of the machine, they draw a second set of winning numbers. It’s basically a "buy one, get one free" chance to win on the same wager.
Why the Green Ball Changes Everything
I’ve talked to folks who have played for twenty years and still get confused by the promotional draws. Here is how it works. Every night, they have a separate machine with six white balls and one green ball.
If they pull a white ball, they remove it. It stays out of the machine for the next night. This goes on until the green ball finally shows up.
When the green ball is drawn, the lottery does a brand-new Pick 3 drawing immediately after the first one. If you played the evening draw, your ticket is now valid for both sets of numbers. It’s one of those rare times where the odds actually lean a little more in your favor for a few weeks.
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Understanding the Payouts (The Math Part)
Let's talk money. New Jersey moved to fixed payouts a few years back, which was a huge win for players. Previously, the prize depended on how many people won. If half of Jersey picked "1-2-3," the payout was tiny. Now, it's set.
If you bet $1.00 on a Straight (meaning you need the numbers in exact order), you’re looking at a $500 prize. Simple.
But most people play a Box.
- A 3-Way Box (like the midday 8-7-7 where two numbers are the same) pays $160 on a $1 bet.
- A 6-Way Box (three different numbers like 1-2-3) pays $80 on a $1 bet.
The Fireball is where it gets spicy. It effectively doubles the cost of your ticket, but it allows you to swap out any of the three drawn numbers with the Fireball number to create a winning combo. If the draw is 1-2-0 and the Fireball is 3, and you played 1-2-3, you just won.
The payouts for Fireball wins are lower—usually $90 for a straight win on a $1 base wager—but you’re winning way more often. Honestly, it's a trade-off. Do you want the big $500 score or a more frequent $90 "I didn't lose today" win?
The Strategy Nobody Talks About
Is there a "strategy" for a random number generator? Kinda.
Most people play birthdays. Terrible idea. Birthdays only go up to 31 (for the days) or 12 (for the months). In Pick 3, every digit is 0-9. By playing birthdays, you aren't changing your odds of winning, but you are joining a massive pool of people who play the same numbers.
While the top prize is fixed, the New Jersey Lottery still has to track "liability." If too many people play "7-7-7," the lottery might actually "cut off" sales for that number for that specific draw.
I always tell people to look at the "Pairs." You can actually bet on just the first two numbers (Front Pair), the last two (Back Pair), or the first and last (Split Pair).
The odds are 1 in 100.
The payout is $50 on a $1 bet.
It's not going to buy you a beach house in Avalon, but it’s a much more sustainable way to play if you're just doing it for fun.
How to Claim Your Winnings
If you’re holding a winner from the Pick 3 New Jersey today draws, don't just leave it on your dashboard. Sun fades those thermal tickets, and if the barcode can’t be read, you’re in for a headache.
For prizes up to $599.50, you can walk into any 7-Eleven, Wawa, or corner bodega with a lottery machine and get cash on the spot.
If you hit it bigger—maybe you put $5 on a straight and won $2,500—you’ll need to file a claim form. You can do this by mail or by visiting the Lottery Headquarters in Lawrenceville.
Just remember: you have exactly one year from the date of the drawing to claim your prize. I've heard horror stories of people finding a "500-dollar ticket" in a winter coat pocket in March, only to realize the drawing was fourteen months ago. Don't be that person.
Quick Recap for January 17
- Check your tickets for 8-7-7 (Midday) and 4-6-6 (Evening).
- Check the Fireball (8 for Midday, 0 for Evening).
- If the Green Ball was drawn during the Evening broadcast, make sure you check the second set of numbers.
If you didn't win today, remember that the Green Ball promotion continues through February 1st. The fewer white balls left in the machine, the higher the chance the green ball—and that double drawing—will happen tomorrow.
Take a clear photo of the back of your ticket once you sign it. It’s the easiest way to prove it’s yours if it ever gets lost or damaged before you can get to the retailer.
Next Steps for Players:
Verify your specific ticket serial number using the official New Jersey Lottery "Check My Ticket" feature on their mobile app. If you're planning to play the next draw, consider the Wheel bet, which covers all possible straight combinations of your three numbers, ensuring a $500 win if your digits come up in any order—though it does cost more upfront ($3 or $6 depending on the numbers). Finally, keep an eye on the "Green Ball" count; if several white balls have been pulled this week without a green one, the statistical likelihood of a double draw in the coming days increases significantly.