The Jackpot Now Rolls to $48 Million

TRENTON (Nov. 1, 2017) – Carole Hedinger, New Jersey Lottery executive director, announced that last night was the inaugural drawing of the enriched Mega Millions game that was designed to bring more value to Mega Millions players. The game’s new features include a starting jackpot that more than doubled to $40 million, from the original $15 million, with a minimum increase of $5 million per draw, until a jackpot win, creating faster-growing jackpots. Now, there are more chances for players to win the $1 million prize, and higher secondary prizes at most prize levels.

“By improving the odds for the $1 million Match 5 second-tier prize, we anticipate that the game will produce more millionaires,” said Hedinger.

The winning numbers for the Tuesday, Oct. 31 drawing were: 06, 28, 31, 52, and 53. The Gold Mega Ball was 12, and the Megaplier Multiplier was 04.

The enhanced game also offers players a new wager type, Just the Jackpot. Just the Jackpot provides players with two entries for a chance to win only the game’s jackpot for a $3 wager. Just the Jackpot tickets will not be eligible for any other prize levels and are Quick Pick only.

Last night, while there were no Mega Millions game jackpot or second-tier New Jersey prizewinners, there was one third-tier prizewinning ticket sold that matched four of the five white balls and the Gold Mega Ball drawn winning the $10,000 prize, which is doubled from the original game.

That ticket was purchased at EF Abreu Supermarket & Deli, 625 Brace Ave., Perth Amboy in Middlesex County. If that ticket had been purchased with the Megaplier option, it would have multiplied the prize to $40,000.

In addition, 10 other players matched four of the five white balls drawn making each ticket worth $500. One of those tickets was purchased with the Megaplier option, multiplying the prize to $2,000. Moreover, 23,990 other New Jersey players took home $105,942 in prizes ranging from $2 to $800, according to Hedinger.

“Congratulations to the lottery winners and to the retailers that sold the winning tickets,” said Hedinger. “For selling the winning tickets, the retailers have become many more Lottery ‘lucky locations’ overnight.

The next drawing will be held Friday, Nov. 3 at 11:00 pm. All New Jersey Lottery Mega Millions tickets must be purchased before 10:45 pm to participate in the drawing. Mega Millions tickets cost $2; by adding the Megaplier option for an extra dollar per play, players can increase their non-jackpot winnings up to five times. Powerball and Mega Millions drawings can be seen on WABC-TV stations. Mega Millions tickets are sold in 46 participating jurisdictions. Drawings are held on Tuesdays and Fridays.

View all New Jersey Lottery game winning numbers and drawings for the Pick-3, Pick-4, Jersey Cash 5, Pick-6, CASH4LIFE and 5 Card Cash games on the Lottery website (www.NJLottery.com) or on the official Lottery Facebook Page. Midday and evening draws, with the exception of CASH4LIFE and 5 Card Cash, can be seen on WPIX-TV (PIX11) in New York and WPHL-TV (PHL17) in Philadelphia. Powerball and Mega Millions drawings can be seen on WABC-TV stations.