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TRENTON (Jan. 13, 2023) – Lucky players at Te-Amo Imported Cigars in Whiting, N.J., received a special surprise from NJ Lottery yesterday in the form of free Mega Millions tickets! The NJ Lottery promotions team and guest host Derek D handed out 100 FREE tickets for today’s incredible $1.35 billion drawing. The hopeful Garden State players shared their dreams about where they would spend their money by the millions.

"I’d pay off my two kids’ mortgages and get my wife whatever she wanted," said shop regular Frank.

“I’m certainly calling out!” exclaimed Charletta, thinking about work if she won the $1.35 billion jackpot. “Then I’m paying off my mortgage, then starting a shelter for those in need!”

John was thinking tropical with his dream. “I’d buy an island. Somewhere a little off the grid, have my family with me and get a helicopter to drop off food!”

NJ Lottery has already awarded two separate $1,000,000 Mega Millions prizes in the last week and is wishing its players best of luck in tomorrow’s drawing. Another 38 players have won prizes of $10,000 or more since the jackpot was reset last October.

The $1.35 billion jackpot is the second largest jackpot in Mega Millions history and has an estimated cash value of $707.9 million. It is the fourth largest lottery jackpot in U.S. history. To date, New Jersey players have won the Mega Millions jackpot 25 times – perhaps this weekend will be #26. Additionally, lady luck has smiled on lottery players on what many consider the most unlucky of days, Friday the 13th, six times.

The Mega Millions drawing will take place on Friday at 11:00 p.m. The NJ Lottery encourages all players to play responsibly and to always have fun. Players are reminded that Lottery games are for fun and entertainment – it only takes one ticket to get in the game. The Lottery promotes responsible play through its cooperation with the Council on Compulsive Gambling of NJ and by promoting the Council’s helpline phone number, 1-800-GAMBLER, on all Lottery marketing and advertising materials.

In an office lottery pool or friendly jackpot squad? We recommend having important rules in place before any drawing, including an exact list of who is in each drawing. Make sure copies of the ticket are shared with everyone before the drawing, and consider receipts for paying members of any lottery pool. If somebody misses a payment collection day, are they in the drawing or not? Visit our site for a full list of recommendations, have all members of your squad review the guidelines, and remember to keep it fun!