TRENTON (June 2, 2025) – Three bucks. That’s all it took for an Essex County Lottery player last week to win one of the three coveted top prizes exceeding $1 million in the Win for Life! Scratch-Off game.

The winning ticket was sold at the Lucky 7 Deli, 397 Centre Street, in Nutley. One top prize remains.

“I’m in shock,” the player said while claiming the prize at the New Jersey Lottery office. “I scratched the ticket. I saw the prize. I thought it was going to say ‘free ticket.’ It just didn’t click with me.”

The player was out for dinner with their spouse. One wanted to buy tickets in one town, but the other insisted on another store that they don’t typically visit. “Like they ever listen to me!” the player quipped. “So, I go in and get a $10 ticket and a couple of the $3 Win for Lifes.”

The player selected the prize’s annuity value, which guarantees at least a total of $1.5 million spread over 25 annual payments.

“It was just so random. This really changes our lives. We’re always stressed about bills. This makes life a lot easier!”

Additionally, three $50,000 Jumbo Bucks and were claimed last week:

$50,000 Jumbo Bucks:

May 28--$50,000 top prize at RK Retail, 1900 Hooper Avenue, Toms River, Ocean County.

June 1--$50,000 top prize at W’s Freshmart, 2490 US Highway 22 E, Union, Union County.

June 1--$50,000 top prize at Convenience Food Stop, 184 Rivervale Road, Rivervale, Bergen County.

There are 34 top prizes remaining in the $10 game.

More About the New Jersey Lottery

Since its inception in 1970, the Lottery has contributed nearly $33.7 billion to the State, helping to support many worthwhile programs and services. Lottery profits currently help bolster the public employee pension system under a 30-year agreement signed into law in 2017.