TRENTON (June 2, 2025) – When a Union County player won the second largest New Jersey Lottery prize of 2025 in the May 14 Cash 4 Life drawing, they weren’t the only winners. The retailer gets a big reason to celebrate, too.

The winner, who has yet to come forward, will receive the cash option of the jackpot, which is $7 million. There were thousands of players competing for that prize, and those sales are crucial for the nearly 6,800 Garden State retailers, who earned a total of $214 million in commissions and bonuses in fiscal year 2024. When a big jackpot like Cash 4 Life is hit, the retailer receives a bonus. For Quick Stop Deli and Grill in Union Township that amounts to $30,000.

The Lottery’s contribution to retailers goes beyond financial support. Many retailers are the lifeblood of their neighborhoods and communities and the go-to destination for loyal customers.

Tom Patel who owns and operates Quick Stop with his wife, Rita, has been selling Lottery tickets for nearly a quarter century. He’s used to seeing big winners come through, but he says it’s the day-to-day activity that’s just as important.

“We want to do the best for our customers,” Patel said last Friday amid a steady flow of customers after an afternoon storm blew through.

“I’m so happy for Tom,” New Jersey Lottery Director James Carey said. “I always make a point of chatting with retailers, and the story is the same: The Lottery is a crucial part of their business.”

Cash 4 Life tickets are available in New Jersey, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Virginia. Players select five numbers from a field of one through 60 and a “Cash Ball” from a field of one through four. Drawings are held every day at about 9 p.m.