A New Jersey lottery player rang in the new year by winning $5,000 a month for life on a $3 scratch-off ticket.

A lucky New Jersey lottery player won the $150,000 Jersey Cash 5 jackpot Friday night. The New Jersey Lottery announced Monday that a Essex County ticket matched the five numbers to win. The winning ticket was sold at One Stop Supermarket on Main Street in Orange.

The winner of a $1.128 billion Mega Millions jackpot has finally come forward to claim their staggering windfall nearly nine months since the ticket was drawn, according to a New Jersey Lottery press release. Lottery officials say the jaw-dropping prize is the fifth-highest in the game’s nearly three-decade history.

More than one quarter of the $1 million or more tickets sold were Jersey Cash 5, which led the way with 14 big winners. The biggest Jersey Cash 5 win came in October when someone who bought a $2 ticket at a deli in Port Monmouth in Monmouth County won a jackpot of nearly $2.4 million.

It was another lucky week for New Jersey Lottery winners. This week saw 20 people take home at least $10,000 in prizes. One winner was from our area. A $1,000,000 Ultimate Spectacular ticket won $10,000 after it was sold at Plaza Convenience in Neptune.

The New Jersey Lottery offers multiple draw games for people looking to strike it rich. Here’s a look at Jan. 5, 2025, results for each game: Check Pick-3 payouts and previous drawings here. Check Pick-4 payouts and previous drawings here.