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What time does NJ lottery Pick 6 go off?

The NJ Pick 6 lottery drawing occurs once per day, every day, at approximately 7:58 PM Eastern Time. The cutoff for getting your Pick 6 ticket entered into that day’s drawing is 10:45 PM Eastern Time. So as long as you purchase your Pick 6 ticket before 10:45 PM ET, it will be included in that night’s drawing at around 7:58 PM ET. If you purchase your ticket after the 10:45 PM cutoff, it will not go into the drawing until the following day.

When to Play NJ Pick 6

Since the NJ Pick 6 drawing happens once per day in the evening, you can play and purchase tickets any time before 10:45 PM ET if you want to be entered into that night’s drawing. Many people purchase their tickets during the daytime or early evening hours leading up to the 10:45 PM ticket sales cutoff. You can buy tickets at any authorized NJ lottery retailer during their normal business hours up until 10:45 PM. You cannot purchase tickets online or via mobile app for the NJ Pick 6 game.

Some people like to buy their tickets close to the 10:45 PM cutoff so they don’t have to wait as long for that day’s drawing results. Others prefer to get their tickets earlier in the day so they don’t risk forgetting or not having time to make it to a lottery retailer before the cutoff. There is no major advantage to playing earlier or later as long as you meet the 10:45 PM deadline for entry into that night’s drawing.

NJ Pick 6 Drawing Schedule

Here is the schedule for NJ Pick 6 drawings:

  • Monday through Saturday drawings are held at approximately 7:58 PM ET
  • Sunday drawings are held at approximately 8:58 PM ET
  • Ticket sales cutoff is 10:45 PM ET for entry into that night’s drawing
  • Drawings are held every day of the week, including holidays
  • Results are typically posted within an hour or two of the drawing time

So no matter what day of the week it is, you can play NJ Pick 6 up until 10:45 PM ET and watch the drawing at around 8 PM ET. The only exception is Sundays when the drawing is held an hour later. Planning your ticket purchases before the cutoff will ensure your entries are included.

Buying Tickets on Drawing Days

On the day of the NJ Pick 6 drawing, ticket sales open at 6:00 AM Eastern Time. You can buy tickets all day long leading up to the 10:45 PM cutoff. Tickets cannot be purchased after the cutoff time for that day’s drawing.

Many lottery retailers have extended hours on drawing days to accommodate players who want to get their tickets at the last minute. Some retailers may even stay open until right before the 10:45 PM cutoff. You can check with your local retailers to see if they have special hours on drawing days.

Purchasing hours on Sunday are no different than other days, with sales starting at 6:00 AM ET. However, the ticket cutoff remains 10:45 PM ET even though the drawing is an hour later at 8:58 PM ET on Sundays.

Where to Buy NJ Pick 6 Tickets

You can buy NJ Pick 6 tickets at any authorized lottery retailer in New Jersey. This includes convenience stores, gas stations, liquor stores, supermarkets, and pharmacies. Here are some of the most popular places to purchase tickets:

  • 7-Eleven
  • Wawa
  • QuickChek
  • Delta gas stations
  • Krauszer’s
  • ShopRite
  • Stop & Shop
  • Walmart
  • Rite Aid
  • CVS

Most lottery retailers have self-service ticket machines in addition to cashiers. You can use cash, debit cards, or credit cards to purchase your Pick 6 tickets. Playing this popular game is convenient with so many retailer options across New Jersey.

NJ Pick 6 Game Details

Here are some key details about how the NJ Pick 6 lottery game works:

  • Cost is $1 per play
  • Select 6 numbers from 1 to 49
  • Or choose Quick Pick for randomly selected numbers
  • Drawings held once per day
  • Minimum $2 million starting jackpot
  • Jackpot grows until there’s a winner
  • Match all 6 numbers to win jackpot
  • Lesser prizes for matching 3-5 numbers
  • Overall odds of winning are 1 in 8.7

NJ Pick 6 is a traditional 6/49 drawing-style lottery game. Matching all six numbers correctly wins the multimillion dollar jackpot prize. It only takes $1 and a little bit of luck to play for a chance at a life-changing fortune.

How to Play NJ Pick 6

Playing NJ Pick 6 is simple. Follow these steps when purchasing your tickets:

  1. Select “Pick 6” on the lottery terminal
  2. Choose 6 numbers from 1 to 49 or use Quick Pick
  3. Choose how many draws/days you want to play
  4. Indicate if you want multiplier options
  5. Pay $1 per play and get your ticket

You can play for multiple consecutive draws on one ticket, or just for a single drawing. Multiplier options like Double Play or Megaplier increase your non-jackpot prizes for an extra $1 per play. Carefully check your ticket to make sure all your selections are correct.

NJ Pick 6 Prizes and Odds

Here are the prizes and odds of winning them in NJ Pick 6:

Match Prize Odds (1 in)
6 of 6 Jackpot 13,983,816
5 of 6 $2,500 230,769
4 of 6 $75 1,471
3 of 6 $5 77.8

The jackpot starts at a guaranteed $2 million and grows until someone wins it. Lesser prizes range from $5 to $2,500. Overall odds of winning any prize are 1 in 8.7. With jackpots frequently reaching $5-10 million or more, NJ Pick 6 offers huge win potential.

Claiming NJ Pick 6 Prizes

Depending on how much you win playing NJ Pick 6, claiming your prize may involve different procedures:

  • Prizes up to $599 can be claimed at any lottery retailer
  • $600 to $99,999 at any lottery claim center with ticket and ID
  • $100,000 and over by appointment at lottery headquarters

Make sure to sign the back of your winning Pick 6 ticket immediately. Double check the numbers to confirm you have a prize-winning match. For jackpot prizes, you may choose between annuity payments over 30 years or a one-time lump sum cash payment.

There is a one-year deadline to claim NJ lottery prizes. Tickets expire a year after the drawing date. Be sure to check any old tickets as soon as possible so you don’t miss out on any forgotten winners.

NJ Pick 6 Jackpots

The minimum starting jackpot in NJ Pick 6 is $2 million. If no one matches all 6 numbers, the jackpot rolls over to increase for the next drawing. Jackpots frequently climb into the tens of millions of dollars.

Here are some of the biggest NJ Pick 6 jackpot wins:

  • $29.5 million, June 2004
  • $35.3 million, March 2007
  • $37.4 million, August 2009
  • $46 million, March 2012
  • $20.1 million, July 2020
  • $29.5 million, January 2021

It’s not uncommon for the game to create millionaires overnight when the jackpot has rolled over for many drawings without a winner. Playing for just $1 per line gives you a shot at joining the list of lucky NJ Pick 6 jackpot winners.

Odds of Winning the Jackpot

The odds of winning the NJ Pick 6 jackpot by matching all 6 numbers are 1 in 13,983,816. This makes the game similar to other big jackpot lotteries like Powerball and Mega Millions in terms of astronomical odds. But someone has to win eventually, and Pick 6 jackpots have created huge winners in New Jersey.

Increasing Your Jackpot Chances

While the odds of hitting the Pick 6 jackpot are extremely long, there are some strategies players use to try improving their chances:

  • Buy more tickets – more number combinations
  • Pool lottery tickets in an office or group
  • Use family birthdays or other special numbers
  • Mix high and low numbers
  • Use Quick Pick for random selections

In the end, the lottery is entirely random, but these approaches maximize the number combinations you have in play for a drawing. Having just one more ticket could make you the next multimillion dollar winner.

NJ Pick 6 History and Trivia

The NJ Pick 6 lottery has been drawn since 1980. Here are some interesting facts about its history:

  • First known as Jersey Cash 6, later renamed Pick 6
  • Originally drawn weekly, moved to daily in 1992
  • Has created over 330 jackpot winners
  • Paid out over $5.1 billion in prizes
  • Generated more than $3 billion for NJ education programs
  • Record jackpot was $63.5 million in 2013

NJ Pick 6 has provided entertainment and life-changing prizes to players for over 30 years. During that time, the game has awarded jackpots ranging from $2 million to over $60 million. The lottery also gives back to the community, having raised billions for education in New Jersey.

Famous NJ Pick 6 Winners

Some notable past jackpot winners include:

  • Eleven coworkers at Fort Monmouth split a $30.5 million prize in 2000.
  • A couple from Montclair won $38 million in 2005.
  • A Newark sanitation worker won $17.1 million in 2010.
  • Twenty county jail employees shared a $37 million jackpot in 2013.
  • An Elizabeth woman won $20.6 million in 2017.

Over the years, NJ Pick 6 has produced many multimillionaires from all walks of life. Anyone can play, and everyone dreams of taking home that massive check one day.

Getting NJ Pick 6 Results

There are a few ways to get the latest NJ Pick 6 results:

  • Watch the local evening news – drawing results are typically shown
  • Check the lottery website – njlottery.com
  • Visit a lottery retailer – many display latest results
  • Call the lottery hotline after the drawing
  • Download the official NJ Lottery app

Results are usually available within an hour or two after the 7:58 PM ET drawing time. Many players like to watch the drawing show live online or on TV. Local news stations report the numbers during their broadcasts.

You can also check winning numbers at lottery retailers, many of which have display monitors showing recent results. Official results are posted immediately at njlottery.com after each drawing.

What if You Win?

If you discover you’ve won a Pick 6 prize, here are some recommended steps:

  1. Sign the back of the ticket immediately
  2. Keep it somewhere very safe
  3. Get copies of the ticket as proof
  4. Seek financial and legal advice
  5. Call the lottery to start your claim

It’s important to secure your winning ticket right away for protection. You’ll need to bring it when claiming your prize. Especially for jackpot wins, you may want to consult experts before proceeding.

Be sure to keep lottery winnings private if you can. This protects you from potential harassment or scams. But by all means, enjoy your Pick 6 success and the exciting possibilities it brings!

Conclusion

The NJ Pick 6 lottery provides fun and excitement every day with its nightly drawings. Players only need one matching set of 6 numbers to win massive jackpots starting at $2 million. Lesser prizes are also available by matching 3 to 5 numbers. With drawings every day, tickets sales until 10:45 PM ET, and a long history of winners, Pick 6 is a New Jersey lottery tradition offering life-changing prizes.