New Jersey Lottery Million Dollar Replay 2025

We’re back in Atlantic City for one of the most electric events of the year—the Million Dollar Replay at the Golden Nugget, hosted by the New Jersey Lottery. In this episode, I take you behind the scenes of a day full of second chances, big energy, and even bigger prize money.

We kick things off with a breakdown of how Million Dollar Replay works, what’s up for grabs, and how even non-winning tickets can still pay off in a big way. We also talk about some upcoming events and updates from the NJ Lottery, including the Rock Paper Scissors Throwdown at American Dream, the Rockin’ Riches Fast Play game, and changes coming to Mega Millions in 2025.

From there, we hit the floor to talk with players, guests, and lottery representatives. You’ll hear real stories from finalists—some who’ve been entering for years, some attending for the first time, and even one who walked away with the $1 million grand prize. We also touch on the importance of responsible play with help from the Council on Compulsive Gambling, who joined the event to offer resources and support.

Whether it's tales of $5,000 wins off forgotten tickets, lucky numbers drawn from snowblowers, or entire families making a weekend trip out of it, this episode is full of the human moments that make events like this feel so special.

Even if you’re not a lottery player, this one’s worth the listen—it’s about hope, joy, and the thrill of taking a chance.

Links Mentioned in the Episode:

• Enter the Million Dollar Replay: njlottery.com
• Problem Gambling Resources: 800gambler.org

Transcript

Speaker A [0:00 - 8:56]: Foreign what's up everybody? Welcome back to another episode of Greetings for the Garden State powered by the New Jersey Lottery. I'm your host, Mike Ham coming to you live. May not listen to in live, but we're live here at the Golden Nugget in Atlantic City with the New Jersey Lottery at their Million Dollar Replay event. We were here last year for a million dollar replay, had a blast. We're back again. So hopefully over the course of the day we're going to talk to some winners, we're going to talk to some other players, we're going to talk to some people from the lottery, some things, a lot of things going on this year. New games, new events, all that kind of stuff. A lot of fun. So definitely check out all the new stuff they have going on. We're also going to talk to the committee on Compulsive Gambling who's also here. Obviously an important piece of everything that goes on here with the lottery and that. So let's talk a little bit about what million dollar replay is. It's always a tough one with the sound in this one. Let's go here. All right, so million dollar replay, what is it? I'm gonna tell you. Here you go. All right, so what is million dollar Replay? It allows VIP club members to enter non winning scratch offs for a chance to win up to a million dollars in a yearly grand prize drawing. So even if you are, you're holding a non winning ticket, you could still win some. Don't just throw them away, keep them, keep them, submit them. VIP club is free, so that's, that's always nice. So you join the VIP club, you submit your non winning tickets back to the lottery, you collect $10 worth of eligible non winning scratch offs for each entry. So every $10 of non winning tickets, submit those and each $10 is a new entry. And you can manually enter your tickets on the website or scan your entry on the mobile app njlottery.com or grab the app and scan them there. Now what do you win? If you are one of the lucky people that gets selected the prizes, 100 winners will be selected in each of the four quarter finalist drawings. So 400 people, $250, you win and you get entry into the grand prize drawing which gives you a chance to win $1 million. And I'm going to break down the rest of the prize because it's not just a million. So someone here last year did win $1 million, but there's also a bunch more winners. So obviously there's the grand prize winner, million dollars, million dollar replay. Then there's, I just saw a woman that I actually used to work with. Second prize, two winners of $100,000. Third prize, three winners of $50,000. Fourth prize, four winners of $25,000. Five fifth prize, five winners of $10,000. So there's a lot of opportunities to win there, Rafa. There's opportunities to win gift baskets. There's opportunities to win, you know, packets of scratch offs. They have the big prize wheel here, the giant jersey prize wheel right next to me. So it's a great event. So if you are a lottery player and you play the scratchers, this is where you gotta be. Remember, submit those nine winning tickets for a chance to win a million dollars. And they do this every year. So if you have $10 worth of winning or non winning scratch offs, submit them back. Come on out and win. So I'm gonna take a quick break. We'll be back with some more people, players, interesting folks here at the Golden Nugget in Atlantic City. We're here with the New Jersey Lottery at their Million Dollar Replay event. I'm Mike Ham and this is the Greetings from the Garden State podcast, powered by the New Jersey Lottery. All right, so we're back here at the Million Dollar Replay here in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Mike Ham with the Greetings with RSA podcast, powered by the New Jersey Lottery. So we're here. People are filing in. The place is full. It's a good crowd. So again, Million Dollar Replay, they do this every year. It's a yearly drawing, 400 people, four semifinalist rounds, 100 people in each semifinalist round. So there's 400 people that have a chance to win a million dollars. We ran through the prizes in the first segment, so we don't need to go back through those. But I do want to bring your attention to some of the other events that are going on here with the lottery that are coming up that you should check out. So obviously we're. This is the Million Dollar Replay. Coming up. The next event that they're going to have is that American Dream in East Rutherford. It is the Rock Paper scissors tournament. I think there's. Let me pull up the info on Rock, paper scissors. So March 29th to the 30th, you need to be available for both days, just as an FYI before we really start talking about it. So available for both days. It's on the dream Stage, Court A level one. And it's the inaugural New Jersey Lottery Rock Paper Scissors Throwdown. Not just A tournament, It's a throwdown is a two day single elimination tournament centered around the world's oldest dispute resolving game. Rock Paper Scissors. Open to adults 18 and over. Takes place over two days and registration is open to the first 384 competitors. There's no fee to become a competitor and there's $25,000 in grand in prize money will be paid out to the top 12 finishers. So if you come in the top 12, if you think that you're really good, you crush it at Rock Paper scissors and you're one of the top 12. You get paid out if you're the winner. The winner will win $10,000 just by playing Rock paper scissors. Little departure from what I remember in the schoolyard back in the day. For more information and to register, please visit the event website at NJ RPS nj-rps as in rockpaperscissors.com and figures ready. So register for that. What else we got? Coming up, there's the all inclusive Hard Rock resort promo. The Rockin riches fast play game. You can enter to win an all expense paid trip to a Hard Rock resort in Mexico or the Dominican Republic. I'm gonna put just so you have access to all of these in the show notes. I'll make sure that I put links to each one of these games or excuse me, each one of these events. That way you can just pop over, learn more, register, learn how to play. Because the one thing that the lottery does a really good job of is give you chances to win. That is literally their whole job is to give you chances to win for you to play. And we'll see what happens also. Oh, this is another update. Mega Millions. Buckle up for this one. Mega Millions will be going from $2 to $5. April 20th. Correct. April 2025. The lottery game that has produced a record six jackpot wins exceeding $1 billion. Getting ready for a mega overhaul with plans to be bigger and better than ever when the new and improved game launches in April 2025. Hello. How are you? Good. You got some pins there. There's some stickers. Yeah, go for it. Absolutely. You're welcome. Are you guys playing today? Just hanging out. Are you one of the finalists? Oh, awesome. Well, good luck to you. Have you ever been to one of these before? No. Are you excited? Do you want to sit with me and talk with about it for a couple of minutes? Come on in. That's not a bad thing to come down for. Okay, set this up. All right, so Casimira, my name is Casimira Stag. 

Speaker B [8:56 - 8:57]: From Eller Park, New Jersey. 

Speaker A [8:57 - 8:58]: Okay. 

Speaker C [8:58 - 9:01]: I have been entering for five years. 

Speaker A [9:01 - 9:02]: Yeah. 

Speaker C [9:02 - 9:10]: And when you send me the. Now at 407 that I was a finalist after five years, I was so excited. 

Speaker A [9:11 - 9:11]: That's amazing. 

Speaker B [9:11 - 9:13]: Anything could happen in New Jersey. 

Speaker A [9:13 - 9:14]: That's right. 

Speaker C [9:15 - 9:17]: I am so excited. 

Speaker A [9:17 - 9:29]: Get at it. Age 80. No way. Well, so this is. You said you've never been to this. You're trying to get down here. So I feel like, you know, there's a lot of good things happening. 

Speaker C [9:30 - 9:32]: I am so excited just to be here. 

Speaker D [9:35 - 9:35]: Yeah. 

Speaker A [9:35 - 9:36]: So what? 

Speaker C [9:36 - 9:36]: Lose? Whatever. 

Speaker E [9:36 - 9:37]: I'm happy. 

Speaker A [9:37 - 9:57]: Totally. Of course. I mean, you already win. You're here, you know, so you won. You won something. You have opportunities to win all sorts of things. Prize money. I know there's like packets of scratch offs and stuff. Are you. What, like. So the scratch offs that you play, what are the games that you particularly like to play? $5, $10, $20. Yeah. 

Speaker C [9:57 - 10:01]: And also, you know, the collect and win. But I like the scratch on. 

Speaker A [10:01 - 10:04]: Yeah. Well, thank you so much for jumping on with us for a couple minutes. 

Speaker B [10:04 - 10:05]: Yeah. 

Speaker A [10:05 - 10:28]: Good luck. I'm gonna listen for. For your name and if you win. There we go. Put it into the universe and so it be heard, you know, good luck, Esmira. Absolutely. Thank you for coming. Coming through. Good luck to that lady. I really hope she wins. And obviously I have no skin in the game, but I hope she does. I hope she wins. 

Speaker F [10:29 - 10:33]: And if you run away I'll continue. 

Speaker A [10:33 - 10:56]: On the road I'm on. Hope I'm not a fool but don't break my rules you just better not prove me wrong. Hi, we're back here with the Greetings for Garcia podcast, powered by the New Jersey Lottery. We're here, of course, at the Million dollar Replay event at the Golden Nugget in Atlantic City, New Jersey. We have Jake with us from the council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey. Jake, welcome to the show. 

Speaker G [10:57 - 10:57]: Thank you. 

Speaker A [10:57 - 11:02]: Happy to be here. Happy to have you. So March is Compulsive Gambling awareness month, right? 

Speaker D [11:02 - 11:03]: Yeah. 

Speaker G [11:03 - 11:04]: Problem gambling awareness month. 

Speaker A [11:04 - 11:05]: Problem Gambling Awareness Month. 

Speaker G [11:05 - 11:05]: P Gam. 

Speaker A [11:05 - 11:16]: Pgam. Okay. Pgam. I like that. You know, makes it catchy. So can we talk a little bit about. Let's first kind of talk about what the council does, and then we'll kind of get into why it's important that you're here and all that. 

Speaker G [11:16 - 11:34]: Yeah, absolutely. So a lot of people know 800 Gambler as that's the phone number you can call when you have a gambling addiction. That is correct. You Call, text or phone number. But also we have a team of prevention specialists that travel the state of New Jersey, give presentation, do tabling. And they just let everyone know, resources are available. 

Speaker A [11:34 - 11:54]: Yeah, yeah. So like, what some of the resources that they have. Because I feel like, you know, maybe there's. I don't. Stigma's not the right word, but almost kind of like asking for help is sometimes like the biggest hurdle that people face. So how do you kind of, you know, not entice them, but give them, give them a chance to, like, to know that, you know, it's okay to call and reach out if you do have. 

Speaker G [11:55 - 12:03]: No, I absolutely think stigma is the right word. We always talk about the, the effect stigma and shame has on a person's ability to come out about their, you know, their gambling problem. 

Speaker A [12:04 - 12:04]: Sure. 

Speaker G [12:04 - 12:21]: And it's. In the modern day, especially, you know, young people, it's really hard to take that next step. It affects everyone of all ages. But especially in the modern day, I think the way that gambling has become so prominent, it almost feels like, why am I having this problem when it seems like other people aren't. 

Speaker D [12:21 - 12:21]: Yeah. 

Speaker G [12:21 - 12:22]: But the truth is they are. 

Speaker A [12:22 - 12:42]: Yeah. And it's just like, it's just so easy now. Like it's on your phone, it's, it's everywhere, you know, it's like just so accessible. And I feel like it's not like the council or, you know, all this stuff is not saying don't gamble, it's just more like gamble responsibly, you know, within your means and all that. And if you do have a problem, ask for help. 

Speaker G [12:43 - 13:07]: Absolutely. And I do want to say the council is not for or against gambling, legal gambling, actually. But yeah, I totally agree with your point about the phone and everything, the modern day ease of access. Because I mean, we always say that, like the phone, it just makes it. So you always have that capability to gamble on you, which is something that is obviously quite new. People aren't used to that. 

Speaker D [13:07 - 13:07]: Right. Yeah. 

Speaker A [13:07 - 13:31]: And it's like adding like a whole new thing. And you said, you know, whether it's stuff here with, with the lottery, whether it's sports gambling, whether it's all. There's all kinds of different ways to, to play, you know, and then the more it becomes prevalent, the more you just need to kind of like keep an eye on it, make sure you kind of keep it in check. Can we talk a little bit about, you know, why it's important to have the council here today at an event like this? 

Speaker G [13:31 - 14:03]: Well, I think an Event like this is a great example. Just because you have a group of people who, you know, they're reaching the height right now of they just got offered the chance to win a million dollars. You never know what they're going to go through if they don't win that. So I think an event like this, it's important just to let people know that, listen, when you get these feelings and urges of chasing losses or something like that, whatever you may feel, there are resources and that's why we have our table over there. We had giveaways, tchotchkes and some literature just to show people that, you know, there's information for them. 

Speaker D [14:03 - 14:03]: Yeah. 

Speaker G [14:03 - 14:04]: If they need it. 

Speaker D [14:04 - 14:04]: Yeah. 

Speaker A [14:04 - 14:19]: And just kinda like, you know, like I said, we said access before and obviously like, you know, 1-800- gambler a phone call away, you know, so where else would people be able to find stuff on the, on the council and where those materials and resources are for them if they do need help? 

Speaker G [14:19 - 14:36]: Yeah. If you need help, you could call or text 800GANDLER. We also are prominent on all social media. We have Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and we also have our website which has all available resources on there. It's very well laid out where if you're looking for something specific, you'll be able to find it on there as well. 

Speaker D [14:36 - 14:37]: Yeah. 

Speaker G [14:37 - 14:43]: So if you're looking for meetings, whether it be Gamblers Anonymous gammon on, we have it there for you. 

Speaker A [14:44 - 15:09]: Okay, great. So we'll make sure that we put, we're putting all sorts of links in the show notes for this particular episode. So we'll make sure that we put. Put all that in there as well because it is important, you know, not just in Problem. Problem Gambling Awareness Month, but all year. Absolutely. So. Well, Jake, thank you. I appreciate it. Hopefully you continue to have some great conversations here with people and continue to spread the good word about what you guys are doing. And thank you for coming to this today. 

Speaker G [15:09 - 15:10]: Yeah, thank you for having me. 

Speaker A [15:10 - 15:21]: Absolutely. So that was Jake from the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey. This is the Green RSA podcast. We'll be right back. Any other Lucky. Easy. Yeah, man. Thanks for doing that. 

Speaker D [15:21 - 15:21]: Yeah, for sure. 

Speaker G [15:21 - 15:23]: No, thank you because. 

Speaker A [15:25 - 15:29]: Okay, so we're here with Diane. Diane, welcome to the show. 

Speaker B [15:29 - 15:30]: Thank you. 

Speaker A [15:30 - 15:34]: So what was your experience like today here at the Million Dollar Replay? Fun. 

Speaker B [15:34 - 15:35]: It was exciting. 

Speaker D [15:35 - 15:35]: Yeah. 

Speaker A [15:35 - 15:36]: Have you ever been to one of these before? 

Speaker B [15:37 - 15:40]: We have. Okay. I qualified several years ago. 

Speaker A [15:40 - 15:41]: Okay. 

Speaker B [15:41 - 15:42]: But it's very exciting. 

Speaker A [15:42 - 15:43]: It really is. 

Speaker B [15:43 - 15:52]: You have really good odds. Y And in the moment. Oh, I'm. I'm getting so excited. We didn't win, though, but it was still fun to come. It really was a really, really good time. 

Speaker A [15:52 - 16:01]: Yeah, absolutely. So obviously, like, you know, we're talk. We're asking people what they like to play, what their favorite games are. What are some of your favorite games. 

Speaker B [16:01 - 16:11]: To play with the lottery? We like. Well, I like a scratch off ticket, but the new one, I can't remember what it's called. It's a black ticket, and you can win three different ways. 

Speaker A [16:11 - 16:12]: Okay. 

Speaker B [16:12 - 16:19]: So your number can match, there's a bonus number, and then you can match the dollar amount. So that's. It takes longer. I feel like I get more for my buck. 

Speaker A [16:19 - 16:20]: Yeah, right. 

Speaker D [16:20 - 16:20]: Yeah. 

Speaker A [16:20 - 16:22]: Like, you're really, you're really playing. 

Speaker B [16:22 - 16:22]: Right. 

Speaker A [16:22 - 16:25]: You know, so really anything can happen in Jersey, right? 

Speaker B [16:26 - 16:26]: Absolutely. 

Speaker D [16:26 - 16:26]: Yeah. 

Speaker A [16:26 - 16:29]: Do you have, like, a good winning story? 

Speaker B [16:29 - 16:35]: We do, yeah. Or I do. Anyway, a few years ago, you guys did a. A New Year's Eve raffle. 

Speaker A [16:35 - 16:36]: Okay. 

Speaker B [16:36 - 16:51]: And it was a $20 ticket. And the drawing went off on New Year's Eve at midnight or somewhere around there. And we, we forgot about it. We had it hanging on the fridge. And the next day we were making lunch and I said, oh, I forgot to check my ticket. And we won $5,000. 

Speaker A [16:51 - 16:52]: Wow, that's amazing. 

Speaker B [16:52 - 16:54]: Yeah, it was, it was. We were so excited. 

Speaker A [16:54 - 16:55]: I wish I won. 

Speaker B [16:55 - 17:01]: You know, the best part was going to bring the ticket in and I had to fill out a clip claim for it. That was the best part because then. 

Speaker A [17:01 - 17:07]: It'S like real and it's real, you know, like. Yeah, it was before it just, you know, oh, it's a piece of paper, you know, but then it's like, it's actual money. 

Speaker B [17:07 - 17:09]: And then when the check showed up, that was exciting. 

Speaker A [17:09 - 17:13]: Yeah. Do you, like, get your friends to play games too? Like convince them to play? 

Speaker B [17:13 - 17:15]: No, they're hard. They're tight wads. 

Speaker A [17:15 - 17:17]: Sure. They don't just gotta let it rip. 

Speaker B [17:17 - 17:19]: You know, they don't like to spend any money. 

Speaker A [17:19 - 17:26]: Yeah. Well, thank you for jumping on with us for a couple minutes. I really appreciate it. Good luck for the rest of the day. Know, maybe, maybe you'll win something that. 

Speaker B [17:26 - 17:28]: They'Re doing a couple more drawings. 

Speaker D [17:28 - 17:28]: Yeah, for sure. 

Speaker A [17:28 - 17:31]: All right, well, Diane, thank you so much. And we'll be right back. 

Speaker B [17:31 - 17:32]: All right. 

Speaker H [17:32 - 17:38]: So many words out now. I'm more of a low key guy, but. 

Speaker A [17:39 - 17:41]: Yeah. Well, this is going to shake it up a little bit. 

Speaker H [17:41 - 17:42]: Yeah, you got that right. 

Speaker A [17:42 - 18:04]: All right, here we Go. Hi, we're back. This is a very special moment for us on the podcast. So last year when we, when we did this, we didn't actually have any of the winners come through, but we have, like the ultimate winner, Daniel, Million dollar winner today at the Million Dollar Replay here at the Golden Nugget. Obviously, I mean, I'm sure a bunch of people have asked how it, how it feels, but does it, like, set in yet at all? 

Speaker H [18:04 - 18:23]: Not. Not yet. It's very surreal and it's. It'll probably sink in this weekend sometime when I get to rest my head, but it's, it's very exciting and a lot of people were happy for me. I didn't even know them and I hope they win next year. Yeah, share the wealth. I'm happy with this. Ecstatic. And it's just amazing. 

Speaker A [18:23 - 18:37]: Yeah, I mean, honestly, like, I mean, the big check, I mean, that's even, that's, that's, that's a cool part too. But so when you're, when you're playing these games, what do you personally like to play? Like, you know, scratchers and stuff from the lottery? 

Speaker H [18:37 - 18:41]: I kind of played them all, but it's fun and it's paid off. 

Speaker A [18:41 - 18:44]: Yeah, Well, I mean, clearly. Yeah. 

Speaker H [18:44 - 18:48]: Yeah, it's definitely paid off. Putting them in the losing ones in the second chance drawing. 

Speaker D [18:48 - 18:48]: Yeah. 

Speaker A [18:48 - 18:51]: Like, let's just be friends. A lucky guy. Yeah. 

Speaker H [18:51 - 18:57]: I don't know what's next, but this is the top prize and just, I'm so thankful and grateful for it. 

Speaker A [18:57 - 18:58]: That's amazing. 

Speaker H [18:58 - 19:05]: It's just crazy. It hasn't sunk in, but I don't know. Somebody's with me. Mom and dad are looking over me and thank God for them. 

Speaker D [19:05 - 19:05]: For sure. 

Speaker A [19:05 - 19:15]: For sure. Well, I'll let you get back to it. I'm sure you got know, more things to do and more people to talk to, but I appreciate you taking some time and chatting with us and congratulations again. That's amazing. 

Speaker H [19:15 - 19:16]: Thanks again. 

Speaker A [19:16 - 19:18]: Absolutely. Thank you, Daniel. Appreciate it. 

Speaker H [19:18 - 19:19]: Have a good one. 

Speaker A [19:19 - 19:37]: I will be right back with the greetings from the Garden say podcast Mike Cam. That was the million dollar winner, Daniel. We'll be right back. All right, we're back with the greetings for the RSA podcast powered by the New Jersey Lottery. I'm Mike Ham. We are here with, with Brittany. Brittany, welcome to the show. 

Speaker F [19:37 - 19:38]: Thank you. 

Speaker A [19:38 - 19:44]: So a guest of two people here, apparently. So, so what's that, what's that experience been like for you? 

Speaker F [19:44 - 19:51]: So I've. My grandmother's been here, I think four or five Times. I came with her once before, but that was when it was in Asbury Park. 

Speaker D [19:51 - 19:51]: Yeah. 

Speaker F [19:51 - 20:00]: So this is the first time I'm here with my mom, but it's been great. My mom's won once, but that was during COVID Sure. So she had to watch it from home. It wasn't the excitement, but it's great. 

Speaker D [20:01 - 20:01]: Yeah. 

Speaker F [20:01 - 20:03]: Just, even if you don't win, you still get to have fun. 

Speaker D [20:03 - 20:04]: Exactly. 

Speaker A [20:04 - 20:06]: And it is a fun event. You just want a tote bag. That's pretty cool. Yeah. 

Speaker F [20:07 - 20:08]: And I ate way too many desserts. 

Speaker A [20:08 - 20:12]: Sure. Well, I mean, when in ac, you just got to, like, live it up. 

Speaker F [20:12 - 20:12]: Go big or go home. 

Speaker A [20:12 - 20:18]: America's playground might be Vegas, but here at least. Yeah. So are you. Do you play scratch offs? 

Speaker F [20:18 - 20:19]: You play? 

Speaker A [20:19 - 20:22]: Yeah. But you said you. So you've never been to one. 

Speaker F [20:22 - 20:24]: Like, for myself. No. 

Speaker A [20:24 - 20:27]: But the one that you went to was. You said was in Asbury Park. 

Speaker F [20:27 - 20:28]: Asbury Park. 

Speaker A [20:28 - 20:30]: But you've never been to the one here at the Nugget. 

Speaker F [20:30 - 20:30]: At the Nugget. 

Speaker A [20:30 - 20:33]: What's this experience compared to that one? What's this experience been like for you? 

Speaker F [20:34 - 20:35]: I like it better here. 

Speaker D [20:35 - 20:35]: Yeah. 

Speaker F [20:35 - 20:44]: It's. I think it's a bigger room, it's brighter, it's a better atmosphere. It didn't take long to get here. That was like an hour or so drive. 

Speaker D [20:44 - 20:44]: Yeah. 

Speaker A [20:45 - 20:45]: This. 

Speaker F [20:45 - 20:45]: We got a room. 

Speaker A [20:45 - 20:46]: Where you guys coming from? 

Speaker F [20:46 - 20:48]: So. I live in Hamilton. 

Speaker A [20:48 - 20:49]: Okay. Yeah. Yeah. 

Speaker F [20:49 - 20:51]: So we got a room last night. 

Speaker A [20:51 - 20:51]: Great. 

Speaker F [20:51 - 20:53]: Just I ate way too much again then. 

Speaker A [20:53 - 20:55]: Sure. It doesn't matter. Like, you know. 

Speaker D [20:55 - 20:56]: Yeah. 

Speaker A [20:56 - 20:57]: It's like you're on vacation. Yeah. 

Speaker F [20:57 - 21:02]: Just, you can do more things here. You can make, like, a trip out of it instead of driving, like an hour or so. 

Speaker A [21:02 - 21:06]: Yeah. That's amazing. And I'm glad that you guys had a good time and a lot of fun. 

Speaker F [21:06 - 21:07]: Yeah. 

Speaker A [21:07 - 21:12]: And then good luck in the future. I mean, I hope. I hope one day they're your guests. That would really. 

Speaker F [21:12 - 21:14]: So. Or all three of us at the same time. 

Speaker A [21:14 - 21:15]: That would be crazy. 

Speaker F [21:15 - 21:16]: Oh, yeah, absolutely. 

Speaker A [21:16 - 21:19]: That's like a family I got to be friends with because apparently everyone's lucky. 

Speaker F [21:19 - 21:20]: Oh, yeah, absolutely. 

Speaker A [21:20 - 21:29]: Yeah. So. All right, well, Brittany, thank you so much for jumping on with us for a few minutes and enjoy the rest of your time. Hopefully somebody walks away with something when. When you guys are all said and done here. 

Speaker F [21:29 - 21:30]: All right, great. Thank you so much. 

Speaker A [21:30 - 21:42]: Absolutely. So we'll be right back. Greetings, We Got to say. Podcast powered by the New Jersey Lottery. All right, so we're Back here with the Greetings with the Garden podcast. We're here at the Million Dollar Replay in Atlantic City, New Jersey, at the Golden Nugget. We're here with Al. Al, welcome to the show. 

Speaker E [21:43 - 21:44]: Thank you. 

Speaker A [21:44 - 21:54]: Absolutely. So you said that you have some good New Jersey lottery stories, and we love stories on this show, so we'd love to hear some of your best stories. 

Speaker E [21:54 - 22:03]: Okay. I previously lived at 1817 Bay Boulevard, so one day, my wife's a realtor. 

Speaker A [22:03 - 22:04]: Okay. 

Speaker E [22:04 - 22:24]: So we were renting the house out and our tenant gave us notice on that certain day. So I went down to the lottery store and I played 18:17, pick four. I played it straight in box. So my wife got a second call that day to show the house. And at that time it was kind of different. 

Speaker D [22:24 - 22:24]: Yeah. 

Speaker E [22:24 - 22:45]: So she said, I want to play 1817. That's a sign. So we. I said, I already have it. She said, no, I want my own. So we went to the store, we. I bought another ticket with 1817 straight in box. They didn't have the fireball in those days. And I was buying potato chips and pretzels for the kids. 

Speaker D [22:45 - 22:46]: Yeah. 

Speaker E [22:46 - 23:04]: So the, the owner of the store said to me, what do you want to do with the change? I said, just throw it on 1870. So I got a call at 1:00 in the morning from my son, and he said, I think your number came out. And I said to him, if you're teasing me, you're out of the. You're out of the will. 

Speaker A [23:04 - 23:06]: Yeah, it's way too late to be teasing like that. 

Speaker E [23:06 - 23:16]: So I looked it up. 1817 came out. So on a pick four, I had it 10 times straight and two boxes, that was $26,000. 

Speaker A [23:16 - 23:17]: Holy moly. 

Speaker E [23:17 - 23:18]: Unbelievable. 

Speaker A [23:18 - 23:25]: Yeah, that's incredible. I mean, you gotta. Gotta be in it to win it, really. And it's just, it's funny how those kinds of things work out. Sometimes. 

Speaker E [23:25 - 23:25]: It is. 

Speaker A [23:25 - 23:26]: You know what I mean? 

Speaker E [23:26 - 23:29]: So another pick four. I love pick four. 

Speaker A [23:30 - 23:31]: Big pick four guy. 

Speaker E [23:31 - 23:51]: So my wife's favorite number is 1031. Halloween. Because we've done good at the casinos on, I think, but on the lottery. So one night a year and a half ago, I was watching a TV program and the address in the background was 1031. And on the bottom of the TV. 

Speaker A [23:53 - 23:54]: The clock is. 

Speaker E [23:54 - 23:58]: It was 1031. I said, you know what? 

Speaker A [23:58 - 23:58]: Come on. 

Speaker E [23:59 - 23:59]: Unbelievable. 

Speaker D [23:59 - 24:00]: Yeah. 

Speaker E [24:01 - 24:09]: I had $6 on it straight. And it came out straight. $30,000. Unbelievable. 

Speaker A [24:09 - 24:10]: That's incredible. 

Speaker E [24:10 - 24:13]: But, you know, I'm kind of numbers crazy when These things happen. 

Speaker A [24:13 - 24:13]: Yeah. 

Speaker D [24:14 - 24:14]: Yeah. 

Speaker A [24:14 - 24:21]: Well, it's like, you know, but I do think being kind of in tune with the, the universe almost, you know, and just paying attention to science. 

Speaker E [24:21 - 24:26]: I mean, years ago, my friend said to me, just think of it, al. There's only 10 numbers. There's zero through nine. 

Speaker D [24:26 - 24:26]: Yeah. 

Speaker E [24:26 - 24:28]: You just gotta get it right. 

Speaker A [24:28 - 24:33]: Yeah, right. When you think about it that way, it really simplifies it and makes it, you know, accessible to anybody, you know. 

Speaker E [24:33 - 24:34]: I'll just give you one more. 

Speaker D [24:34 - 24:35]: Yeah. 

Speaker A [24:35 - 24:37]: I love. These are the, these are my favorites. 

Speaker E [24:37 - 24:59]: I was cleaning out my shed, I take my snowblower out. Okay. So I bring it out and the number on the snowblower, It's a model 5520. Okay. It doesn't mean nothing to me. So I, I, I go down and I, I had two, two dollars on it. I got 5,800 and change, you know, on the snow. 

Speaker A [24:59 - 25:00]: Snowblower. Yeah. 

Speaker D [25:00 - 25:00]: Yeah. 

Speaker A [25:00 - 25:05]: That's amazing. Well, now I'm gonna have to start, you know, thinking like that a little bit. 

Speaker D [25:05 - 25:06]: Yeah. 

Speaker A [25:06 - 25:10]: You know, find the four and just look for it. I don't think I have any numbers around. 

Speaker E [25:10 - 25:13]: My brother's Mother in Law, 1993. 

Speaker D [25:13 - 25:13]: Yeah. 

Speaker E [25:13 - 25:21]: She bought a quick pick on pick six. Only winner 10.4 million in those days. You did. They didn't tell you till the next day. 

Speaker D [25:21 - 25:21]: Yeah. 

Speaker E [25:21 - 25:24]: How many winners there were because they had less numbers, I think. 

Speaker A [25:24 - 25:25]: Yeah. Yeah. Right. 

Speaker E [25:25 - 25:32]: And so you didn't know if you had to split it, but she was the only winner. Split it amongst her family, you know, my brother and them, for sure. Nice. 

Speaker A [25:32 - 25:35]: And what was the experience like here for you today? Fun. 

Speaker E [25:35 - 25:41]: Oh, it was. This is fun. You know, you get your fingers crossed. You know, the odds are. The odds are getting better. 

Speaker D [25:41 - 25:42]: Yeah. 

Speaker E [25:42 - 25:47]: From getting in. Because he announced it's 16.8 million entries. 

Speaker D [25:47 - 25:47]: Yeah. 

Speaker E [25:48 - 25:53]: Of the 400, I think that's probably what, one in 50,000 or something. 

Speaker D [25:53 - 25:54]: Yeah, yeah, yeah. 

Speaker E [25:55 - 25:57]: But it's very nice. It's run very well. 

Speaker D [25:57 - 25:57]: Yeah. 

Speaker A [25:57 - 26:00]: They do a really good job. It's a fun event, you know, I think it's really cool. 

Speaker E [26:00 - 26:02]: This is our second time. 

Speaker D [26:02 - 26:02]: Yeah. 

Speaker E [26:02 - 26:04]: The first time was in Asbury Park. 

Speaker A [26:04 - 26:04]: That's what, yeah. 

Speaker E [26:05 - 26:06]: About four or five years ago. 

Speaker A [26:07 - 26:07]: Right. 

Speaker E [26:07 - 26:08]: My wife got in. 

Speaker D [26:08 - 26:08]: Yeah. 

Speaker A [26:08 - 26:11]: Well, thank you for the stories. 

Speaker E [26:11 - 26:11]: Thank you. 

Speaker A [26:11 - 26:12]: Amazing. 

Speaker E [26:12 - 26:16]: Hopefully a lot more, but there's more people that want to talk. 

Speaker A [26:17 - 26:19]: I'll reach out to you, you know, we'll tell all the stories. 

Speaker E [26:19 - 26:19]: All right. 

Speaker A [26:19 - 26:41]: Yeah, thank you, Al. I appreciate it. All right, so we're Back here at the New Jersey Lottery. Million dollar replay at the Golden Nugget and Atlanta Atlantic City. Greetings from the Garden State Podcast, powered, of course, by the New Jersey Lottery. We're here with Rita. Rita, welcome. Thank you. Absolutely. So you were a finalist today. Hopefully. I mean, there's still some chances to win some stuff, so fingers crossed. So. 

Speaker D [26:41 - 26:42]: But how. 

Speaker A [26:42 - 26:45]: How was your day so far? Like, how was this event for you? Did you have fun? 

Speaker C [26:45 - 26:53]: Oh, I had a lot of fun. It was great. Even just being here was not enough. It made up for not winning. 

Speaker A [26:53 - 26:57]: Yeah. Have you been to this event in the past? 

Speaker C [26:57 - 26:58]: I have been here once before. 

Speaker A [26:58 - 27:02]: Okay, how does this experience compare to previous experiences for you? 

Speaker C [27:02 - 27:04]: It was basically the same. 

Speaker F [27:04 - 27:05]: Was it here? 

Speaker C [27:05 - 27:06]: No. 

Speaker A [27:08 - 27:09]: Okay. Caesars. 

Speaker C [27:09 - 27:09]: Caesars. 

Speaker D [27:09 - 27:10]: Yeah. 

Speaker C [27:10 - 27:12]: It's a lot of fun. Yeah, I enjoy just being here. 

Speaker A [27:12 - 27:16]: Right. Win something on the prize wheel. 

Speaker C [27:16 - 27:16]: Yes. 

Speaker A [27:16 - 27:19]: You know, that's always fun. Got a tote right there. 

Speaker E [27:19 - 27:19]: Oh, great. 

Speaker A [27:19 - 27:28]: There you go. Yeah, a little tote bag. Good for groceries and other things. Do you have, like, a good winning story? Like a New Jersey lottery winning story? 

Speaker C [27:28 - 27:30]: No, I haven't. 

Speaker A [27:31 - 27:33]: Go over here now. 

Speaker C [27:33 - 27:35]: I have a one here. 

Speaker E [27:36 - 27:37]: Okay. 

Speaker A [27:37 - 27:38]: Well, what do you like to play? 

Speaker C [27:38 - 27:40]: Lucky. I like to play. 

Speaker A [27:41 - 27:49]: You're a finalist for this? I am. You know. Exactly. It's like pushing over a refrigerator. You gotta, like, rock it a little bit and then tip it over. 

Speaker C [27:49 - 27:54]: Yeah, we're ready to fall on me right now. But it's rocking. 

Speaker A [27:54 - 27:59]: Yeah. But so what do you like to play? Like, what. What's your favorite thing to play with the lottery? 

Speaker C [27:59 - 28:03]: I like. I play more every game. I play everything. 

Speaker A [28:03 - 28:04]: Okay. 

Speaker C [28:04 - 28:07]: Tickets. But I. I like the scratch off. 

Speaker A [28:07 - 28:13]: Is there like a favorite scratch off? Like one that you feel is, like, the most fun? Okay, why are you answering yes? Not in the same. 

Speaker C [28:13 - 28:14]: The ones that I win? 

Speaker A [28:14 - 28:16]: Sure. Yeah. Those. 

Speaker I [28:16 - 28:17]: Those are the best. 

Speaker C [28:17 - 28:18]: They're always the same one. 

Speaker D [28:18 - 28:18]: So. 

Speaker A [28:18 - 28:25]: Yeah, I don't have. Well, so, I mean. And you're with. Here. Here with friends? 

Speaker C [28:25 - 28:26]: Yeah, I'm here with my granddaughter. 

Speaker A [28:26 - 28:29]: Okay, great. And what's. What's the experience like? Been sharing that with. 

Speaker C [28:30 - 28:30]: Oh, it's been great. 

Speaker D [28:30 - 28:31]: Yeah. 

Speaker A [28:31 - 28:35]: That's got to be a lot of fun. Did you guys kind of like, make, like, a little bit of a trip out of it? Is that. 

Speaker C [28:35 - 28:42]: Yeah, we stayed here last night. We got our picture taken over there with the lottery photo, and so it's a good experience. 

Speaker A [28:43 - 28:44]: A winner. You're a winner. 

Speaker C [28:44 - 28:45]: I am a winner. 

Speaker A [28:45 - 28:48]: Yeah, exactly. Winner in life for sure. Yeah. 

Speaker D [28:48 - 28:48]: Awesome. 

Speaker A [28:48 - 29:11]: Well, Rita. Rita, thank you so much for jumping on with us for a couple minutes. I really appreciate it. And enjoy the rest of your day. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you. Hopefully you walk away with something cooler than the tote. You can put something. Thank you. Thank you, Rita. I appreciate it. Enjoy the rest of your day. All right, so we're back here at the Million Dollar Replay. We're here with Marie. Marie, how is your day so far? How has your experience been in the Million Dollar Replay event? 

Speaker J [29:11 - 29:17]: I'm having a blast. I'm having a blast here. All the different things, things to do, people to see and meet. 

Speaker D [29:17 - 29:17]: Yeah. 

Speaker J [29:17 - 29:18]: And a food is delicious. 

Speaker A [29:18 - 29:26]: That's. I mean, the food thing, that's like kind of where, you know, I hang my hat. I like that. So. So it's been a fun day. Who are you here with? 

Speaker J [29:26 - 29:33]: I'm here with a friend of mine. She got into the drawing I did. I got in a couple years ago. 

Speaker A [29:33 - 29:33]: Okay. 

Speaker J [29:33 - 29:36]: And so I said, oh, I'd love to come with you because it's a good time. 

Speaker A [29:39 - 29:41]: Was she lucky? Did she win anything? 

Speaker J [29:41 - 29:44]: She won some tickets and stuff here, but she didn't win any of the big money. 

Speaker A [29:44 - 29:44]: But. 

Speaker J [29:45 - 29:46]: But it's still a good time. 

Speaker A [29:46 - 29:50]: Yeah, it's still a great time. You guys make like a little. Little girls trip out of it down last night. 

Speaker F [29:50 - 29:50]: That's. 

Speaker A [29:51 - 29:51]: That's amazing. 

Speaker J [29:52 - 29:55]: Girls trip. Got to gamble a little bit, you know. 

Speaker A [29:55 - 29:55]: Yeah. 

Speaker J [29:55 - 29:58]: So, yeah, support the economy. 

Speaker A [30:00 - 30:05]: Yeah, it's all cash flow, really. You know, macro economics, whatever it's called. 

Speaker J [30:05 - 30:05]: Exactly. 

Speaker A [30:06 - 30:15]: So do you have any good winning stories? You play the lottery. What are your favorite games? Let's do that first. Like, what do you like to play? And then do you have a good winning story? 

Speaker J [30:16 - 30:44]: I. I play scratch offs, and even better, the Jersey Cash five all the time. But every time the lottery has a little different thing, a promotion going on. So they had a quick job promotion going on, and I said, okay, I'm going to buy it. And I've been buying it almost all month because it was going on all month. So I said, all right, here's $5. I'll pay it. I scanned the numbers and I won five grand. I thought I was gonna pass out in the store. I was screaming and yelling. Everybody thought something happened in the store. 

Speaker D [30:44 - 30:45]: What's the matter? 

Speaker J [30:45 - 30:49]: What's the matter? I said, I just won five grand. I. I couldn't believe it. It was just, like, so amazing. 

Speaker D [30:49 - 30:50]: Yeah. 

Speaker J [30:50 - 30:53]: So, you know, the whole saying, anything can happen in Jersey, it is true. 

Speaker A [30:53 - 30:54]: That's 100% true. And. 

Speaker J [30:55 - 30:56]: But you got to be in it to win it. 

Speaker A [30:56 - 30:58]: That's right. You know, if you don't play, you can't win. 

Speaker J [30:58 - 30:59]: I. Exactly. 

Speaker A [30:59 - 31:09]: And I'm so glad that you have that story. We. We've had some good, you know, winning stories and all that. It's just like, you know, but that's what that lottery is all about. It's just giving you that shot to. 

Speaker J [31:09 - 31:14]: To win something, but you have to also be within your means. And I told Andrew, you know, just a little bit here. 

Speaker A [31:14 - 31:15]: There. 

Speaker J [31:15 - 31:20]: You know, you go in there, I don't have to have a millions. Five grand was a lot to me. So, you know. 

Speaker D [31:20 - 31:20]: Yeah. 

Speaker A [31:20 - 31:21]: Made your day. 

Speaker J [31:21 - 31:23]: Made your, you know, week, probably. 

Speaker A [31:23 - 31:32]: That's amazing. And it's a good note in your means, because March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month, so we always need to, you know, chime in on that because, you know, it's important. 

Speaker J [31:32 - 31:33]: Right. 

Speaker A [31:33 - 31:42]: So I don't know if they. If they have more flash giveaways or not, but I hope your friend wins something. Did you win anything off the prize wheel? 

Speaker J [31:42 - 31:45]: I did. I won a backpack. 

Speaker A [31:45 - 31:45]: Nice. 

Speaker J [31:45 - 31:54]: And I actually wanted to go over there and you get your picture taken and stuff. And I spun. I won a lottery ticket, and I won 10 bucks on that. So now I'm ahead of the game. I'm ahead of the game, you know? 

Speaker A [31:54 - 32:04]: Yes. I love it. That's what this thing is all about. So I appreciate you coming on and giving us a couple minutes and sharing your winning story. That's so fun, and I hope more luck for you in the future. 

Speaker J [32:04 - 32:06]: So I really appreciate it. Thanks a lot for listening to me. 

Speaker A [32:06 - 32:10]: Absolutely. Thank you, Marie. All right, so we're here with Joseph. Joseph, welcome to the show. 

Speaker I [32:10 - 32:11]: Thank you. 

Speaker A [32:11 - 32:15]: Absolutely. So are you a finalist today? Are you with someone that's a finalist? 

Speaker I [32:15 - 32:16]: No, I'm a finalist. 

Speaker A [32:17 - 32:23]: All right, so the winner for you today, but how's the event been for you overall so far? 

Speaker I [32:23 - 32:25]: It was fun. It was very exciting. Yeah. 

Speaker A [32:26 - 32:27]: Have you been to this before? 

Speaker I [32:27 - 32:33]: No, no. First time. First time ever. Very, very exciting. I met some interesting people at the table. 

Speaker A [32:33 - 32:34]: That's what. Yeah. 

Speaker I [32:34 - 32:41]: Some people from Ocean county that. They're. They're in a similar line of work that I do, and we were talking about numbers and things like that. It was fun. 

Speaker A [32:41 - 32:43]: That's really cool. Where are you coming from? 

Speaker I [32:43 - 32:44]: I'm from Esther's County. 

Speaker A [32:44 - 32:45]: Oh, me too. 

Speaker I [32:45 - 32:45]: Yeah. 

Speaker D [32:45 - 32:46]: Oh, yeah, yeah. 

Speaker A [32:46 - 32:46]: Bloomfield. 

Speaker I [32:46 - 32:47]: I'm orange. 

Speaker A [32:47 - 32:47]: All right. 

Speaker I [32:47 - 32:48]: Yeah. 

Speaker A [32:48 - 32:55]: Nice. Well, so you haven't been to this event before, but do you have a good like lottery winning story. 

Speaker I [32:56 - 33:17]: Yes, actually. Okay, I do, I do. One of my best winnings ever was Christmas Eve. I, I received some money and a gift from some of my co workers and I do what I usually do, I spend it on numbers after work. So I went and I, I played a couple scratch off and I remember winning like $200. 

Speaker D [33:17 - 33:17]: Yeah. 

Speaker I [33:17 - 33:21]: On a $5 scratch off. It was a lot of fun. And it was Christmas Eve, right? 

Speaker A [33:21 - 33:22]: It was a great, for a great Christmas. 

Speaker I [33:22 - 33:25]: Yes, it was a nice Christmas gift for myself. Yeah. 

Speaker A [33:25 - 33:32]: Yeah. And so what do you like to, you said you, you know, put it on numbers and stuff. So like, is that what you like to play? What's your favorite game? 

Speaker I [33:32 - 33:34]: My favorite game is pick three and pick four. 

Speaker A [33:35 - 33:35]: Okay. 

Speaker I [33:36 - 33:52]: I have my girlfriend and I birthday, birthday that we play like every day. A couple other interesting numbers like a home address for myself, my grandmother's house and yeah, it's just fun. It's an all day everyday event for me. So. 

Speaker A [33:52 - 33:52]: Yeah. 

Speaker D [33:52 - 33:52]: Yeah. 

Speaker A [33:52 - 34:01]: That's fun though. I mean we just had somebody on before that similar kind of thing like putting an address in and then winning something. Yeah. You know, but you got to be in it to win it. 

Speaker I [34:01 - 34:02]: That's right. 

Speaker A [34:02 - 34:04]: That's important to know. Yeah. Where you going? 

Speaker I [34:05 - 34:18]: Also, I communicate with my family throughout the day via text message. Hey, did you play my numbers? Did you get my numbers in for midday? I'm like, yeah, of course we played. Of course. So yeah, everyone in my house was in the game, so. 

Speaker D [34:18 - 34:18]: Yeah. 

Speaker A [34:18 - 34:25]: And then, I mean the nice thing about this little trip down for you, did you make a little vacation out of it? 

Speaker I [34:25 - 34:26]: Yeah. 

Speaker A [34:26 - 34:28]: Come down last night, stay for the day. 

Speaker I [34:28 - 34:33]: That's right, that's right. At the Caesars and then we just made our way over to the Golden Nugget. 

Speaker A [34:33 - 34:40]: Yeah. That's amazing. Well, thank you for coming out with us. Your winning story. We appreciate that. Thank you. Good luck for the rest of the day. Hopefully. 

Speaker D [34:41 - 34:41]: Yeah. 

Speaker I [34:41 - 34:42]: And hopefully I'll see you again next year. 

Speaker A [34:43 - 34:45]: Yeah, absolutely. We're here and I hope you see you again. 

Speaker I [34:45 - 34:46]: Okay, cool. 

Speaker A [34:46 - 34:49]: Absolutely. Thank you, Joseph. I appreciate it. Thank you. The Jersey short, so. 

Speaker E [34:50 - 34:51]: All right. 

Speaker A [34:51 - 35:09]: Congratulations to you. Wait, actually you know what, Scott, hold on one second. Alright. Oh, tell me before you go all. 

Speaker F [35:09 - 35:12]: The way, do you want to ride.