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.

A Mercer County resident became the first big winner of the year in New Jersey after claiming a $1 million prize in the Mega Millions drawing

There were nearly 500 lottery players who won at least $10,000 in prizes last year - at least one in every county in the state.

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.