New Jersey Lottery reports $3.34B in sales for FY25, marking eighth straight year of $1B pension contribution
TRENTON, N.J. — The New Jersey Lottery generated $3.34 billion in sales during fiscal year 2025, marking the eighth consecutive year the Lottery contributed more than $1 billion to the state’s public employee pension system, officials announced Thursday.
New Jersey Lottery Executive Director James Carey released the Division’s FY25 Audit Report and Audited Financial Statements, noting that despite a drop in overall sales, the Lottery remains a key driver of revenue for the state.
For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, the Lottery contributed $1.08 billion to the New Jersey Pension Fund, supporting Governor Phil Murphy’s $7.2 billion pension payment.
Scratch-Offs continued to dominate sales, generating $1.8 billion. Classic numbers games Pick-3 and Pick-4 followed with $380 million and $226 million in sales, respectively.
Total sales declined by $288 million — or 7.9 percent — compared to FY24. Lottery officials attributed the decrease primarily to fewer billion-dollar jackpots in multistate games. Powerball sales fell by $202.3 million, while Mega Millions dropped $69.56 million. Other games saw positive results, including Jersey Cash 5, which recorded $176 million in sales, and Cash Pop, which climbed 10 percent year over year.
The Lottery said it continues to face competition from online sports betting and digital casino gaming. Working with its sales and marketing partner, Northstar New Jersey Lottery, officials said the agency is exploring new strategies to engage players and strengthen offerings.
Players won a collective $2.02 billion in prizes during FY25. Among the top payouts were eight second-tier Powerball prizes ranging from $1 million to $2 million, three $1 million Mega Millions prizes, a $4 million Mega Millions multiplier win, a $32 million Pick-6 jackpot, two additional Pick-6 jackpots above $5 million, a $2.4 million Jersey Cash 5 win, a $7 million Cash 4 Life prize, and a $5 million Scratch-Off prize — the highest instant-win amount offered by the Lottery.
Retailers also saw significant benefits, earning $195.7 million in commissions and $2.1 million in bonuses for selling top-tier winning tickets. More than 6,500 businesses statewide, many of them small businesses, serve as Lottery retailers.
Northstar, however, did not meet its net-income targets for FY25 and did not earn incentive compensation. Instead, the company owed the Division of the State Lottery a $21.2 million shortfall payment, which was categorized as non-operating income and included in the final pension contribution.
Since its inception in 1970, the New Jersey Lottery has contributed more than $34.7 billion to state programs and services. Under a 30-year agreement enacted in 2017, Lottery profits currently fund the state’s public employee pension system, supporting teachers, police officers, firefighters and other public workers.
The Lottery emphasized its commitment to transparency in financial reporting. Detailed financial documents are available on its website.
