NJ Powerball Jackpot Climbs to $90 Million for Wednesday’s Drawing

The Powerball jackpot has climbed to an estimated $90 million for Wednesday night’s drawing, with a cash option value of approximately $48.2 million, according to lottery officials. Tonight’s drawing, scheduled for 10:59 p.m., offers New Jersey players another chance to claim the growing prize after no ticket matched all six numbers in the previous drawing. Players can purchase tickets until 9:59 p.m. at authorized retailers throughout the state, as noted on the Asbury Park Press website.

The Powerball game, played in 45 states including New Jersey, continues to attract players with its substantial jackpot that increases with each drawing when the top prize goes unclaimed. Tonight’s drawing could potentially create New Jersey’s next multi-millionaire, adding to the state’s history of notable lottery winners.

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Recent Drawing Results and Prize Distribution

Saturday’s Powerball drawing on May 10, 2025, featured the winning numbers 5, 20, 28, 39, 42, and the Powerball number 13, with a Power Play multiplier of 2, according to Lottery Post. While no one hit the jackpot, which was worth $83.6 million at the time, several New Jersey players claimed smaller prizes totaling approximately $101,025.

This prize fund exceeded the average payout per drawing in New Jersey over the previous five draws by about 2.81%. The state typically sees around $98,262 in prizes distributed to winners per drawing, demonstrating the consistent return to players even when the jackpot isn’t claimed.

Prior to that, the May 7 drawing featured winning numbers 14, 15, 30, 40, 59, and Powerball 20, with a Power Play multiplier of 3. The Monday, May 5 drawing included numbers 16, 34, 40, 45, 66, and Powerball 19 with a Power Play multiplier of 2. None of these recent drawings produced a jackpot winner, contributing to the current prize pool’s growth.

How To Play and Win

Powerball tickets cost $2 per play, with drawings held every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. Players select five numbers from 1 to 69 for the white balls and one number from 1 to 26 for the red Powerball. The game offers nine ways to win prizes, ranging from $4 for matching just the Powerball to the jackpot for matching all six numbers.

For an additional $1 per play, players can add the Power Play option, which multiplies non-jackpot prizes. The Power Play multiplier can be 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X, or even 10X when the advertised jackpot is $150 million or less. A Match 5 prize with Power Play is automatically worth $2 million regardless of the multiplier drawn.

New Jersey players also have the option to add Double Play for another $1, which gives them a second chance to win prizes up to $10 million in a separate drawing held after the regular Powerball drawing. According to the Powerball website, this feature allows tickets to potentially win in both drawings using the same set of numbers.

New Jersey’s Powerball History

New Jersey has a significant place in Powerball history as the first state lottery to open negotiations about selling tickets for both Powerball and Mega Millions, leading to the cross-sell expansion of both games in 2010. Since then, several notable jackpot winners have emerged from the Garden State.

The largest Powerball prize ever won in New Jersey came on May 7, 2016, when eight members of the Smith family claimed a $429 million jackpot with a ticket purchased at a 7-Eleven store in Trenton. Prior to that, Pedro Quezada held the state record with a $338 million win in March 2013, while Tayeb Souami won $315 million in May 2018.

These historic wins continue to fuel hope for New Jersey players who purchase tickets for each drawing, imagining how their lives could change with a similar windfall. The current $90 million jackpot, while not among the largest in the game’s history, still represents a life-changing sum for any potential winner.

What Happens After Winning

Powerball prizes in New Jersey can be claimed up to one year after the drawing date. For prizes up to $599.50, winners can visit any lottery retailer in the state for redemption. Larger prizes require completing a claim form available from retailers or the New Jersey Lottery headquarters.

Winners of substantial prizes have the option of receiving their winnings as a lump-sum cash payment or as an annuity paid over 30 years. The choice must be made at the time of ticket purchase by selecting the appropriate option on the play slip. If no selection is made, the annuity option is automatically applied, though winners can still opt for the cash payment when claiming their prize.

New Jersey lottery winnings are subject to a 5% state tax on prizes between $10,000 and $500,000, and an 8% tax on prizes exceeding $500,000. These state taxes are in addition to the federal withholding of 24% on prizes of $5,000 or more. Despite these deductions, a jackpot win would still represent an enormous financial windfall for any lucky player.

Lottery Contributions to New Jersey

The New Jersey Lottery has contributed approximately $25 billion to programs benefiting local communities since its establishment in 1970. A significant portion of these funds supports the state’s education system, including the School Nutrition Program, Tuition Aid Grants, and the Marie H. Katzenbach School for the Deaf.

As players purchase tickets for tonight’s drawing, a portion of each sale will continue this tradition of supporting public education and other state programs. This aspect of the lottery provides a positive community impact regardless of whether any individual player wins a prize.

For the latest Powerball results after tonight’s drawing, players can check the New Jersey Lottery website, use the mobile app, or visit any lottery retailer for winning numbers and prize information.

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