2020 marks 50 years since the first tickets went on sale for the New Jersey lottery.

New Jersey voters approved the state lottery in 1969 and the first tickets were sold the following year in 1970. Timothy Boulous says that he has struck it lucky not once, but twice while playing.

“I won $1 million on the $100 million Spectacular with a scratch-off for $10,” he says. “Then I also won a second chance drawing through the online New Jersey website - $14,378.”

New Jersey has the country's third-oldest lottery. The company says that it has given out $42 billion in prizes.

News 12 New Jersey found several loyal lottery players at Country Farms in Fords – a popular lottery retailer. The patrons said that they have won various amounts of prizes while playing the lottery.

At the 50th anniversary celebration at the Bridgewater Commons Mall, lottery players participated in several lottery games, including the Cashnado – where money blew around in a tube for them to collect.

Proceeds from the lottery help to fund state programs and public employee pensions. New Jersey lottery says that it has provided $28 billion to the state.