NJ Lotto machine glitch leads to 2 sets of winning Pick 4 numbers

The machine malfunctioned and a second set of numbers was drawn.

Matt Trapani

Mar 15, 2024, 9:56 PM

Updated 176 days ago

Share:

The catchphrase for New Jersey Lottery is “Anything can happen in Jersey,” and that phrase lived up to its meaning on Thursday night.
The evening daily picks were being drawn when there was a long pause between the first two numbers of the Pick 4. The numbers were 8 and 8 – and then 2 and 6 popped up. According to lottery officials, there was a mechanical difficulty and “all the balls did not release into the chamber before a winning number was selected."
A secondary Pick 4 machine was tested and reset and a second set of four numbers were chosen – 8, 7, 8 and 2.
Lottery officials say that both sets of numbers will be honored if the ticket matches – alone with the Fireball number 2, which remains the same for both drawings.
Officials say they are using that working secondary machine for Friday’s Pick 4 to make sure all goes well.