NJ Lottery $1 scratch tickets in play as of 11/28/2014

Here we have listed the $1 games in play in NJ Lottery Instant Games, aka scratch tickets, as of November 28, 2014

 :

Holiday Cash #01255 - Price $1 - Start Date: 11/3/2014

    Prize     11/3   Won  11/19   Won   11/21   Won   11/28

• $2,000     14     0     14     0      14     0      14
• $  500     85     6     79     4      75     1      74
• $  100  1,034    82    952    25     927    38     889

From NJ Lottery website:

Total of 9,120,000 tickets 

729,600 prizes of FREE TICKET 

456,000 prizes of $1

456,000 prizes of $2 

182,400 prizes of $5 

121,600 prizes of $10 

15,200 prizes of $15 

30,400 prizes of $25 

9,614 prizes of $40 

1,034 prizes of $100 

85 prizes of $500 

14 prizes of $2,000 

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Monopoly™ #01243 - Price $1 - Start Date: 9/2/2014

     Prize   11/19   Won   11/21   Won   11/28

• $5,000     15     0     15      0      15
• $  500    296     2    294      4     290
• $  100    783     4    779     16     763

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Loose Change #01233 - Price $1 - Start Date: 6/2/2014

     Prize   11/19   Won   11/21   Won   11/28

• $  500     32     0     32       1     31
• $  100    959    31    928      26    902
• $   40  5,765   110  5,665     218  5,447

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 Hot Dice #01218 - Price $1 - Start Date: 5/5/2014

     Prize   11/19   Won   11/21   Won   11/28

• $7,000     13     0     13      0      13
• $  500    130     1    129      0     129
• $  100    353     2    351      2     349

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5X Money #01222 - Price $1 - Start Date: 4/7/14

 

     Prize   11/19   Won   11/21   Won   11/28

• $10,000     6     0      6      0      6
• $  500     55     1     54      1     53
• $  100    287     2    285      7    278

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Double Blackjack #01212 - Price $1 - Start Date: 3/10/20144

    Prize   11/19   Won   11/21   Won   11/28

• $5,000     18     0     18     1      17
• $  200    209     1    208     2     206
• $  100    800     1    799     3     796

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Win for Life #01181 - Price $1 - Start Date: 9/30/13

       Prize   11/19   Won   11/21   Won   11/28

• $500          4     0      4       0      4
  wk/life
• $1,000      163     5    158       0    158
• $  100    2,500    12  2,488      27  2,461               

From NJ Lottery website

13,320,000 tickets were initally planned, but it is obvious from comparing the numbers below with those remaining that additional tickets have been added to the game. 

The NJ Lottery website states the following:

"The New Jersey Lottery reserves the right to subsequently increase this quantity of tickets. Should additional tickets be introduced, prize levels and frequency of winning will be consistent with the following disclosures: " 

1,243,200 of $1

932,400 of $2

266,400 of $4

133,200 of $5

133,200 of $10

18,648 of $20

6,660 of $40

2,220 of $100

132 of $1,000

4 of $500/Week for Life

---

Our play as of 11/23/2014

Please note: The primary source for the scratch ticket data used in this blog is the NJ Lottery Instant Games website. Keep in mind that errors can occur. It is always best to check the original source if the information you need is critical to the success of a venture. Gaming with NJ Lottery Instant Games is an adventure. Enjoy.

The simple rules .that we follow ...
[Updated 11/25/2014 to include $3 scratch tickets.]

• We have a monthly gaming budget of $60, our "entertainment" budget amount, and at the beginning of each month we add $60 to our $1 - $2 - $5 ticket bank.
• We check the NJ Lottery website for the $1 - $2 - $3 - $5 ticket active games and their outstanding prizes, and then choose the game(s) that we will play from that information. http://www.state.nj.us/lottery/instant/2-0_i$nstant_games.shtml
• We start each month with the purchase of 20 ea. $1 scratch tickets and 20 ea. $2 scratch tickets for a total of $60 and "play the game."
• During a month, the amount above $100 in our $1 - $2 - $3- $5 ticket bank is put in our "dream bank":
  Please note: We always buy 20 tickets in sequence from the same game.
  - If the gaming amount in our $1 - $2 - $3- $5 ticket bank is $100 then we purchase 20 ea. $5 tickets in sequence from the same game.
  - If the gaming amount is equal to or greater than $60 and less than $100 then keep the amount over $60 in the $1 - $2 - $3- $5 ticket bank and  buy 20 ea. $3 tickets, or--depending on whim--purchase of 20 ea. $1 scratch tickets and 20 ea. $2 scratch tickets.
  - If the gaming amount is equal to or greater than $40 and less than $60 then keep the amount over $40 in the $1 - $2 - $3- $5 ticket bank and buy 20 ea. $2 tickets in sequence from the same game.
  - If the gaming amount is equal to or greater than $20 and less than $40 then keep the amount over $20 in the $1 - $2 - $3- $5 ticket bank and buy 20 ea. $1 tickets in sequence from the same game.
  - If the gaming amount falls below $20 then we carry it forward to the next month.
• Repeat.

Holiday Cash #01255 - Price: $1 - Started: 11/3/2014
Game Batch Ticket No. Prize Value
01255 006020 080
01255 006020 081
01255 006020 082 $1   $1.00 
01255 006020 083
01255 006020 084
01255 006020 085
01255 006020 086
01255 006020 087
01255 006020 088 $10 + $5 + $5 + $5 + $10 + $5 = $40
                                 $40.00 
01255 006020 089
01255 006020 090
01255 006020 091
01255 006020 092
01255 006020 093
01255 006020 094 $5   $5.00 
01255 006020 095
01255 006020 096                                                    
01255 006020 097 Free = $1 $1.00 
01255 006020 098
01255 006020 099

01255 Total:  $47.00 

Holiday Lucky Times 10 #01256 - Price: $2 - Started: 11/3/2014
Game Batch Ticket Prize         Value 
01256 010184 018 Free = $2 X 1= $2
                            $2.00 
01256 010184 019
01256 010184 020 Free = $2 X 1= $2
                  $2.00 
01256 010184 021
01256 010184 022
01256 010184 023 $2 X 2 = $4   $4.00 
01256 010184 024 $4 X 1 = $4   $4.00 
01256 010184 025
01256 010184 026
01256 010184 027
Note: The following ten tickets were purchased separately using $20 loan after I learned that I had no significant winners in the first ten tickets, but had more than  $20 in prizes and wanted torecord my winnings before cashing them in.
01256 010184 028 $2 X 10 = $20$20.00 
01256 010184 029
01256 010184 030
01256 010184 031
01256 010184 032
01256 010184 033 $5 X 1 = $5   $5.00 
01256 010184 034
01256 010184 035
01256 010184 036
01256 010184 037

01256 Total:  $37.00 
         $84.00 
Note: Repay loan for purchase of 
2nd batch of ten #01256 tickets.       (23.00)
         $61.00 
Next step:

Plan A: Purchase 20 ea. $1 tickets and 20 ea. $2 tickets in sequence from the same respective games, Monday, November 24, and report the results.

Data section:
Holiday Cash #01255 - Price: $1 - Started: 11/3/2014
Prize      11/3    Won    11/22

$2,000 -     14      0       14 

$500 -       85     10       75
 
$100 -    1,034    112      922

9,120,000 tickets
729,600 prizes of FREE TICKET
456,000 prizes of $1
456,000 prizes of $2
182,400 prizes of $5
121,600 prizes of $10
15,200 prizes of $15
30,400 prizes of $25
9,614 prizes of $40
1,034 prizes of $100
85 prizes of $500

14 prizes of $2,000

                                              Chance to Win
                      Number    % of Tickets     1 in
Winning tickets       2,001,947 21.95117%         4.6 
                    Below are less than half of 1% 
Tickets $25 or more  41,147  0.45117%       221.6 
Tickets $100 or more   1,133  0.01242%     8,049.4 
Tickets $500 or more      99  0.00109%    92,121.2 

Grand Prize      14  0.00015%   651,428.6 

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Holiday Lucky Times 10 #01256 - Price: $2 - Started: 11/3/2014
Prize      11/3    Won    11/22

$30,000 -     8      2        6

$1,000 -     50      1       49 

$500 -      434     77      357

8,400,000 tickets
560,000 prizes of FREE TICKET
336,000 prizes of $2
560,000 prizes of $4
168,000 prizes of $5
224,000 prizes of $10
112,000 prizes of $20
17,696 prizes of $50
4,200 prizes of $100
434 prizes of $500
50 prizes of $1,000
8 prizes of $30,000

NJ Lottery $1 scratch tickets in play ...

Please note: The primary source for the scratch ticket data used in this blog is the NJ Lottery Instant Games website. Keep in mind that errors can occur. It is always best to check the original source if the information you need is critical to the success of a venture. Gaming with NJ Lottery Instant Games is an adventure. Enjoy.

Please note: None of the top prizes in the current $1 games had been won, except we have incomplete information on the "Win for Life #01181 - Price $1 - Start Date: 9/30/13" as it is obvious that tickets were added to the game (See Win for Life below). 

Here we have listed the $1 games in play in NJ Lottery Instant Games, aka scratch tickets, as 5:00pm Saturday, November 22nd with their start dates and outstanding major prizes
 :

Holiday Cash #01255 - Price $1 - Start Date: 11/3/2014

    Prize     11/3   Won  11/19   Won   11/21

• $2,000     14     0     14     0      14
• $  500     85     6     79     4      75
• $  100  1,034    82    952    25     927

From NJ Lottery website:

Total of 9,120,000 tickets 

729,600 prizes of FREE TICKET 

456,000 prizes of $1

456,000 prizes of $2 

182,400 prizes of $5 

121,600 prizes of $10 

15,200 prizes of $15 

30,400 prizes of $25 

9,614 prizes of $40 

1,034 prizes of $100 

85 prizes of $500 

14 prizes of $2,000 

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Monopoly™ #01243 - Price $1 - Start Date: 9/2/2014

       Prize   11/19   Won   11/21

• $5,000     15     0     15
• $  500    296     2    294
• $  100    783     4    279

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Loose Change #01233 - Price $1 - Start Date: 6/2/2014

       Prize   11/19   Won   11/21

• $  500     32     0     32
• $  100    959    31    928
• $   40  5,765   110  5,665

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 Hot Dice #01218 - Price $1 - Start Date: 5/5/2014

       Prize   11/19   Won   11/21

• $7,000     13     0     13
• $  500    130     1    129
• $  100    353     2    351

---

5X Money #01222 - Price $1 - Start Date: 4/7/14

 

       Prize   11/19   Won   11/21

• $10,000     6     0      6
• $  500     55     1     54
• $  100    287     2    285

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Double Blackjack #01212 - Price $1 - Start Date: 3/10/20144

       Prize   11/19   Won   11/21

• $5,000     18     0     18
• $  200    209     1    208
• $  100    800     1    799

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Win for Life #01181 - Price $1 - Start Date: 9/30/13

       Prize   11/19   Won   11/21

• $  500 s     4     0      4
  wk/life
• $1,000    163     5    158
• $  100  2,500    12  2,488

From NJ Lottery website

13,320,000 tickets were initally planned, but it is obvious from comparing the numbers below with those remaining that additional tickets have been added to the game. 

The NJ Lottery website states the following:

"The New Jersey Lottery reserves the right to subsequently increase this quantity of tickets. Should additional tickets be introduced, prize levels and frequency of winning will be consistent with the following disclosures: " 

1,243,200 of $1

932,400 of $2

266,400 of $4

133,200 of $5

133,200 of $10

18,648 of $20

6,660 of $40

2,220 of $100

132 of $1,000

4 of $500/Week for Life

---

November's gaming continued

Early on in November—before I started writing about it—I used $20 of my monthly "entertainment" budget of $50 to purchase 10 ea $2 Monopoly TM NJ Lottery scratch tickets and won $50 on one of them ... which got me started blogging about it. (See Getting started ... )

I used those winnings plus $3 to purchase 15 ea. $2 Walking Dead NJ Lottery scratch tickets

   

I'll get to the $2 tickets in a later post. But just for a headsup, I had two winning tickets at $2 ea for $4.

The $1 Holiday Cash game is new, coming out on 11/3/2014.
My tickets paid as follows:

Ticket No.  Prize
213
214
215
216
217               Free Ticket
218
219
220
221
222              $5
223              $1
224              $5 + $5 = $10
225
226
227
228
229
230              Free Ticket
231              $1 + $1 + $1 + $1 + $5 + $1 = $10
232
233
234
235

So the total from the 23 ea. Holiday Cash NJ Lottery scratch tickets was $26 plus 2 ea. Free Tickets, and with the $4 in winnings from the Walking dead $2 tickets, I am now at $57 plus 2 ea. Free Tickets available for November: $50 - $20 = $30 - $3 =$27 + $26 + $4 = $57.

With my theory is to play the new $1 games and mix vendors, I will get 30 ea. $1 Holiday Cash tickets from one vendor and 29 ea, $1 Monopoly tickets from another, and report back.

My approach to gambling with scratch tickets

As an older adult male I have a limited range of activities that arouse any excitement ... to say the least. Over the years I have pursued several types of gambling requiring some skill—poker, blackjack, craps—but have never put in the effort and time to become good at any of them.

I have also tried the mindless gambling of slot machines (well, not entirely mindless because you have to know how multiply your payoff to win big on some slots), numbers lotteries, and—now—scratch tickets. And for now scratch tickets are my sole gambling choice.

This is how I play

I have a budget of $50 per month. This is my "entertainment" budget. I could spend it on going to a couple of movies, but I choose to purchase NJ Lottery scratch tickets, for several reasons. One of the reasons is actually altruistic. The money New Jersey earns from its lottery goes to pay for social services that I support, like education.

But, of course, the main reason for gambling is the excitement from the sense of anticipation of the possibility of winning big. It does get my juices flowing ...

The danger, of course, is addiction. And being something of a obsessive compulsive I have to impose boundaries. One of the boundaries is to write about it ...

Back to my theory of gambling with scratch tickets ...

OK, the State wants us to buy a lot of tickets and it uses the lure of the largest possible jackpot for any one "game"—each scratch ticket series is a "game"—to get us to play. It also publishes the number of outstanding major prizes for each game on its website. (See my prior post: NJ Lottety $1 scratch tickets in play ...

So we have a situation where anyone can look up the number of outstanding major prizes for a given game, and, of course, no one would want to buy a ticket for a game whose major prizes were all or nearly all gone. On the other hand, if there was nothing being won, that could also create a lack of interest.

So I have come up with a theory that I am currently testing. It would seem that the best way to run a scratch ticket game is to have a lot of small to medium payouts at the very beginning of a game, with maybe a major one thrown in. This would create buzz and increase sales. It is the "startup" period. Then there would come a period—I call it the "interim" period—when prizes were less frequent and  the tickets are pretty much there for filler in the rack of choices—spur of the moment "maybe I will get lucky" type of gambling—which I used to do  off an on for years and could very well be the "bread and butter" period for a given game.

What does this mean? To me it means that unless the NJ Lottery is simply randomizing the sequence of prizes in each game, it could have an algorithm for sequencing the prizes within the series of ticket to optimize their sale. At the moment I am simply musing about it, and there probably are a number of folks who are much further ahead of me in researching and analyzing what goes on.

In my next post I will give you an example.

Getting started ...

I purchased my first State lottery ticket in Seattle, Washington, back in the mid-1980's, and have enjoyed the pastime off and on ever since as a mild form of entertainment that results in an occasional burst of excitement.

The other day I won $50 on a $2 New Jersey scratch ticket:

It's a kick to win once in awhile. And being the intrepid gambler that I am, I decided to try to parlay my small win into something larger. After all this was better than going to the movies ... besides, movies have become so boring for me that I can't sit through them ... for other reasons as well.

So, what the heck, I thought I would do a little research on what's available out there to roll the dice—figuratively with scratch tickets, not the real bones—on a chance for even more money ... which is well-known way to wind up broke if I am not careful. But then knowing the flirtation with compulsion as in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder that comes with gambling for money makes it real.

Searching on the internet, I quickly came across the NJ Lottery website:

http://www.state.nj.us/lottery/home.shtml

and found its page on scratch tickets which they call "instant games:"

http://www.state.nj.us/lottery/instant/2-0_instant_games.shtml

And then I started browsing through the various and sundry websites with information and advice for the scratch ticket player. Fro example here's one:

http://www.wikihow.com/Win-More-Scratch-Offs

But I didn't find what I was looking for. Some of it I found, but not all. So I this blog ...