New multi-tiered lottery game hits NJ

The New Jersey Lottery has a new game, and it promises to be a doozy.

New Jersey is joining hands with lotteries across the U.S. in offering a new game called Monopoly Millionaires' Club. The game offers multiple million dollar prizes in conjunction with a top prize that is capped at $25 million. The top prize will be drawn every Friday at 11:15 p.m.

Even if players lose the top prize, they could become on of the randomly selected winners for a $1 million prize, when another winner hits the top prize. State lottery officials believe the game's unique design will generate more simultaneous millionaires than any other game.

Players can also register a ticket online where they can build Monopoly brand-themed property sets to earn entries in a drawing for a chance to appear on the "Monopoly Millionaires' Club" television game show, which will include more than $2.5 million in available prize money on each episode.  Comedian and actor Billy Gardell will host the show, which will tape in Las Vegas starting early next year.

The tickets, which will cost $5 each, will be the first multi-state draw game at this price level in the U.S.

"It's a really exciting new game that we really think the public is going to love," said Judith Drucker, public relations manager for the New Jersey Lottery.

One of the things that makes the game unique is how it spreads the wealth to multiple players when a jackpot is hit.  "Equally exciting for players is the opportunity to participate in a nationally-televised game show providing an experience of a lifetime and more opportunities to win significant cash prizes," said Carol Hedinger, executive director of the New Jersey Lottery, in an emailed press release on Oct. 7.

Drucke called the new game "customer engaging."

Tickets go on sale starting on Oct. 19.