If you want to win big in the lottery, you first must play the game.

Two regional residents did just that and ended up winning $217,909 each in the state lottery's Jersey Cash 5 game last Thursday.

A Morris County winner came from Greenhill Liquors in Parsippany. The other winner bought her or his ticket from Star Discount Liquors in North Plainfield, Somerset County.

Lottery Executive Director Carole Hedinger said the two winning tickets were the only ones sold for Thursday's drawing that matched all five numbers drawn.

The ticket retailers end up winners as well.

“For selling these tickets, they will each receive a bonus check for $750. Overnight, they have become two more ‘lucky locations' for two very fortunate lottery winners,” said Hedinger.

If you bought a Jersey Cash 5 ticket for Thursday, check your tickets: Hedinger noted that 5,729 other players won at total of $136,138 in cash prizes. For correctly picking four numbers, 176 players won cash prizes of $458 each; and for correctly matching three numbers, 5,553 players won $10 each.

For more info, surf to the New Jersey Lottery's website.