How to add data to the existing ones in a JSON format cell?

Question

JSON

Laravel 5.4
MySQL 5.7
The task was to save NickName WE of users in the database who decided to participate in the draw.
It is most convenient to store them in an array or in a cell in JSON format.
Problem:
If there is already 1 nickname in a cell, how can I add a second one to it?
I did this:
I got the old value and assigned the new one, but the non-names began to merge, I had to separate them with '|' and when fetching using explode(), remove the separator and get an array of names.

$slash = '|';
            $test->party = $test->party.= $slash .= $lottery->nickname; 
            $test->sum = $test->sum + 1;
            $test->save();

Can anyone suggest a more elegant way? How to add a new nickname to an existing one, and then make a selection.
In programming 1.5 months. I couldn't think of a better crutch :(

Answer 1

and here explode if you use json.
json_encode() -> json_decode()
serialize() -> unserialize()

Answer 2

It is most convenient to store them in an array or in a cell in JSON format.

No, it's best to do it right.
hasMany is called. Relations between Models and all that.