$308,083 Progressive Jackpot Hit at Batavia Downs Casino

SCHENECTADY, NY (09/02/2009)(readMedia)-- The New York Lottery, in conjunction with Batavia Downs Casino, today announced the award of the richest in-house progressive jackpot ever awarded to a player at a New York Lottery video gaming facility.

The $308,083 cash prize won on the Jackpot Celebration video lottery game was awarded to Roger Jaczynski of Byron, Genesee County on Sunday, August 30, 2009. The prize marks the largest video lottery jackpot awarded since the New York Lottery introduced video gaming in 2002. Prior to Sunday, the largest jackpot paid out was $197,938 and was won in 2008 by a patron of the Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway. The second highest progressive payout was $195,700 in 2005 at Saratoga Gaming and Raceway.

The Jackpot Celebration game is one of several progressive jackpot games which allow players to contribute to a rolling jackpot that continues to grow until it is won. The game features a starting jackpot of $10,000. Sunday's winner hit the record $308,083 jackpot by getting five celebration symbols on the same payline. He collected his prize check at the Lottery's Customer Service Center located within Batavia Downs Casino upon learning of his win.

"We are very excited to have a jackpot of this magnitude and that we can award it to one of our valued patrons," said Marty Biniasz, Director of Marketing at the Batavia Downs Casino. "We continue to provide our guests with the best service and most exciting games in the industry; and now we can add "largest jackpot" to the growing list of amenities we offer our players."

Batavia Downs, America's oldest lighted standard-bred racetrack, is owned and operated by Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corporation, a public benefit corporation. The track is also home to Batavia Downs Casino, featuring over 600 video slot machines and live harness racing, which takes place August through December. Batavia Downs Casino is located less than one mile from Thruway Exit 48 and is open daily from 10AM-2AM. Guests must be 18 years or older to play video gaming machines and to bet on horses.

The New York Lottery contributed nearly $2.54 billion in fiscal year 2008-9 to help support education in New York State, over 12 percent of total state education funding to local school districts. The Lottery's ongoing commitment to education also includes the awarding of more than 1,100 Leaders of Tomorrow (LOT) Scholarships annually to high school students pursuing their higher education in New York State. Since 1999, the Lottery has awarded more than 11,500 scholarships representing a total commitment of almost $50 million. The New York Lottery continues to be North America's largest and most profitable Lottery, earning over $36.7 billion in education support statewide since its founding over 40 years ago.

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