"A Feeling" Leads Depew Man to a $1,000,000 New York Lottery Prize

DEPEW, N.Y. (09/26/2012)(readMedia)-- John Bunce of Depew said he does not play the Lottery often. In fact, he only plays when he has "a feeling." Bunce's intuition paid off, winning him the $1,000,000 top prize on the New York Lottery's new Cash Blast scratch-off game. The New York Lottery's Gretchen Dizer was in Depew today to present Bunce with his over-sized prize check.

Bunce got that lucky feeling when he was in the Tops Markets at 5175 Broadway in Depew on August 28. He decided to use $10 from a previous winning Lottery ticket to purchase a few more scratch-offs. Bunce bought two tickets at the store, but did not scratch them until the following day. The first ticket he scratched was a non-winner. On the second ticket, he matched the number 9, and Bunce said he was happy he "at least won something." Then he scratched off the prize amount to reveal a "J." That is when he knew he was a $1,000,000 winner. Bunce said he was so excited that he "started running around the house like a maniac."

Bunce claimed his winning ticket at the Buffalo Customer Service Center on August 30. The $1,000,000 top prize on the Cash Blast scratch-off ticket is paid in 20 annual payments of $50,000. Bunce's annual net check will total $33,090 after required withholdings.

Bunce said he already has everything that he needs, so his plan for the money is just to "enjoy it with my family."

The New York Lottery contributed $186,760,842.15 in Lottery Aid To Education to school districts throughout Erie County during fiscal year 2011-12.

About the New York Lottery

The New York Lottery continues to be North America's largest and most profitable Lottery, contributing nearly $2.9 billion in fiscal year 2011-2012 to help support education in New York State. The Lottery's contribution represents nearly 15 percent of total state education aid to local school districts.

New York Lottery revenue is distributed to local school districts by the same statutory formula used to distribute other state aid to education. It takes into account both a school district's size and its income level; larger, lower-income school districts receive proportionately larger shares of Lottery school funding.