Goshen Scratch-Off Winner is Orange County's Newest Lottery Millionaire of 2012

GOSHEN, NY (05/23/2012)(readMedia)-- The New York Lottery today announced Peter Smith of Goshen as Orange County's newest Lottery millionaire. The 52-year-old Smith said it was just a routine visit that led him to purchase his $1,000,000 Cashword winning scratch-off ticket.

"I always stop there to buy my lottery tickets," said the restaurateur. "The clerk and I know each other really well." Smith purchased his $1,000,000 winner on May 5 at the Beverage Plus on Greenwich Avenue in Goshen.

He won his top prize by scratching off 10 words on the crossword themed game. "I brought the ticket home with me and scratched it in my office. When I realized I won, I went straight back to the store to have them verify it was real," he said. Smith claimed his prize at the Lottery's Customer Service Center in Fishkill on May 7.

The top prize on the $1,000,000 Cashword scratch-off game is paid as a single, lump sum payment. Smith will receive a net check totaling $656,013.39 after required withholdings.

"To be honest, I never imagined I'd ever win a millions dollars," admitted Smith. "I really just played for the fun of it. I don't really know how I'll spend it, but I'm sure I'll think of something."

Smith is Orange County's second Lottery millionaire of 2012. The first was Donnie Hayes of Walden who won $5,000,000 on the Mega Money Multiplier scratch-off game in January.

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.

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