Lottery Luck Strikes Long Island With Four Different Top-Prize Winning Tickets Sold At

SCHENECTADY, NY (09/19/2008)(readMedia)-- In a streak of Lottery luck not seen since July of 2007 when four Suffolk County residents won $1,000,000 each in the Lottery's Raffle to Riches promotional drawing, the New York Lottery today awarded prize checks worth at least $5,000,000 to four different Lottery players who purchased their tickets within a month of each other from four different Lottery retailers on Long Island. Two of the lucky tickets were sold at two different 7-Eleven stores located in Hicksville and East Islip.

The new Lottery millionaires include two players from Suffolk County and one from Nassau County. The fourth winner, from Manhattan, purchased her lucky ticket while visiting a friend in Nassau County. To date this calendar year, the Lottery has awarded more than $18,000,000 in prizes valued at $1,000,000 or more to Lottery winners across Long Island.

East Islip Entrepreneur is In the Money

Donna Romano of East Islip, Suffolk County, is the first statewide winner of the Lottery's new In the Money instant game featuring a top prize of $1,000,000. The 50-year-old marketing business owner said she won her $1,000,000 prize by accident.

"I went in the 7-Eleven looking for a soda and a Funky Five's (instant) ticket, but lucky for me, they were out of that ticket and I ended up buying a $1,000,000 winner instead," she said. Funky Fives is a $5 instant ticket offering a top prize of $555,555.

Romano said she planned to use her $1,000,000 prize to pay off college loans for her two daughters and "just live more comfortably."

Romano purchased her winning In the Money ticket on September 8, 2008 at the 7-Eleven on Montauk Highway in East Islip. She claimed it the following day at the Lottery's Customer Service Center in Garden City. The $1,000,000 top prize on the In the Money instant game pays out as $50,000 a year for 20 years, less required tax withholdings. Romano's annual net check will total $34,075.

As for being part of Long Island's latest lucky Lottery streak, Romano said she "was glad to help."

The New York Lottery introduced the In the Money instant ticket on September 2, 2008. The $5 ticket is available at more than 16,000 licensed Lottery retailers statewide.

Islip Silver Spectacular Winner in the Right Place at the Right time

A quick stop to refill an empty propane tank proved lucky for 56-year-old Bruce Horner of Islip, Suffolk County. The self-described Lottery veteran said he knew right away he had a winner on his $1,000,000 Silver Spectacular scratch off ticket.

"I scratched the ticket right there in the store and saw the word ‘jackpot' plain as day," said Horner who works as an electrician for Roland's Electric in Deer Park. "It was simply a matter of being in the right place at the right time."

Horner will receive his $1,000,000 Silver Spectacular prize in 20 annual installments of $50,000 each. His annual net check will total $34,075.

The soon-to-be-retired bachelor said he always dreamed of getting his pilot's license and learning to fly, and now he can. He plans to use a portion of his newfound wealth to help family.

Horner purchased his winning $1,000,000 Silver Spectacular ticket on August 30, 2008 at Islip Cold Beer on Grant Ave. in Islip. He claimed his prize at the Lottery's Garden City Customer Service Center on September 3, 2008.

Wantagh Monopoly Instant Game Winner is First to Collect $1,000,000 Top Prize Statewide

Stephen Lucey, the first New York Lottery player statewide to take home a Monopoly instant game top prize, credits his sweet tooth for steering him into the 7-Eleven on West John Street in Hicksville to buy some candy and a ticket to go.

"It's true," said the 41-year-old controller for John Hassal, Inc., a manufacturer of precision formed parts in Westbury, NY. "I bought some candy for my sweet tooth and a (instant) ticket for the fun of it."

The Lottery's Monopoly instant ticket went on sale August 5, 2008 at 16,000 licensed Lottery retailers statewide. On being told he was the first to scratch a $1,000,000 winner, Lucey said, "Well, that's why I bought it; to win!"

Lucey said he's been buying Lottery tickets "on and off" for years and winning modest prizes, but nothing in the $1,000,000 range. "I can put my children through college with this," said the diehard New York Jets Fan. "This is the prize you play for."

Lucey said he and his wife, Colleen, a guidance counselor at Elmont Memorial High School, planned to put the money into a college savings account for the couple's three children and "reserve a little extra for a couple of really nice vacations down the road."

Lucey purchased his winning ticket on August 15, 2008 at the West John Street 7-Eleven in Hicksville. He claimed his $1,000,000 prize at the Lottery's Customer Service Center in Garden City on August 18, 2008. The top prize on the Monopoly ticket pays out as $50,000 a year over 20 years. Lucey's annual net check will total $34,075.

The Lottery's Monopoly instant game features a second-chance drawing as well as an on-line component where players can enter to win a variety of cash prizes and game-related merchandise. More information on the Monopoly instant game is available at nylottery.org.

Late Train, Loose Change Add Up to $2,000,000 Win for Life Prize for Manhattan Artist

Twenty-nine-year-old Lourdes Gallegos, a native of San Diego, CA., now living in Manhattan, has her friend to thank for helping her win a Lottery prize worth at least $2,000,000.

"I came out to Hempstead to pick up a friend at the train station," said the graphic designer who relocated to Manhattan four years ago. "Her train was late and I was thirsty so I walked to a nearby store and bought myself a juice and a Lottery ticket, just because."

Gallegos said she isn't a regular Lottery player but she had a "good feeling" about this ticket. "I scratched it in the store and asked the clerk what it meant if you have three ‘Lifes' printed on your ticket," she said. "He told me about the $2,000 a week for life prize and I just shook my head in disbelief."

Gallegos purchased her Win $2,000 A Week For Life instant ticket on August 27, 2008 at the Village Deli on West Columbia St. in Hempstead. She claimed it the following day at the Lottery's Customer Service Center in Manhattan. As the top prize winner on the Win $2,000 A Week For Life instant game, Gallegos is guaranteed a minimum prize payout of $2,000,000. She will receive future prize payments totaling $26,000 each, less required tax withholdings, every three months for the rest of her life. Her future net quarterly payment will total $16,771 each.

"I have no plans for the money right now," she said. "It's still sinking in."

The New York Lottery contributed nearly $2.6 billion to help support education in New York State on revenues of $7.549 billion in fiscal year 2007-08 - - a profit margin of 34.3%. The New York Lottery continues to be North America's largest and most profitable Lottery, earning over $34.2 billion in education support statewide since its founding over 40 years ago.

-30-