New York is Bursting With New York Lottery Instant Game Winners

SCHENECTADY, NY (07/28/2009)(readMedia)-- Although the historic $133,000,000 Mega Millions winner is the big story of the day, the metropolitan New York City area is teeming with Lottery winners. Four winners from New York's Amityville, Lindenhurst, East Elmhurst, and Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhoods, collectively won $5,000,000 from New York Lottery instant games, and will receive their oversize checks today from the Lottery's Yolanda Vega and Ralph Buckley.

Suffolk County Plumber Spends $20 and Wins $2,000,000 on $500,000,000 Extravaganza Instant Game

Thursday, July 9th was going along like any other day until Nehemiah Bellamy of Amityville, Suffolk County stopped at Chand Gasoline in Massapequa to fill up his tank, and decided to spend the extra $20 he had with him on one $500,000,000 Extravaganza instant ticket.

"I chose the Extravaganza ticket because I had $20 and the ticket cost $20," the owner of Nehemiah's Plumbing in Amityville said. "I was actually confused by all the choices so I went with the one I didn't have to think about."

Bellamy, who "doesn't usually buy (lottery) tickets," was shocked when he realized he won $2,000,000 on the instant ticket. "Who thinks they have a winner?" the 41-year-old wondered, who scratched the winning ticket in his car.

Bellamy, a father of three, plans to continue working and save his winnings. The day after purchasing his $2,000,000 ticket, Bellamy claimed his prize at the Lottery's Customer Service Center in Garden City.

The $20 instant ticket has proved to be popular due to its impressive amount of top prizes, which include eight $5,000,000, 12 $2,000,000 and 84 $1,000,000 prizes. As of this writing, there are four $5,000,000, four $2,000,000 and 25 $1,000,000 prizes remaining.

Bellamy will receive his prize in 20 annual payments of $100,000 before federal and state tax withholdings. His annual net check will total $66,030.

June 26th Will Be Remembered As A $1,000,000 Day For Suffolk County Mom

June 26, 2009 will be remembered as a great day in the Campion household. Eighteen-year-old Jesse was graduating high school, 20-year-old Daniel was returning home from service with the U.S. Marine Corps, and 43-year-old mom Karen won $1,000,000 on the New York Lottery's $500,000,000 Extravaganza instant ticket.

Campion of Lindenhurst, Suffolk County, purchased her winning ticket from a vending machine after grocery shopping. She scratched the ticket in the car on her way home and immediately called her husband.

"I told him, 'I think I won a million dollars.'" His response: "No way, babe."

The Suffolk County crossing guard plans on paying some bills and installing a pool in the new home her husband built for the family before their big win.

"I'm not going to change anything. I live next door to my parents. (Just be) happier financially," Campion mused.

She purchased her winning $500,000,000 Extravaganza ticket at Pathmark on Montauk Hwy. in West Babylon on July 26th, and claimed her prize four days later at the Lottery's Garden City Customer Service Center.

Campion will receive her prize in 20 annual payments of $50,000 before applicable tax withholdings, with an annual net check totaling $33,015.

Former NYC Cop In Disbelief At Being $1,000,000 Richer From Emerald 8 Instant Ticket

Fifty-five-year-old William Messam of East Elmhurt, Queens County, purchased six scratch-off instant tickets to go with his nightly coffee. It was at the 7-Eleven on Astoria Blvd. in East Elmhurst, where Messam is a regular, scratched his Emerald 8 instant ticket and realized he was $1,000,000 richer.

"I asked the retailer, 'You seeing the same thing I do?' It couldn't be real," said the astounded retired New York City policeman.

"I'm pretty low-key. I just plan on taking care of my parents," Messam said. However, a "little vacation" to Mexico is also in the works.

Messam purchased his jackpot winning Emerald 8 instant ticket on July 8, 2009 and claimed his prize five days later at the Lottery's Manhattan Customer Service Center.

Emerald 8 is a $5 instant ticket that offers players four chances to win $1,000,000. There is currently one $1,000,000 top prize remaining.

As is the case with most New York Lottery instant game prizes, the jackpot prize on the Emerald 8 instant ticket is paid as a 20-year annuity. Messam will receive his prize in annual payments of $50,000 a year before required federal, state and New York City tax withholdings. His annual net check will total $31,191.

Brooklyn Woman's $1,000,000 Cosmic Cash Win Is Out Of This World

Sometimes, there is something to be said for judging a book by its cover. Jean Williams of Bedford-Stuyvesant, Kings County was running errands when she decided to buy two instant lottery tickets, Bingo and Cosmic Cash, the second ticket she has never played before.

"I thought the Cosmic Cash ticket cost $2, but when the retailer told me it was $5 I decided to buy it anyway," the 69-year-old said. "I bought the ticket because it was pretty."

Williams, who retired four years ago from private duty homecare, was ecstatic about $1,000,000 Cosmic Cash win; "winning the lottery is like the best thing in the world. You have money, and you don't have to depend on anyone."

The mother of three adult children purchased her $1,000,000 Cosmic Cash ticket at Nostrand Wine & Liquors in Brooklyn on Monday, July 6th. She claimed her prize the following day at the Lottery's Customer Service Center in Manhattan.

Cosmic Cash is a $5 instant ticket that offers players 12 chances to win a top prize of $1,000,000. There are currently two outstanding jackpot prizes remaining.

The jackpot prize on the Cosmic Cash instant ticket is paid as a 20-year annuity. Williams will receive her prize in annual payments of $50,000 a year before required applicable tax withholdings, with an annual net check totaling $31,191.

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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Posted Tuesday July 28, 2009 at 10:45 am by New York Lottery