Newest Lottery Millionaires Hail from Steuben and Allegany Counties

WELLSVILLE, NY (10/24/2012)(readMedia)-- The New York Lottery's Gretchen Dizer presented two Southern Tier Lottery winners with over-sized prize checks today at a Tops Markets in Wellsville. Each winner won a $1,000,000 prize, one from a Powerball drawing and the other on a Lottery scratch-off ticket.

Greenwood Mega Millions Player Switches to Powerball, Wins $1,000,000 Second Prize

Richard Watkins, Jr., 40, of Greenwood, Steuben County stopped at Tops Markets for a gallon of milk and a few other items on Wednesday, September 26 and decided to pick up a Lottery ticket while he was there. Watkins normally plays Mega Millions, but the size of that night's Powerball jackpot prompted him to switch. He went with a Powerball Quick Pick ticket instead and won the $1,000,000 second prize.

"I play the Lottery once or twice a week and normally buy Mega Millions tickets," explained Watkins. "I saw that Powerball had a bigger jackpot so bought a Powerball ticket instead. I checked my numbers the next day at work and was shocked when I realized I matched the first five numbers!"

The winning numbers for the September 26 Powerball drawing were 13–26–39–41–42 Powerball-10.

Watkins purchased his winning ticket at the Tops Markets on Bolivar Road in Wellsville. The $1,000,000 Powerball second prize is paid as a one-time lump sum payment. Watkins will receive a net check totaling $661,800 after required withholdings.

"I always thought that maybe someday I would win big," he explained. Watkins plans for the money include paying off some bills and saving for college for his children.

The New York Lottery contributed $25,677,800.02 in Lottery Aid To Education to school districts throughout Steuben County during fiscal year 2011-2012.

A Last Minute Change of Mind Earns Scio Man $1,000,000 Scratch-off Prize

Jeffrey Ely, 48, of Scio, Allegany County stopped at the local store to pick up a newspaper and play a Lottery scratch-off ticket. He won $100 on the ticket and thought about buying a $20 $5,000,000 Multiplier ticket with part of his winnings, but decided against it and left the store. He got half way to his truck, changed his mind and went back into the store to buy a $5,000,000 Multiplier ticket. The ticket Ely almost didn't buy turned out to be a $1,000,000 winner.

"I don't normally play the $20 tickets," explained Ely. "I walked out of the store and something told me to turn around and buy one. I scratched the ticket in my truck and couldn't believe my eyes!"

Ely purchased his winning ticket at the Scio Mini Mart on Main Street in Scio on October 10. He claimed his prize the next day at the Lottery's Customer Service Center in Rochester. The $1,000,000 prize on the $5,000,000 Multiplier scratch-off game is paid as a one-time lump sum payment. Ely will receive a net check totaling $661,691.06 after required withholdings.

"I'm still in shock and a little nervous about my win. I plan to set up college funds for my children. The rest, I will invest for my future retirement."

The New York Lottery contributed $12,329,611.73 in Lottery Aid To Education to school districts throughout Allegany County during fiscal year 2011-2012.

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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