Queens, NY: The New Lotto Hot Spot? $14 Million Winner From Astoria Follows On Heels Of $19 Million Winner

SCHENECTADY, NY (09/25/2008)(readMedia)-- Forty-Four-year-old Kenneth Rosado of Astoria, Queens is New York's newest Lotto Millionaire. The father of two purchased the sole jackpot-winning ticket sold for the Lotto drawing held on September 10, 2008. Rosado's win comes just three weeks after the McGeough family of Little Neck, Queens, split a $19,000,000 Lotto jackpot from the drawing held on July 30, 2008.

Rosado credits his co-workers at the Bronx-based Parkchester South Condominiums for urging him to check his Lotto numbers the morning after the Wednesday night drawing.

"I wasn't paying attention until someone told me there was a big winner at the store where I always buy my tickets," said Rosado. "I didn't get too excited right away because, what are the odds someone like me would win?" The odds of winning the Lotto jackpot are 1 in 22.5 million on a $1 wager. Players receive two games for $1.

Rosado said he's been playing Lotto for as long as he can remember. "I spend one dollar for two Quick Picks and hope for the best," he said. "I never imagined this." Rosado opted to receive his prize in a one-time, lump sum payment totaling $7,942,864 before required federal, state and city withholdings. His will take home $5,123,306.

Rosado and his wife, Stephanie, a stay-at-home-mom for the couple's two young children, plan to buy a new car, invest in a new home (their first) and save for their children's education. "A night out with my wife might be nice once in a while, too," added Rosado.

Rosado purchased his winning Lotto ticket on September 8, 2008 at the Convenience Store on West Avenue, Bronx. He claimed his prize at the Lottery's Customer Service Center in Manhattan on September 12, 2008.

The winning numbers for the September 10, 2008 Lotto drawing were: 7 - 13 - 16 - 40 - 41 - 47 with the Bonus Number 58.

Auburndale Shoe Salesman Feels Lucky, Wins $1,000,000 on $500,000,000 Extravaganza Game

Kwan Shek Chu, a traveling salesman for the Brooklyn-based South China Import Company credits his good fortune to his mother, 76-year-old Yan Pik Shin Gee. Before leaving on a recent business trip to Miami, Chu left his mother $20 to buy him a Lottery ticket during her weekly trip to the market.

"I don't know why I chose this week to buy a ticket," said Chu, an occasional Lottery player. "I guess I just felt lucky."

Gee purchased her son's wining $500,000,000 Extravaganza instant ticket on September 9, 2008 at the Fu Xing Market on 8^th Ave. in Brooklyn where she's a regular.

"My mother scratched the ticket in the store because she was feeling lucky, too," explained the father of two. "I guess it was meant to be."

Chu claimed the winning ticket on September 11, 2008 at the Lottery's Customer Service Center in Manhattan.

He plans to use a portion of his newfound wealth to travel with his wife, Wendy, a pattern maker, and the couple's two children, to countries where he can practice some of the languages he's taught himself over the years, including French, German and Spanish. Other plans include starting the book he's always dreamed of writing, and getting involved in charity work.

"But first," said Chu. "We will celebrate our luck with family."

Chu will receive his $1,000,000 top prize in 20 annual payments of $50,000 each, before required federal, state and city withholdings. His annual net check will total $32,251.

Far Rockaway Caretaker's $1,000,000 Monopoly Win "Saves the Day"

September 12, 2008 wasn't going well for 61-year-old Willie James McCain, a caretaker for the New York Housing Authority.

"It was just one of those days," remembered McCain. "But then it turned around, real fast."

The turn around came when McCain scratched the $5 Monopoly scratch-off ticket he purchased earlier that morning to reveal it was a $1,000,000 winner.

"I saw the word ‘Jackpot' and thought all of my prayers have been answered," he said.

McCain said having a little extra "walking around" money will be nice for a change. "It just feels good," said McCain. "Now we can live without always worrying about the money. We can relax."

McCain and his wife, Claudia, plan to pay bills and make some much needed repairs to the 2003 Mitsubishi Galant they purchased with the $100,000 they won on another New York Lottery scratch-off game in 2003.

"Maybe we'll buy a co-op," he said, "We can have someone take care of us for a change,"

McCain purchased his winning Monopoly instant ticket on September 12, 2008 at the Obid Deli & Grocery on Central Ave. in Far Rockaway. He claimed it on September 18, 2008 at the Lottery's Customer Service Center in Garden City.

As the top prize winner on the Monopoly instant game, McCain will receive his $1,000,000 prize in 20 annual installments of $50,000, before required federal, state and city withholdings. His annual net check will total $32,251.

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.

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.

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