Robin Poptanich from Middletown is Orange County’s newest Lottery millionaire. Poptanich won the jackpot prize on the popular $10,000 a Week for Life scratch-off ticket. The lucky Lottery player’s road to riches started with an early arrival for a routine service call.

“I service medical equipment for a living and arrived early to a service call that day,” said Poptanich. “I decided to stop at a store and buy some Lottery scratch-off tickets to occupy the time.”

Poptanich stopped at Fort Montgomery Food on Route 9W in Fort Montgomery and bought two tickets. “I scratched the tickets in my car and lost on the first one. It was the second one that was the big winner!”

Poptanich scratched off a coin symbol which indicates an automatic win. The corresponding prize turned out to be the ‘LIFE’ symbol earning the 63-year-old $10,000 a week for the rest of his life.

“I immediately signed the back of the ticket and called my wife and daughter to tell them the good news. I then made an appointment to meet with my lawyer to discuss claiming the prize.”

Poptanich opted to receive his prize as an annuity. After required withholdings he will net $344,136 every year for the rest of his life.

“My initial plans are to take care of my family and buy a new house,” continued Poptanich. “I already made plans to retire. After that we’ll travel and just enjoy life.”

Poptanich was the 99^th New York Lottery player to claim a prize of $1,000,000 or more in 2016.

The New York Lottery contributed more than $82,347,865 in Lottery Aid To Education to school districts throughout Orange County during fiscal year 2015-2016.

About the New York Lottery

The New York Lottery continues to be North America’s largest and most profitable Lottery, contributing $3.30 billion in fiscal year 2015-2016 to help support education in New York State. The Lottery’s contribution represents 14 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.