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October 20, 2017

Buffalo Scratch-off Player Finally Hits the Big One

The New York Lottery’s Yolanda Vega today presented a ceremonial prize check worth $1,000,000 to James Helminiak of Buffalo. Helminiak won the $1,000,000 top prize on the popular New York Poker ticket, a ticket he says he’s played since the game was first introduced in 2005.

“I’ve been buying this ticket pretty much since it came out,” explained Helminiak. “I won $500 on it in the past. When I scratched this ticket, I thought to myself, ‘Something’s not right.’”

 

Helminiak’s three-of-a-kind beat the champion’s pair of Kings earning him the $1,000,000 top prize. “I scratched the ticket while watching television. When I realized that my hand beat the champion’s hand and the prize said ‘jackpot,’ I thought something must be wrong.”

 

Helminiak had to hold onto the ticket all weekend, until the Lottery offices opened on Monday morning. “It was the longest weekend of my life!”

 

Helminiak purchased his ticket at the Corner Market on Broadway Street in Buffalo. He opted to receive his prize as a one-time lump sum payment netting the 52-year-old $536,058 after required withholdings.

 

“This really is a big sigh of relief,” he said. “The money will allow me to buy new vehicles for the family and I’ll be able to fix up the house.”

 

Helminiak is the 74th New Yorker to win a prize of $1,000,000 or more this year.

 

The New York Lottery contributed $196,702,090 in Lottery Aid To Education to school districts in Erie County during fiscal year 2016-2017.

 

About the New York Lottery

The New York Lottery continues to be North America’s largest and most profitable Lottery, contributing $3.27 billion in fiscal year 2016-2017 to help support education in New York State. The Lottery’s contribution represents approximately 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.

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