The New York Lottery’s Yolanda Vega today awarded a Cohoes man with his $1,000,000 Powerball prize at the store where he purchased his lucky ticket.  Sixty-one-year-old Steven Elinski purchased his ticket at LePage Distributing on N Mohawk Street.

“I saw the jackpot coverage for Powerball and asked my wife Barbara if she wanted me to buy a ticket,” explained Elinski.  “I buy my tickets at a few different places, but LePage’s just has an aura so that’s where I went.”

The day after the drawing Barbara’s coworkers told her a $1,000,000 ticket was sold at LePage’s.  “I immediately called Steve and told him to check his tickets,” she said.  “I pulled out the Ipad to check and couldn’t believe it!  I said ‘You gotta be bagging me!’”, he said.

The $1,000,000 Powerball second prize is paid out as a one-time lump sum payment.  Elinski will receive a net check totaling $671,800 after required withholdings.

Elinski said the money won’t change them.  “We’ll pay off the mortgage and help our children and grandchildren.”  They do plan to use a portion of the winnings to travel.  “There are a few places we’d like to visit.  Poland, Rome and Greece are on our list.”

Elinski is the 34th New York Lottery player to claim a prize totaling $1,000,000 or more this year.

The New York Lottery contributed $45,086,207 in Lottery Aid to Education to school districts in Albany County during fiscal year 2017-2018.

About the New York Lottery

The New York Lottery continues to be North America’s largest and most profitable Lottery, contributing $3.37 billion in fiscal year 2017-2018 to help support education in New York State. The Lottery’s contribution represents approximately 13 percent of total state education aid to local school districts.

New Yorkers struggling with a gambling addiction, or who know someone who is, can find help by calling the State's toll-free, confidential HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or by texting HOPENY (467369).