HUNTINGTON STATION, N.Y. – The New York Lottery’s Yolanda Vega today presented Jose Gomez, 34, of Huntington Station, Suffolk County with a $2,000,000 ceremonial prize check. Gomez won his Lottery prize on the Monopoly Millionaire scratch-off game he purchased at Combo Laundromat on Lowndes Avenue in Huntington Station.

Gomez usually plays a couple random Lottery tickets every Sunday. That day, he was at the laundromat and decided to buy a Monopoly Millionaire ticket.  Gomez said he knew he won big the moment he saw the word “jackpot” on his ticket. He said he felt a little light-headed at first, but was very happy about being a winner. 

He claimed his winning ticket on August 26 at the Lottery’s Garden City Customer Service Center.

Gomez will receive a lump sum payment totaling $1,323,600 after required withholdings. He said winning this Lottery prize is not going to change him and that he wants to continue working as a landscaper. Gomez plans to use his prize money to invest for the future.

Gomez is New York State’s 99th Lottery millionaire in 2013.

The New York Lottery contributed $219,832,350.09 in Lottery Aid To Education to school districts throughout Suffolk County during fiscal year 2012-13.

About the New York Lottery

The New York Lottery continues to be North America’s largest and most profitable Lottery, contributing $3.04 billion in fiscal year 2012-2013 to help support education in New York State.  The Lottery’s contribution represents 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.

About the New York State Gaming Commission

The New York State Gaming Commission regulates all aspects of gaming and gambling activity in the state, including horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering, class III Indian gaming, video lottery terminal facilities at race tracks, the state lottery and charitable gaming.