Twenty-eight-year-old Patrick Clarke had a birthday for the ages this past December. The Queens resident purchased a $10 Set for Life scratch-off ticket on December 20 and won the jackpot guaranteeing him a minimum prize of $5,000,000. The Delta Airlines ramp agent says he has his mom to thank for his good fortune.

“My mom called and wanted me to do a favor for her and she gave me some money as a thank you,” explained Clarke. “I knew right away I wanted to buy a Lottery ticket and knew it had to be Set for Life. That’s always been my mom’s game and it’s my game now.”

Clarke purchased his ticket December 20, his 28^th birthday, at the Friendly Deli & Grocery on Saratoga Avenue in Brooklyn. He brought the ticket to his girlfriend’s house and that’s where he had his life-changing moment. “I scratched the ticket and saw a match on number 16 with the word ‘Life’ under it,” said Clarke. “I started laughing and dancing all around the house!”

The jackpot prize on the Set for Life scratch-off ticket guarantees a minimum payout of $5,000,000. Clarke opted for the one-time lump sum payment totaling $2,453,693 after required withholdings.

“I was very surprised that I won the jackpot and feel very blessed. It means I won’t have to worry so much. There will always be something to worry about, but for once, it won’t be about money.”

When asked if he had any advice for other Lottery players, Clarke said, “Play without the expectation of winning. It happens when you least expect it.”

Clarke was the 95^th New York Lottery player to claim a prize of $1,000,000 or more in 2016.

The New York Lottery contributed $1,241,108,424 in Lottery Aid To Education to school districts throughout the five Boroughs 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.