For Immediate Release:                                         Contact: Communications Office

October 8, 2014                                                                     (518) 388-3415

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MONTICELLO, N.Y. –Brian Peters, 32, of Monticello, won a top prize of $1,000,000 on a New York Lottery New York Poker ticket that he almost forgot to buy.

Peters, a food inspector, was on his way to work on Monday, September 1, and stopped at the Citgo on Jefferson Street in Monticello to pick up his breakfast.

Peters said he buys all different New York Lottery scratch-off games, but especially likes the New York Poker game because he likes to play poker.

On his way out of the store that day, Peters realized he forgot to buy his New York Poker ticket and said to the clerk, “Let me have a New York Poker ticket too.” Then he said, “Now when I win big, I’m going to come back and let you know.”

Later that morning, when he was on break, he went to his car and scratched the ticket. Peters said “I must have looked at the ticket 30 times. I thought I was wrong or missing something.” Then he called his sister and sent her a picture of the ticket. After looking at it, his sister said, “Does this mean you won a million dollars?” and Peters said “I think so.”

When he got home, he said he signed the ticket and locked it in the house. Then he asked his Mother, “What if I said we could move right now. What would you say?” His Mother said, “You’re funny.” Peters said, “No Mom, I won a million dollars on the Lottery. We can finally move now.” Peters said his Mother was just overwhelmed, and he still feels like he is “in a cloud.”

On his way up to Lottery’s Schenectady Customer Service Center on September 3 to claim the ticket, Peters did stop at the Citgo station to scan his ticket and show it to the clerk that sold him the ticket. When the display said “jackpot,” Peters said to him, “See, I told you I would come back and let you know when I won big.”

Peters will receive his Lottery prize as a one-time lump sum payment. He will receive a net check totaling $536,058 after required withholdings.

He is the 119th New Yorker to claim a New York Lottery prize of $1,000,000 or more so far this year.

The New York Lottery contributed $10,110,260.46 in Lottery Aid To Education to school districts in Sullivan County during fiscal year 2013-2014.

About the New York Lottery

The New York Lottery continues to be North America’s largest and most profitable Lottery, contributing $3.17 billion in fiscal year 2013-2014 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.