For Immediate Release:                               Contact:  Communications Office

January 15, 2014                                                              (518) 388-3415

BUFFALO, N.Y. – Fifty-one-year-old Christopher Kirk of Williamsville likes to celebrate the holidays by purchasing the new holiday-themed Lottery tickets when they hit the shelves.  This season was no different for the dedicated Lottery player.  Kirk purchased a $10 Winner Wonderland scratch-off ticket while stopping for a cup of coffee and hit the $1,000,000 top prize.

“I was out running errands and stopped to get a cup of coffee.  I always buy the holiday tickets when they come out and decided to buy one that day,” said the father of two.  Kirk scratched his lucky ticket at home and reacted like most Lottery winners do.  “When I saw it I started yelling and dancing around the kitchen.”

Kirk purchased his lucky scratch-off ticket at the Express Mart on Main Street in Williamsville.  He claimed his prize on December 5 at the Lottery’s Buffalo Customer Service Center.  “I barely got forty minutes of sleep that night.  I called into work and told them I had an upset stomach so I could come in and claim the ticket.  My stomach was in knots, but with excitement!”

Kirk opted to receive the cash value of his annuity prize, which entitles him to one lump sum payment totaling $790,000 (net $522,822).  “I plan to use the money to pay off the mortgage and then buy myself a new toy, maybe a car or a truck.”

The New York Lottery contributed $159,330,799.28 in Lottery Aid To Education to school districts throughout Erie County during fiscal year 2013-14.

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.

Photo Caption:
Christopher Kirk and NY Lottery Representative Gretchen Dizer