JAMAICA, N.Y. – The New York Lottery’s Yolanda Vega presented over-sized prize checks worth a total of $24 million to five lucky Lottery players at the Resorts World Casino in Jamaica, Queens. The winners included four lucky scratch-off players and a Powerball player that doubled her million dollar prize by selecting the Power Play option.

Brooklyn Woman Plans Early Retirement with $7,000,000 Lottery Win

Melodie Donovan of Brooklyn went through a series of emotions when she realized she won the $7,000,000 top prize on a New York Millions scratch-off ticket in late June. Once she calmed down, one of her first thoughts was an earlier-than-anticipated retirement.

“I have worked as an administrator for a legal aid society for the past 26 years,” explained Donovan. “One of my first thoughts when I won was now I can retire a little earlier than planned.”

Donovan’s emotional ride started with a stop at News & Tobacco on Myrtle Avenue in Brooklyn to buy some scratch-off tickets. “I play the larger tickets when I’m feeling lucky,” she explained. “The first two tickets I played were non-winners. I won a couple prizes on the New York Millions ticket in the past so I decided to give it another try.”

Jackpot winners always have a range of emotions when they hit the big one and Donovan was no exception. “I scratched the ticket right there in the store and almost fainted. I was just overwhelmed with emotions.”

The $7,000,000 top prize on the New York Millions scratch-off ticket is paid as a one-time lump sum payment. After required withholdings Donovan will receive a net check totaling $4,361,280.

“I still can’t believe it’s real,” explained Donovan. “In addition to an early retirement, I’ll use the winnings to help out my family and travel.”

Extra $1 Wager Earns Queens Woman $2,000,000 Powerball Prize

Beverly Campbell of Queens is an avid Lottery player preferring Powerball and Mega Millions to all the other Lottery games. Her weekly ritual involves purchasing a $3 Powerball Power Play ticket and a $2 Mega Millions ticket. The $3 Powerball ticket Campbell purchased for the June 18 drawing matched the first five numbers drawn, earning her the $1,000,000 second prize. By spending the extra dollar to play Power Play her million dollar prize was multiplied by two earning her a $2,000,000 payday.

“I originally thought I was $200,000,” explained Campbell. “I was very excited for the win, but when I brought the ticket to the Lottery office in Manhattan I was in for the shock of a lifetime. They processed the ticket and informed me that it was actually a $2,000,000 win!”

Campbell purchased her winning ticket at M&N Smoke & Cards on East 28^th street in Manhattan.

The $2,000,000 Powerball Power Play prize is a paid as a one-time lump sum payment. Campbell will receive a net check totaling $1,246,080 after required withholdings.

“All I keep thinking is ‘Oh my gosh,’” explained the newly minted Lottery millionaire. “I’m looking forward to retirement later this year and traveling with my mother. I will also help out my family and donate some of the money.”

Scenic Artist from Brooklyn Wins Lottery Prize of a Lifetime

Darius Menard was running errands when he stopped at the Pizza & Deli on Manhattan Avenue in Brooklyn to purchase a few scratch-off tickets. Menard opted to buy two $10,000 a Week for Life tickets after having luck on the game in the past. The second ticket he scratched turned out to be the luckiest ticket of his life. His matching 13s earned him the guaranteed $10,000,000 top prize.

“I bought two $10,000 a Week for Life tickets because I’ve played the game before and wanted to try it again,” said Menard. “When I scratched the matching 13s and saw the word ‘life’ I just couldn’t believe what I was seeing. I knew it was a winner, but I wasn’t sure of the amount.”

Menard scanned the ticket in the store revealing the message ‘Big Winner.’ “When I saw that message I immediately left the store and took it to another store to see if I got the same result,” he continued. “When the clerk verified it and handed me the receipt I knew it was real.”

Menard opted to receive his guaranteed $10,000,000 as a one-time lump sum payment. After required withholdings Menard will receive a net check totaling $5,330,980.

“I feel very lucky. I can’t believe this happened to me. I still don’t know what I’ll do with all this money. I’ll make some investments and help out my family and go from there.”

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.

Islandia Couple win the first $5,000,000 Prize on Wild Bonanza Multiplier Scratch-off Ticket

Luis Almaraz and his wife Patricia claimed the first $5,000,000 top prize on the new Wild Bonanza Multiplier scratch-off ticket. Almaraz purchased the couple’s lucky ticket by sticking with his daily routine.

“Every day I go to 7-Eleven and buy sandwiches for my sons, some coffee and scratch-off tickets,” he explained through an interpreter. Almaraz scratched the ticket in the store and then scanned to confirm it was a winner. “It said ‘Big Winner’ so I brought the ticket to my car. I was so in shock I started crying!”

Almaraz brought his ticket home and his son called his mom telling her to come home right away. “I couldn’t believe what they were telling me,” she explained. “I too was in shock!”

Almaraz purchased the couple’s lucky ticket at 7-Eleven on Old Nichols Road in Islandia. The $5,000,000 top prize is paid out as one-time lump payment. The couple will each receive a net check totaling $1,654,500 after required withholdings.

The Almaraz’s said they don’t have immediate plans for their winnings, but they plan to take care of family.

The New York Lottery contributed $245,288,826 in Lottery Aid To Education to school districts throughout Suffolk County 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.

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