FISHKILL, N.Y. – New York Lottery Draw Team Member Gretchen Dizer today presented over-sized prize checks worth a collective $2,000,000 to two new Powerball second prize winners from Chester and Monroe. Today’s check presentations bring to 31 the number of Orange County Lottery players to win or share a Lottery jackpot of $1,000,000 or more since 2000.   

Chester Retiree Wins $1,000,000 Second Prize from September 11 Powerball Drawing

Sixty-five-year-old Pam Bernstein of Chester won a $1,000,000 second prize for matching the first five numbers drawn in the Powerball drawing held on September 11. Bernstein purchased her lucky ticket on the day of the drawing at KG Wine & Liquor on Route 17M in Harriman. The retired entrepreneur said she checked her winning numbers online the day after the drawing.

“I was by myself at the time and screamed out ‘YES’ when I realized I won $1,000,000,” she said. “It feels fantastic.”

Bernstein plans to use her $1,000,000 lump sum prize (net $661,800) to “take a few trips.”

Monroe Businessman Turns $4 Powerball Win into $1,000,000 Powerball Windfall  

Ronald Arnstein of Monroe found a “big $4 winner” while searching through a stack of old Powerball tickets last month. The self-employed construction business owner said he used his $4 prize toward the purchase of some Quick Pick numbers for the September 4 Powerball drawing.

“A few days later my cousin told me there was a $1,000,000 Powerball ticket sold at the Sunoco where I bought my ticket so I decided to check it out.” Arnstein purchased his jackpot-winning ticket at the Sunoco station on Route 17M in Monroe.

Arnstein said he placed a call to his cousin soon after confirming his $1,000,000 win. After that he said, “I called my mom, my aunt and a couple of friends.”

The new Lottery millionaire plans to use his lump sum net payment totaling $661,800 to expand his construction business.

Bernstein and Arnstein are the most recent Orange County Lottery players to win a jackpot prize valued at $1,000,000 or more. The six other recent regional winners to share or win a Lottery jackpot prize in 2013 include:

• Dennis Gallagher of Middletown who won $5,000,000 on the $5,000,000 Multiplier scratch-off game in March;
• James Begala and Perry Gower of Middletown who split a $1,000,000 Powerball prize in May; and
• Cheryll Wright of Warwick who split a $2,000,000 Powerball Power Play prize with Kim Johnson and Kory Stewart of Brooklyn in May.

The New York Lottery contributed $76,833,349.97 in Lottery Aid To Education to school districts throughout Orange 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.