Yolanda Vega today presented ceremonial prize checks worth $15 million to three downstate Lottery winners representing the Bronx, Manhattan and Queens. The event was held at Resorts World Casino in Queens, the highest-grossing video lottery casino in the United States.

Queens Woman Uses Lucky Penny to Scratch Off $5,000,000 Lottery Win

Ruth Tritremmel of Queens was running her morning errands when she purchased her life-changing $5,000,000 winning Lottery scratch-off ticket.  While in Artis Drugs on Eliot Avenue in Middle Village, Tritremmel saw a woman scratching a $5,000,000 Bankroll ticket and decided to buy one for herself.

“I walked up to the clerk and asked her for one of those tickets,” explained the retired bookkeeper.  “She told me it was number 28 and I knew it would be good because my daughter’s birthday is the 28^th.”

Tritremmel scratched the ticket immediately but was unclear how much she had won.  “I got out my lucky penny and scratched the ticket.  I thought I won $5,000 and left to go to the Lottery offices in Plainview.”

While at the Lottery office it was explained that Tritremmel was a multi-millionaire.  “I was told I would have to wait to receive my money because it was over $500,000.  I didn’t understand because I was expecting $5,000.  That’s when the clerk told me I won the $5,000,000 jackpot.  I almost fainted!”

The $5,000,000 jackpot on the $5,000,000 Bankroll ticket is paid as a one-time lump sum payment.  Tritremmel will receive a net check totaling $3,115,200 after required withholdings.

“It really feels great to win the Lottery,” she continued.  “I plan to use the winnings to help out my family and maybe buy a condo in Florida.”

As of this writing there are three outstanding top prizes available on the $5,000,000 Bankroll ticket.  Players may check the status of any New York Lottery Scratch-off game by clicking the Instant Games Reports link at nylottery.ny.gov.

Retired Housekeeper from Manhattan Wins $3,000,000 Lottery Jackpot

Katalin Szenasi of Manhattan is $3,000,000 richer thanks to a late addition to her shopping list.  The retired housekeeper decided to stop at Moid Newsstand on E 79^th Street in Manhattan on her way home from a day of shopping to purchase some Lottery tickets.  One of the tickets Szenasi chose was a 50X The Money ticket.  That was the ticket that earned her a $3,000,000 payday.

“I was drawn to the ticket,” explained Szenasi.  “The ticket was very colorful and I liked the amount you could win.”

Szenasi returned home with her ticket and started scratching them.  “It was the last ticket I scratched,” she explained.  “I almost fell off my chair!  I saw the word jackpot and started gasping for air!”

Szenasi chose to receive her prize as a one-time lump sum payment.  She will receive a net check totaling $1,476,605 after required withholdings.

“I immediately called my children to tell them the good news,” said Szenasi.  “I couldn’t keep it in.  I felt like I was going to explode!”

Szenasi said she plans to use her winnings to buy an apartment and invest for the future.

As of this writing there are two outstanding top prizes available on the 50X the Money ticket.  Players may check the status of any New York Lottery Scratch-off game by clicking the Instant Games Reports link at nylottery.ny.gov.

Group of Five Family and Friends Split $7,000,000 CASH4LIFE Jackpot

A group of five family members and friends calling themselves the Five Lucky Stars Trust are New York’s newest CASH4LIFE jackpot winners.  Group member Rodney Warrior of the Bronx claimed the ticket they purchased for the December 7 drawing.

“We’ve been playing as a group for almost 20 years,” explained Warrior.  “We all choose a line of numbers for all the draw games, not just CASH4LIFE.”

Warrior realized the group’s good fortune the day after the drawing.  “I was home and checked the Lottery’s website the next day.  I must have checked a thousand time.  I was in shock!”

The winning numbers for the December 7 CASH4LIFE drawing were 2-5-39-54-56 Cash Ball 3.

The group opted to receive their prize as a one-time lump sum payment.  The Five Lucky Stars Trust will receive a net check totaling $4,361,280 after required withholdings.

The other members of the Five Lucky Stars Trust include Rodney Williams and Nancy Ritter from Queens, Dino Arroyo from Manhattan and Dalceada Williams from South Carolina.

Each member of the group plans to invest their portion of the winnings.

The winning ticket was purchased at PK Shah on Broadway in Manhattan.

The New York Lottery contributed $1,303,190,659 in Lottery Aid to Education to school districts throughout the five boroughs during fiscal year 2016-2017.

About the New York Lottery

The New York Lottery continues to be North America’s largest and most profitable Lottery, contributing $3.27 billion in fiscal year 2016-2017 to help support education in New York State. The Lottery’s contribution represents approximately 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.