For Immediate Release:                                       Contact:  Communications Office

June 14, 2013                                                                            (518) 388-3415

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PORT HENRY, N.Y. – The New York Lottery’s Jina Myers today presented a $1,000,000 ceremonial prize check to a Mineville, Essex County resident where he purchased his winning New York Lottery scratch-off ticket, Stewart’s Shops at 4300 Main Street in Port Henry.

Jamie Velsini won $1,000,000 on the New York Lottery’s Fabulous Fortune scratch-off game. Velsini explained, “I stopped at Stewart’s to buy gas on Monday morning, May 20, and decided to buy a Lottery ticket.  I try to pick whatever Lottery ticket looks lucky, and I chose Fabulous Fortune.”

Velsini scratched the ticket in his truck and could not believe his eyes. “I looked over the ticket 15 times before I was convinced that it was real and that I had just won $1,000,000,” Velsini said. He signed the ticket immediately and locked it in his glove compartment.

Velsini claimed his prize at the Lottery’s Schenectady Customer Service Center later that day. 

Velsini will receive his $1,000,000 Fabulous Fortune prize in one lump sum totaling $820,000 (net $542,676 after required withholdings). He plans to use some of his winnings for his upcoming wedding with Erin Bigelow and some to help out his family. 

The New York Lottery contributed $3,035,382.02 in Lottery Aid To Education to school districts throughout Essex 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.