MANHATTAN, N.Y. – Gregory Velez, of Union, New Jersey, is the latest Lottery player to win the $7,000,000 top prize on the popular CASH4LIFE draw game.  Velez, who works as a parking garage attendant in Manhattan, has a slow day at work to thank for his New York Lottery windfall.

“I was bored at work that day so I decided to go across the street to buy a lottery ticket,” explained Velez.  “I asked the guy behind the counter what game I should play and he suggested CASH4LIFE because the drawing was that night.  I never played the game before so I told him to give me a Quick Pick ticket.”

The single set of numbers on Velez’s ticket matched the numbers drawn on February 25 earning him the guaranteed top prize of $7,000,000.

“The day after the drawing somebody at work mentioned that the store across the street sold the winning ticket,” said Velez.  “I checked the numbers on my phone and then went back to the store.  I went totally numb when I realized that I actually won.  I walked around the block a few times to clear my head and then went back to work to let them know that I quit.”

Velez purchased his winning ticket at Southend News on South Avenue in New York.  He chose to receive his prize as a one-time lump sum payment totaling $4,632,600 after required withholdings.

Velez plans to use his prize to pay off bills, buy a new house and “take it easy.” 

“I have two daughters and a granddaughter that I plan to take to Disney.”

The winning CASH4LIFE numbers from the February 25 drawing were 2-16-19-33-30 Cash Ball 3.

The New York Lottery contributed $1,265,576,989 in Lottery Aid To Education to school districts throughout the five boroughs during fiscal year 2014-2015.

About the New York Lottery

The New York Lottery continues to be North America’s largest and most profitable Lottery, contributing $3.11 billion in fiscal year 2014-2015 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.