BUFFALO, N.Y. – The New York Lottery’s Gretchen Dizer today presented a $1,000,000 prize to the first winner of the re-released Jumbo Bucks scratch-off game at the store where she purchased her ticket, the Mobil Mart on Sheridan Road in Buffalo. Gina Ortiz of Depew, Erie County claimed her winning ticket on February 19 at the Lottery’s Buffalo Customer Service Center. She was the first player statewide to claim a top prize on the scratch-off game since it went on sale February 5.

Ortiz said she started playing the Lottery over 25 years ago because she always saw other people winning and wanted to be “in on it.” She purchased her million dollar winner with money she had won on another Jumbo Bucks ticket.  “I had $6 left over after doing laundry and decided to buy one of the Jumbo Bucks tickets because it was new,” Ortiz said. “I won $10 on that ticket and went back into the store to buy two more. I scratched one in the store and no luck. I scratched the other at home and saw the matching 17s.” Ortiz checked the ticket over and over thinking her eyes were playing tricks on her. “I can finally let it go,” Ortiz said, “Now I know it’s real.”

The $1,000,000 top prize on the Jumbo Bucks scratch-off game is paid as an annuity. Ortiz will receive 20 annual payments of $33,090 after required withholdings. She has no plans for the money beyond taking care of herself and her daughter.  “We have been blessed,” Ortiz said.

The New York Lottery contributed $186,760,842.15 in Lottery Aid To Education to school districts throughout Erie County during fiscal year 2011-12. 

About the New York Lottery

The New York Lottery continues to be North America’s largest and most profitable Lottery, contributing nearly $2.9 billion in fiscal year 2011-2012 to help support education in New York State.  The Lottery’s contribution represents nearly 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.