For Immediate Release:                                         Contact: Communications Office

August 8, 2014                                                                      (518) 388-3415

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HAMBURG, N.Y. – Linda Bright, of Cheektowaga, won one million dollars on the New York Lottery’s $1,000,000 Cashword scratch-off game.

On July 23 after work, Bright stopped at the French Lea Convenient Store at 10 French Lea Road in West Seneca to buy her lottery tickets. Bright said she likes the $1,000,000 Cashword game because “It takes a long time to do and I feel like I’m getting my $10 worth.”

When she got home, Bright scratched off the ticket. “I thought I was hallucinating. I must have scratched a wrong letter,” said Bright. Then she showed the ticket to a friend to be sure she was seeing things right. When the friend confirmed that she had won, she still couldn’t believe it.

Bright said she called her Dad to tell him the good news, but he thought she was playing a joke on him.

Bright works in a dental office and will be moving to the Southwest soon. She said this prize money will make a good down payment on the house she wants to build.

Bright chose to receive her Lottery prize as a one-time lump sum payment. She will receive a net check totaling $661,800 after required withholdings.

Bright claimed her winning ticket on July 23 at the Lottery’s Buffalo Customer Service Center.

She is the 99th New Yorker to claim a New York Lottery prize of $1,000,000 or more so far this year.

The New York Lottery contributed $159,330,799.28 in Lottery Aid To Education to school districts in Erie County during fiscal year 2013-2014.

About the New York Lottery

The New York Lottery continues to be North America’s largest and most profitable Lottery, contributing $3.17 billion in fiscal year 2013-2014 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.