FISHKILL, N.Y. – The New York Lottery’s Gretchen Dizer today presented two ceremonial prize checks worth a collective $4,000,000 to the Hudson Valley’s newest Lottery millionaires.  The check presentations took place at the Lottery’s Customer Service Center in Fishkill.

Triple 10s Earns Haverstraw Man $1,000,000 New York Poker Win

John Leger of Haverstraw, Rockland County, just might have a new favorite poker hand.  The cosmetics salesman hit the $1,000,000 top prize on the New York Poker scratch-off game when his three 10s beat the champion’s two pair.

“I’ve been playing the New York Poker ticket for a few years,” explained Leger.  “I bought this one on a Saturday and scratched it right there in the store.  I immediately left the store and put it in one of my suits in the closet for safe keeping.”

“The first person I told was my girlfriend,” he continued.  “She thought I was joking, but I was finally able to convince her it was real.”

Leger purchased his winning ticket at Valcrest Stationery on North Main Street in Spring Valley.  He chose to receive his prize in one lump sum amount of $810,000, net $536,058 after required withholdings.

“I plan to use the winnings to help out my family and buy my mom a new car.”  When asked what kind of car, Leger said, “Whichever one she wants.”

Leger is the 85th New Yorker to claim a New York Lottery prize of $1,000,000 or more so far this year.

The New York Lottery contributed $29,982,316.76 in Lottery Aid To Education to school districts in Rockland County during fiscal year 2014-2015.

Supermarket Produce Manager Purchases $3,000,000 Scratch-Off Winner at End of Shift

Antone Samarneh of Yonkers had just finished his shift at A&P Supermarket and passed by the Lottery vending machine on his way out.  The supermarket produce manager decided to take a chance on the $3,000,000 Supercash scratch-off ticket.  Samarneh hit pay dirt when the ticket he scratched contained the $3,000,000 winning combination.

Samarneh purchased his life changing ticket on July 4 and he acknowledged the significance of Independence Day.  “I look forward to my own independence: being free of credit cards and my mortgage.”

“I scratched the ticket on the way out to my car,” he continued.  “I kept very calm, got into my car and called my wife.  When I got home I put the ticket in a drawer and went on with our plans for a family barbecue.  It was a nice day and we got to tell everyone all at once.”

Samarneh purchased his winning ticket at the A&P on Central Avenue in Scarsdale.  He chose to receive his prize in one lump sum amount of $2,340,000, net $1,514,042 after required withholdings.

Samarneh plans to use his winning to pay off debt, save for his daughter’s college education and take a long-awaited extended vacation to “no place in particular.”

“I just want to take a long vacation and enjoy my new financial freedom,” he said.

Samarneh is the 90th New Yorker to claim a New York Lottery prize of $1,000,000 or more so far this year.

The New York Lottery contributed $91,075,152.30 in Lottery Aid To Education to school districts in Westchester County 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.