WATERTOWN, NY - Forty-four-year-old cleaning service employee Tamra Riccio of Calcium is the first New York Lottery player statewide to claim a $1,000,000 top prize on the Ice Bank scratch-off game.

The Jefferson County mother of four said she was paying her utilities bill at the Kinney Drugs on US Route 11 in Watertown when she saw a display of new Lottery games and decided to try her luck.

“I scratched the Ice Bank ticket and saw a match on the number 9. I scratched off the rest, saw the ‘1 million’ and nearly died,” she said.  Riccio said she has not yet come to grips with her new fortune. “You would think I’d be excited but it hasn’t sunk in yet, she said. “I never thought I would see that kind of money – never thought it would happen.”

The new Lottery millionaire opted to receive her prize in one lump sum payment totaling $790,000 before taxes.  She will receive a net payment of $522,822. Riccio said she is excited at the prospect of being able “to enjoy my kids without the worries” and she is confident her windfall won’t change her. “I don’t see how it could at this point!” she laughed.

Riccio is the 15^th New York Lottery player from Jefferson County to win or share a jackpot prize of $1,000,000 or more. Another recent winner, Judy Brown of Watertown, won the top prize on the Win $1,000,000 A Year For Life scratch-off game last fall.

The New York Lottery contributed $28,413,162.79 in Lottery Aid To Education to school districts throughout Jefferson 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.