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October 15, 2014                                                                   (518) 388-3415

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Plainview, N.Y. – The New York Lottery’s Yolanda Vega presented over-sized prize checks worth $13,000,000 to three lucky Long Island residents who won on various New York Lottery scratch-off games. Winners include arguably the luckiest man on Long Island, celebrating his second big lottery win, a husband who brought home more than flowers and a mom who can now afford to stay home with her son.

 Twice Lucky Port Jefferson Resident Hits the Big One on Hit $5,000,000 Ticket

Three years ago, Robert Segretto of Port Jefferson Station, thought he was lucky after winning $50,000 on Set for Life. But he kept playing every day, and it paid off big time.

Segretto has won the first top prize of $5,000,000 on a Hit $5,000,000 ticket.

After purchasing his tickets on September 30, Segretto went to his car to scratch them. “I almost had a heart attack. I went back in the store to validate it was a winner and the clerk started crying for me,” said Segretto.

Immediately Segretto called his wife, Marie, who didn’t believe him. Within an hour and a half of purchasing the Hit $5,000,000 ticket, Segretto was at the Plainview Customer Service Center claiming his prize. “I don’t let the grass grow under my feet,” Segretto said of his speedy claim.

On his most recent win, he said “It feels good, but will be better when I have the check in my hand!”

Segretto, who has five children and twelve grandchildren, said he plans on taking a family vacation, and maybe another with just his wife.

Segretto will receive his Lottery prize as a one-time lump sum payment totaling $3,309,000 after required withholdings.

Smithtown Man Brings Home a lot More than Flowers for his Wife with $3,000,000 Win on King’s Ransom

George Uss of Smithtown, won $3,000,000 on New York Lottery’s King’s Ransom after purchasing flowers for his wife.

Uss, a retired bank operations manager who plays all lottery games, purchased his winning scratch-off while leaving Giunta’s Meat Farms after purchasing flowers for his wife, Joyce. Uss said, “I was leaving the store and walked past the machine. I had change left from my purchase, so I bought a ticket.”

After scratching the ticket in his car and seeing it was a jackpot winner, Uss went back in the store to check it because he did not believe the ticket was a jackpot winner.

The next morning, after his daily walk with his wife, Uss and his wife picked up one of their three sons and headed to the Plainview Customer Service Center to claim his prize.

As for his winnings, Uss said he plans to invest the money and “maybe a pool would be nice. Once I get then money, then I’ll figure it out.”

Uss opted to receive his Lottery prize as a one-time lump sum payment of $2,340,000. He will receive a net check totaling $1,548,612 after required withholdings.

Oyster Bay Stay-at-Home Mom Wins Big on Set for Life Scratch-off

Jennifer Miller, of Oyster Bay is a new millionaire after winning $5,000 a week for life on the New York Lottery’s Set for Life scratch-off game.

Miller, a stay-at-home mom to a four year old, asked her husband Scott to pick up a scratch-off ticket on his way home.

“I was in bed sleeping already. He came in, woke me up and said ‘I think we have something here.’ We just sat and stared at it,” Miller said of finding out about her big win.

Miller said she went on the New York Lottery Web site and read the winners handbook. As recommended by the New York Lottery, she signed her winning ticket, locked it up and contacted a financial consultant.

Miller plans to pay bills, invest the money and start a college fund for her child. As for how it feels to win the lottery, Miller said “It feels fantastic. It gives me the opportunity to be a stay-at-home mom for good.”

Miller opted to receive her Lottery prize as a one-time lump sum payment of $3,974,304. She will receive a net check totaling $2,630,194 after required withholdings.

The New York Lottery contributed $240,273,853.81 in Lottery Aid To Education to school districts in Suffolk County during fiscal year 2013-2014 and $132,384,615.16 in Lottery Aid To Education to school districts in Nassau County during the same time period.

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.