For Immediate Release:                                      Contact:  Communications Office

May 20, 2014                                                                            (518) 388-3415

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BUFFALO, N.Y. – Janice Cochran, 68, of Westfield, Chautauqua County won a $1,000,000 Powerball prize from the April 9, 2014 drawing. She claimed her winning ticket on April 16 at the Lottery’s Buffalo Customer Service Center.

Cochran said she only plays the Lottery when she “has a couple of extra dollars.” She purchased her ticket on Saturday, April 5, at the Country Fair Store at 51 Main Street in Brocton. She waited a few days after the drawing to check her ticket on the Lottery Web site and that’s when she found out she was a big winner.

“I saw the name of the store first, and thought, ‘That’s where I bought my ticket.’ Then I checked the numbers and was shocked when they matched up.  I actually shook a little when I realized I had won,” said Cochran. 

The $1,000,000 Powerball second prize is paid out as a one-time lump sum payment. Cochran will receive a net check totaling $661,800 after required withholdings. Cochran said she is unsure of her plans for the prize money but may take a trip to Arizona.

The winning numbers for the April 9 Powerball drawing were 09-14-44-48-49, Powerball 29. 

She is the 64th New Yorker to claim a New York Lottery prize of $1,000,000 or more so far this year.

The New York Lottery contributed $32,146,150.90 in Lottery Aid To Education to school districts in Chautauqua County during fiscal year 2012-2013.

About the New York Lottery

The New York Lottery continues to be North America’s largest and most profitable Lottery, contributing $3.04 billion in fiscal year 2012-2013 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.