For Immediate Release:                                         Contact:  Communications

March 6, 2013                                                                           (518) 388-3415

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NEW YORK, N.Y. – The New York Lottery’s Yolanda Vega and Jenny Garcia today introduced four new Lottery millionaires from the Bronx, Brooklyn and Manhattan. The lucky Lottery players won their prizes on Powerball drawings and scratch-offs games, including a Bronx woman who credits a lucky fortune cookie for her $2,000,000 Powerball win.

Bronx Woman Credits Fortune Cookie for her $2,000,000 Powerball Win

Emma Duvoll, 75, of the Bronx used a simple strategy for choosing her Powerball numbers for the February 1 drawing.  She used numbers printed on a fortune cookie.  Five of those numbers matched the numbers drawn, earning Duvoll a $2,000,000 payday.

“I was surprised, but pleased,” explained Duvoll after checking her numbers the day after the drawing.  The winning ticket was purchased at the Hannaford on Ted Drive in Pine Bush.

The winning numbers from the February 1 Powerball drawing were 5-12-15-27-38 Powerball 7.

Duvoll chose the Power Play option which increases the payout when a winning combination is hit.  Duvoll’s $2,000,000 prize will be paid out as a one-time lump sum payment totaling $1,246,085 after required withholdings.

“I took some time contemplating what I will do with the money.  I plan to invest most of it and maybe take a trip to Switzerland to visit family,” explained the newly-minted millionaire.

Bronx Woman is Set for Life with $5,000,000 Scratch-off Win

Syeda Akther, 34, of the Bronx is the latest jackpot winner on the popular Set for Life scratch-off game from the New York Lottery.  Akther won the life changing $5,000,000 jackpot on the ticket her husband purchased for her.

Akther explained that she is an occasional Lottery player and has won some smaller prizes in the past, but this is her first big win.  Her husband Motin purchased their lucky winner at Fares Gourmet Deli on East 167^th Street in the Bronx.  He decided on the Set for Life ticket because the ticket number was eight.  Akther said that when she realized she had hit the jackpot she was excited and very happy about the win.  She then shared the good news with her husband and a few good friends.

Akther opted to receive her prize as a one-time lump sum payment of $3,892,732 (net $2,425,328).  The new multi-millionaire is still unsure of her plans for the money at the moment.  She is considering purchasing a new house and possibly starting her own business.

Infrequent Lottery Player Wins $1,000,000 Powerball Second Prize

Karen Axt, 53, of Manhattan admits she rarely play New York Lottery games.  On February 15 she decided to make a stop after picking up her dry cleaning and buy two Quick Pick tickets for that night’s Powerball drawing.  One of those tickets matched the first five numbers drawn earning the patent attorney a $1,000,000 payday. 

“I’ve played the Lottery I think seven times in my life,” said Axt.  “This was only the fourth time I’ve played Powerball.  I guess I was thinking I just needed something good to happen.”

The winning numbers from the February 15 Powerball drawing were 2-9-14-21-23 Powerball 3.

Axt purchased her winning ticket at the Khandaker Newsstand on Fulton Street in Manhattan.  Her $1,000,000 prize will be paid out as one-time lump sum payment of $623,040 after required withholdings.

Axt is still undecided on what her plans are for the winnings.  “I’ll invest some and save some.  Maybe put something down on a place in the City.  We’ll see.”

Retired Letter Carrier from Brooklyn Wins $1,000,000 Powerball Prize

Joseph Brown, 60, of Brooklyn won a $1,000,000 Powerball second prize from the February 8 drawing. 

“I was shocked,” Brown explained when he scanned his ticket the day after the drawing and realized he won the $1,000,000 second prize.  He purchased his winning ticket at Parth Convenience on 5^th Avenue in Brooklyn. 

The winning numbers from the February 8 Powerball drawing were 24-25-34-37-54 Powerball 29.

The $1,000,000 Powerball second prize is paid out as one-time lump sum payment.  Brown will receive a net check totaling $623,040 after required withholdings. 

Brown is still undecided on what his plans are for the winnings.  “I’m still formulating a plan for the money,” he explained.

The New York Lottery contributed $1,200,599,252.62 in Lottery Aid To Education to school districts throughout the five boroughs 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.