Howard Gershowitz of Commack hits record-breaking $1.5M jackpot at Yonkers Casino

Meet Long Island's newest jackpot millionaire and a winnings record-breaker -- Howard Gershowitz of Commack -- for whom a free casino voucher he used for a slot machine bet turned into a win of nearly $1.5 million.

That's also the largest jackpot payout to date at the nine racetrack casinos under the aegis of the New York Gaming Association, according to a release from Empire City Casino, Yonkers, where Gershowitz claimed his good fortune.

Always a positive thinker, Gershowitz, 66, said he had an especially strong feeling on the morning of Oct. 25. Ordinarily he doesn't shave on a weekend visit to the casino, but this time, "I shaved," he said, adding that he then told his wife, "I'm going to get the big one."

True to form, he headed first for the Wheel of Fortune Triple Stars slot machine, which features a progressive jackpot, meaning the pot builds over time until there's a winner. He figures it was on his fourth spin -- with spins ordinarily costing $20 each to be eligible for the big prize -- that his morning inkling was validated.

First, one Wheel of Fortune image lined up, leading him to think, "Hmm. That's good." Then the second lined up, leading him to make a fist. When the third fell into place, Gershowitz said, he uttered a loud, "Yes!" and shot his fist into the air.

The winnings will "provide a more comfortable retirement," he said in the news release. He also said his wife's wants -- and likely will get -- a new roof for their house. Gershowitz said he figures his net winnings from the $1,473,503 jackpot will be more than $975,000.

The previous record jackpot for the nine casinos was also at Empire City Casino, when Manuel Esteche of Port Chester won $571,000 in February 2015, a casino spokeswoman said.