Mega Millions winning ticket bought in Suffolk
One lucky person - or group of people - is a lot richer for the holidays thanks to a $162 million lottery ticket bought at a Rocky Point store, according to lottery officials.
The winner, who has not yet come forward, played Quick Pick and chose a lump sum, said state lottery spokeswoman Jennifer Givner.
One ticket in Tuesday's drawing matched all six numbers: 3-33-35-39-45 and the Megaball, 13. The cash value of the lump sum is expected to be more than $100 million before taxes, Givner said.
It's not the first time that card shop owner Sonny Zaveri, 58, of Coram, has sold a valuable winning lottery ticket. About 10 years ago, his store sold one worth $6 million, he said Wednesday.
"Yesterday, we probably sold a thousand tickets," Zaveri said.
Zaveri, who has owned the store for 25 years, greeted regular customers and accepted congratulations Wednesday. Selling the winning ticket means his store, wedged between a liquor store and a Chinese restaurant in a strip mall, will collect a $10,000 payout.
Customer Isaac Clark, 77, of Rocky Point, said he wished he was the lucky one. "I would help a lot of people," he said. "I would take care of myself and my family."
The twice-a-week drawing prize started at $12 million on Nov. 13 and continued to roll over without a winner until Tuesday.
New York, one of a dozen states that participates, has had six Mega Millions winners so far this year. Two were from Long Island: Janet Alnwick, of Merrick, won $22 million in January; and Isabel Zelaya, of Wyandanch, won $26 million in March.
The only other previous Mega Millions winner from Long Island was Henrietta Henderson, of Uniondale, who won $34 million in July, 2003.
The biggest Mega Millions winner from New York State was Jimmy Groves, of the Bronx, who got $168 million as half of a $336 million jackpot on Aug. 28.
The record jackpot for the game was $390 million in March 2007, when two winning tickets were sold in Georgia and New Jersey.
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