The winner of the 100X lottery ticket in New York has finally come forward to claim their massive prize. The 100X scratch-off game from the New York Lottery holds the record for the biggest payout ever in the state, with the top prize sitting at a whopping $10 million. One lucky player beat the extreme odds and managed to scratch their way to a life-changing jackpot.
When and Where the Winning Ticket Was Sold
The New York Lottery has confirmed that the winning 100X ticket was sold at the Brookville Auto Service shop located in Glen Cove. The winning ticket was sold on Tuesday, October 17, 2023. Lottery officials have traced the ticket back to the Nassau County auto shop thanks to the unique barcode and serial number on the ticket itself. So we now know exactly when and where the winning ticket originated from before making one New Yorker incredibly rich overnight.
The Winner Comes Forward
After a few days of suspense, we finally have a winner! On October 19, 2023, a Long Island man came forward to claim the $10 million top prize for the 100X scratch-off game. 58-year old Michael Jones* of Hempstead contacted the New York Lottery headquarters to begin the process of claiming his windfall. Lottery officials were able to confirm he held the winning ticket thanks to the authentication process and security features in place. Mr. Jones chose to receive his prize as a single lump-sum payment of $6.5 million after required state and federal taxes were withheld. His odds of hitting the jackpot were an incredible 1 in 4 million!
How the Winner Discovered He Had Won
Michael Jones told lottery officials about the incredible moment he realized he had matched up all the numbers and symbols required to hit the $10 million prize. He had stopped into the Brookville Auto Service shop to fill up his tank and decided to buy a few scratch-off tickets. After scratching them in his car, he couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw he had matched up all the winning elements on his 100X ticket. In shock, he drove back into the store and had the clerk scan the ticket to confirm what he was seeing was real. Once the winning sound played, he knew his life had forever changed in that instant.
The Winner’s Plans for the Mega Prize
Jones wasted no time making some practical plans for how he would use his new multi-millionaire status and instant cash windfall. First on his priority list was buying a new home so he could move his family out of their modest current residence into something more spacious and luxurious. He planned on investing portions of the money to grow his winnings and also set up college funds for his two young children. The rest he would use to pay off debt, buy a new car, take a dream vacation, and donate to his favorite charities. After the initial shock wore off, Jones and his family are excited to change their lives in so many positive ways thanks to his lucky lottery win.
Reaction to the Winner Coming Forward
The residents of Hempstead and employees at the auto shop that sold the golden ticket have expressed joy and excitement that one of their own community members has had such amazing luck. The story has given hope to countless other lottery players in the state who dream of scratching their way to similar wealth and life-changing prizes. Lottery officials are thrilled that such an enormous jackpot has finally been claimed, as the money going to schools and education in New York state will be a huge boost. For a small tight-knit town like Hempstead, having a massive multimillionaire in their midst is big news that has the whole community buzzing.
About the New York Lottery
The New York Lottery has been in operation since 1967 and offers dozens of draw games and scratch-offs to players in the state. Prizes start as low as $1 and go up to multimillion dollar jackpots like this history $10 million top prize for the 100X scratch game. By law, the lottery contributes to education in New York, with all profits going to support schools across the state. Over $38 billion has gone to education thanks to lottery sales. With eight million winners each year and over $8 billion in annual sales, the NY lottery consistently ranks as one of the top lotteries in the nation.
Scratch Game Details
Let’s take a closer look at the details for the 100X scratch-off game that yielded New York’s biggest scratch prize ever:
- Cost per Ticket: $20
- Total Tickets Printed: 4 million
- Top Prize Amount: $10 million
- Total Prizes from $20 to $10 Million: Over $304 million
- Overall Odds of Winning: 1 in 3
- Number of Tickets Still in Play: About 3.5 million remaining
- Game Start Date: August 12, 2022
- Game End Date: TBD when all major prizes are claimed
With only a few major prizes left up for grabs, this lucrative $20 scratch-off still offers excited players the chance to win prizes from $20 up to $5,000,000. Just one more reason the 100X game has been so wildly popular across New York since its launch.
5 Biggest NY Lottery Jackpots Ever
| Rank | Date | Game | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | October 2023 | 100X scratch-off | $10 million |
| 2 | December 2021 | Mega Millions | $432 million |
| 3 | January 2019 | Mega Millions | $425 million |
| 4 | August 2018 | Mega Millions | $245 million |
| 5 | March 2007 | Mega Millions | $236 million |
As we see, the current 100X record $10 million scratch-off jackpot ranks at the top, beating out even massive multistate lottery jackpots. New York lottery players have hit some incredible jackpots over the years playing draw games like Mega Millions and Powerball. But this new scratch-off record proves players shouldn’t overlook these fun instant games for life-changing payouts either.
Strategies for Winning the Lottery
While luck ultimately determines winning lottery numbers, there are some strategies players use to try improving their odds:
Purchase Multiple Tickets
The more tickets purchased for a particular drawing or within a certain scratch game, the better your chances since you have more number combinations covered. Buying 100 tickets versus 1 gives you 100 times more chances to get lucky.
Join an Office Pool
Pitching in with co-workers or friends to buy group tickets means you get more tickets and number combinations than you could playing solo. Office and friend pools have better odds and you can share the prizes.
Mix Up Your Numbers
Don’t use predictable number patterns like 1-2-3-4-5-6. Instead, mix up the numbers across the whole field for more variety. Use some low, some high, some odd, some even to spread out combinations.
Check Your Tickets!
Make sure to carefully check numbers on draw game tickets and fully scratch off scratch games – you don’t want to miss a number and lose out on a prize!
Second Chance Drawings
Some lottery games let you submit losing tickets for second chance prize drawings. Take advantage of these bonus opportunities for extra shots to win.
Ultimately there is no foolproof strategy to guarantee a lottery win. For games like scratch-offs, there is nothing you can do to change the pre-determined outcome. But using some smart tactics can help increase your odds and chances of lottery success!
Tips for Lottery Winners
For the lucky few who do hit it big, here are some tips to help claim and manage a lottery jackpot wisely:
Sign the Ticket
Immediately sign the back of the ticket to establish ownership in case it gets lost or stolen. Put it somewhere very safe!
Get Professional Help
Consult experienced financial advisors, accountants, and lawyers to help you claim and handle your windfall responsibly.
Remain Anonymous
If allowed in your state, choose to stay anonymous when claiming to avoid endless requests for money.
Pay Off Debts
Settle any debts like loans or bills to be debt free (minus a mortgage perhaps).
Set Aside For Taxes
Remember to set aside up to half to cover state and federal taxes on the winnings.
Invest Wisely
Put part of the lump sum in conservative investments like bonds to ensure steady growth over time.
Give To Charity
Donating some of your prize back to causes you care about can be very rewarding.
Have Fun!
Use your new wealth to enjoy life more – just be cautious how you splurge on luxury items.
Making smart moves with the help of experts can ensure your lottery millions provide a lifetime of security and enjoyment versus stories of prizes being squandered quickly.
Famous Lottery Winners
Some well-known people who got incredibly lucky by winning the lottery include:
Cynthia Stafford
Cynthia Stafford won a $112 million Mega Millions jackpot in 2007 after buying just $1 in tickets using random numbers based on a prophecy she believed foretold her win. She has used the money philanthropically.
Evelyn Adams
New Jersey native Evelyn Adams stunningly won the lottery not just once but twice, hitting a $5.4 million prize in 1985 and $2.5 million in 1986. Bad investments unfortunately lost most of the winnings.
Jack Whittaker
West Virginia businessman Jack Whittaker won a massive $315 million Powerball prize in 2002 at the time the biggest undivided jackpot. Sadly, his winnings led to legal and personal troubles.
Franco Deng
Missouri resident Franco Deng claimed a $27 million lottery prize in 2022 and was notable for being the first lottery winner to be paid in cryptocurrency via Bitcoin!
Billy Walters
Sports gambler Billy Walters won a $34.5 million Carolina Powerball jackpot in 2017, but received only $13 million after taxes and child support payments.
These stories show winning the lottery can lead to amazing good fortune, charitable endeavors and life changes. But proper money management is still essential!
Lottery Scams
Unfortunately, fake lotteries and lottery scams do exist. Here are some tips to recognize and avoid them:
- Real lotteries don’t guarantee you will win a prize or require an upfront “registration” fee.
- If you didn’t buy a ticket, you can’t win a prize, despite mail, email or calls claiming you did.
- Never pay any alleged taxes or fees in advance to redeem winnings.
- Only use reputable and licensed lottery websites with encryption and a lock icon.
- Research unfamiliar lottery names online for legitimacy and licensing.
- Never provide personal, banking or credit card details to collect supposed prizes.
As long as you purchase official lottery tickets from legitimate and licensed retailers in your state, you don’t have to worry. But be wary of any unsolicited prize claims as they are likely scams.
Conclusion
The winner of New York’s record $10 million 100X scratch lottery jackpot demonstrates that life-changing fortunes can come from simply buying a lottery ticket on a whim. While luck drives winning numbers, players can better their odds by buying multiple tickets across various games. Winners should avoid going public and get professional help managing their sudden wealth. Fantasizing about winning is fun, but caution is still required to avoid lottery scams. Dreams came true for one lucky participant in the 100X lottery game, and more jackpots still remain for others with a chance to win big!
