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Siblings each score lottery jackpots two years apart

May 6, 2010, 8:51 am

New York LotteryNew York Lottery: Siblings each score lottery jackpots two years apart

Some folks have all the luck.

Just two years after her wealthy businessman brother won $1 million a year for life in the lottery, Manhattan party planner Cindy Altunis has scored a $1 million jackpot — with a ticket bought at the same gas station where her brother got his.

In fact, the family's luck extends to the Long Island gas station — a clerk there won $1 million after selling the ticket to Altunis' brother.

"My mother is a good-luck charm here," Altunis, 32, said at a lottery press conference yesterday. "She's the common denominator."

Altunis bought her $500,000,000 Extravaganza scratch-off ticket with her mother, Gonul, on March 1 at the Norwich Service Station on Northern Boulevard in East Norwich. She will now get a check for $33,015 per year for the next 20 years.

"If I wasn't visiting my parents that day in March, I wouldn't have won," she said. "God has blessed me and my family in many ways."

Altunis' brother, Kenan, was blessed in October 2008, when, also with help from their mother, he won one of the biggest-paying scratch-off games the New York State Lottery offers, the $30-per-ticket $1 Million for Life game.

A high-powered banker who lives in London, Kenan Altunis gave his mother $100 to buy tickets during a visit to the United States in 2008. He had returned overseas when she informed him that one of the tickets hit big.

Because he was a London resident, Altunis did not have to pay federal tax on the millions and gets $930,000 per year. He is so wealthy, however, that the cash has hardly changed his lifestyle.

Money meant a lot more to the man who sold the ticket to Altunis' mother. Six months after Kenan Altunis' win, gas-station clerk Sandeep "Sandy" Sharma bought a Monopoly scratch-off ticket at the Norwich Service Station and won $1 million.

He moved back to India to be with his wife and family.

"I've never seen a store like this. It's easy for people here," said Gogi Singh, who was working at the gas station yesterday. "They win $500, $5,000 all the time. I've worked in a lot of stores, and this one seems special."

The single Cindy Altunis said she plans to donate to her church and fund vacations for her parents. She said her whole family, which hails from Turkey, is now playing the lottery at the store.

"Yes, we all play it now, of course," she said. "Uncles, aunts and cousins — we all play the lottery."

News story photo(Click to display in gallery)

N.Y. Post

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23 comments. Last comment 2 years ago by time*treat.
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sully16's avatar - sharan
GO TIGERS
MICHIGAN
United States
Member #82269
October 28, 2009
8814 Posts
Online
Posted: May 6, 2010, 9:04 am - IP Logged

I think she's RDGRNRS soulmate ! Good job Cindy.

any day now.

    tiggs95's avatar - Lottery-036.jpg

    United States
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    November 4, 2006
    3928 Posts
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    Posted: May 6, 2010, 9:46 am - IP Logged

    I think she's RDGRNRS soulmate ! Good job Cindy.

    Come on sully she don't look blind to tiggs...

      ThatScaryChick's avatar - 2rfv8cx
      Idaho
      United States
      Member #56982
      November 21, 2007
      3940 Posts
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      Posted: May 6, 2010, 2:35 pm - IP Logged

      I bet that store will be getting a lot more business.

      "No one remembers the person who almost climbed the mountain, only the person who eventually gets to the top."
      ThatScaryChick

        lottocalgal's avatar - Lottery-043.jpg
        CA
        United States
        Member #57701
        December 23, 2007
        587 Posts
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        Posted: May 6, 2010, 3:23 pm - IP Logged

        I bet that store will be getting a lot more business.

        Definately.

        There is a store in Sacramento that is considered "Lucky" because its had the Mega Million Jackpot and the SLP jackpot multiple times; not to mention many of the smaller ones.    But it doesnt seem to be too lucky with the scratchers.  When I drive down there and look at the winning tickets they display on the counter to boost sales,  The tickets are very old.

        Im still waiting on my Fantasy Five jackpot.  I can't wait to tell my LP  Family.

        Ive been hitting 2 so many times that I  havent had to pay for QPs.  I just found out that when you win on a 2 number, you cant give them your regular set of numbers to play in exchange.  Your free ticket  from the 2 of 5  is always going to be an automatic QP.    I tried it at different stores and they all said the same.

          rdgrnr's avatar - walt
          Ridge Runner - Oracle of the Appalachians
          Way back up in them hills, son
          United States
          Member #74415
          April 28, 2009
          9578 Posts
          Online
          Posted: May 6, 2010, 4:16 pm - IP Logged

          I think she's RDGRNRS soulmate ! Good job Cindy.

          You must be psychic sully!

          That's what I thought the minute I saw her picture with that million dollar check! That's my soulmate!

          Only 30 grand a year could put a serious damper on our relationship though.

          I think if she sold it to one of those lump sum payoff companies though, our love would surely blossom!

          In the meantime we should probably work on the physical aspects of our relationship.

          .

           

           

           

           

           

           

          I will not comply. I will never submit.               
                                           
                                                                   
                                                        
                         
                 

            time*treat's avatar - radar

            United States
            Member #13375
            March 30, 2005
            2113 Posts
            Offline
            Posted: May 6, 2010, 4:24 pm - IP Logged

            I want to hear more about this not having to pay federal taxes thing, on the brother's win. Smash

            In neo-conned Amerika, bank robs you.
            Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms should be the name of a convenience store, not a govnoment agency.

              sully16's avatar - sharan
              GO TIGERS
              MICHIGAN
              United States
              Member #82269
              October 28, 2009
              8814 Posts
              Online
              Posted: May 6, 2010, 5:11 pm - IP Logged

              You must be psychic sully!

              That's what I thought the minute I saw her picture with that million dollar check! That's my soulmate!

              Only 30 grand a year could put a serious damper on our relationship though.

              I think if she sold it to one of those lump sum payoff companies though, our love would surely blossom!

              In the meantime we should probably work on the physical aspects of our relationship.

              I bet she's ready to clog the night away. I can tell by the shoes.

              any day now.

                tiggs95's avatar - Lottery-036.jpg

                United States
                Member #47874
                November 4, 2006
                3928 Posts
                Offline
                Posted: May 6, 2010, 8:00 pm - IP Logged

                You must be psychic sully!

                That's what I thought the minute I saw her picture with that million dollar check! That's my soulmate!

                Only 30 grand a year could put a serious damper on our relationship though.

                I think if she sold it to one of those lump sum payoff companies though, our love would surely blossom!

                In the meantime we should probably work on the physical aspects of our relationship.

                I got extra viagra tiggs will sell you ridge..He has a lot and you will need a lot..Like a LOT...

                  rdgrnr's avatar - walt
                  Ridge Runner - Oracle of the Appalachians
                  Way back up in them hills, son
                  United States
                  Member #74415
                  April 28, 2009
                  9578 Posts
                  Online
                  Posted: May 6, 2010, 9:23 pm - IP Logged

                  I got extra viagra tiggs will sell you ridge..He has a lot and you will need a lot..Like a LOT...

                  Thanks tiggs but I don't need it, I think we have a lot of iron in the water here in TN.

                  Hey, that's the first time I've seen you talk in the 1st person! (almost a half sentence!)

                  .

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                  I will not comply. I will never submit.               
                                                   
                                                                           
                                                                
                                 
                         

                    tiggs95's avatar - Lottery-036.jpg

                    United States
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                    November 4, 2006
                    3928 Posts
                    Offline
                    Posted: May 6, 2010, 10:53 pm - IP Logged

                    Thanks tiggs but I don't need it, I think we have a lot of iron in the water here in TN.

                    Hey, that's the first time I've seen you talk in the 1st person! (almost a half sentence!)

                    Try not to get use to that 1st person crapola..When tiggs gives you his viagra you will be doing the watermelon crawl before you know it..You can pop one in the Jack and have a stiff drink like you've never had before..

                      Avatar
                      Norfolk,VA
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                      December 2, 2009
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                      Posted: May 7, 2010, 12:56 am - IP Logged

                      she is sexy......Wink

                      ''YOU CAN PAY FOR SCHOOL BUT, YOU CAN'T BUY CLASS''Thumbs Up

                        Avatar
                        Norfolk,VA
                        United States
                        Member #83765
                        December 2, 2009
                        755 Posts
                        Offline
                        Posted: May 7, 2010, 1:08 am - IP Logged

                        1 million dollars a year 4 life sounds great but, i dont know about spending 30$ for a ticket. i have a hard time putting up 20$ for a ticket...but if i had to spend it sumwhere i would spend it in that ''lucky'' store. Congrats to her though...i know she is happy

                        ''YOU CAN PAY FOR SCHOOL BUT, YOU CAN'T BUY CLASS''Thumbs Up

                          THRUST's avatar - f35l

                          United States
                          Member #88461
                          March 16, 2010
                          393 Posts
                          Offline
                          Posted: May 7, 2010, 1:12 am - IP Logged

                          I know right? I can barely get a couple of dollars for MM, PB or C5...30$ a ticket is insane...then of course the prize is sweet.

                          By the way, How do you think she's doin'? Naughty

                          $1,000,000

                            KY Floyd's avatar - floyd
                            NY
                            United States
                            Member #24178
                            October 16, 2005
                            2244 Posts
                            Offline
                            Posted: May 7, 2010, 3:42 am - IP Logged

                            I want to hear more about this not having to pay federal taxes thing, on the brother's win. Smash

                            He's the beneficiary of a treaty that exempts UK residents from US income tax. He grew up in NY, but was born in Turkey, so he may not be a US citizen.  Considering our taxation of US citizens in other overseas locations I don't see much reason for such a treaty to extend to US citizens. Even if moving to London made you exempt from US income tax, don't expect that to make up for paying UK income taxes.