MONTICELLO, N.Y. — An upstate New York county of 76,000 people has gotten its second $100 million-plus Mega Millions jackpot winner in three months.
Real estate agent Tammy Pratt of South Fallsburg in Sullivan County was introduced Wednesday as the sole winner of the $126 million Mega Millions jackpot drawn Feb. 27.
Pratt was between real estate appointments when she stopped for gas. She bought $4 worth of tickets instead of her usual $1 when she noticed the jackpot for the upcoming drawing had topped $100 million.
"I just had a feeling I should get more than one," said Pratt.
One of her Quick Pick tickets hit the jackpot.
"I ran to my husband and said, 'The person who won the lottery is from our town.' And then I said, 'I wonder where they bought their ticket.' So then I looked and saw it's where I bought my ticket and then I said, 'It's probably me,'" Pratt said.
She was only teasing, but then looked up the numbers online and realized it was no joke, Pratt said.
The odds of hitting that jackpot were 1 in 258 million, lottery officials said.
Pratt was calm, cool, and collected as she accepted her winnings. She said she never dreamed of this actually happening.
"I've never been really happy with what I've been doing, so it's just an added adventure," she said.
She chose the lump sum payment, and will net about $54 million after taxes.
"We're going to take some time to plan, we haven't really thought about buying things or anything like that, although, eventually I'll need a new car," Pratt said.
She is now on the waitlist for a new Tesla.
The South Fallsburgh Food Mart, located at 5105 Main St., will receive a $10,000 bonus for selling the jackpot-winning ticket.
In January, Harold Diamond, a retired school principal from Wurtsboro in Sullivan County was announced as the sole winner of a $326 million Mega Millions jackpot drawn in November.
"I don't know what's going on here in Sullivan County, but it's gotta be one of the luckiest places in New York State," Yolanda Vega, New York Lottery, said.
On Wednesday, a stream of hopefuls lined up to see if the local lotto luck can rub off on them.
"I am going to bank it. Share with my family. Share the wealth," Alphonso said.
Two locals said they go in on two tickets a week together. A win could be life changing.
"We would find things to do with it. Pay off debts, invest. We were just talking about what we could do, right?" Bernanrd Deutsch said.
"They actually fill out lotto at this table. I tell them, make sure you pick a winner because we take ten percent," Jack Ingber said.
The store owner said only 39 people purchased a Mega Millions ticket from the Foodmart the day Pratt played.
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Congrats to Tammy.....
I just need it a little more up state New York next time...lol
Congrats to Tammy. She did not spurn the opportunity of playing against the odds.
Congratulations......
Sweet, congratulations Tammy.
Congratulations and good luck Tammy. What a blessing
NICE WIN!
Congratulations !!! Good Luck to LP members for tonight's MM !!
Great win! Enjoy your new life.
Congratulations, Tammy!! Enjoy your new found wealth!
LOL only 39 people purchased a ticket from that store on the day she won? LOL I'll bet that there will be more people buying from there from now on
Congrats to Tammy on her big win!
Who ever played before or after her lost the like the Florida guy who lost his ticket. Gas stations are a great place to play. Felicidades.
Another Quick Pick wins big...
another gut feeling to get more tickets................... Just the little voice telling you to do something,,,,never hurts to listen
A lot of lottery players hear that little voice especially when the jackpot exceeds $100M, that's why the jackpot grows a lot faster at that level.
I usually hear that little voice after a really s****y day at work and I'm desperate to retire. I've been known to stop after work and buy a few extra lotto tics.
Two major jackpot wins in the same New York county and only 3 months apart? they better not tell jjtheprince.
Um, desperation has become a cruel master to most of us gamblers.
Why are the winners of these jackpots always in small dinky towns you never heard of. That's why I feel it's rigged! The larger cities don't stand a chance.
Since "the larger cities don't stand a chance", I would suggest that those folks drive out to the country, find a lil mom-n-pop store and purchase as many advanced draws as allowed. You know...so they can beat that rigged system.
OH YEAH,I almost forgot..make sure they do that in either CA or NY cause that will double their chances of winning..you know......cause the system is "rigged".
"eventually ill buy a new car" hahahah thats the first thing im doing is buying a new escalade... winners quit lying to urself and just spend happy and smart thats what we play for
What a pity she could not remain anonymous!
I am happy for this woman, glad she won. I guess I will be buying quick picks from now on and stop stressing over what numbers to chose....lol See Quick Picks do win, some said that they are a waste of money....which in this case proves them wrong.
but its one less migraine then trying to choose one's own numbers
She should've formed a trust before claiming her prize. I know doing so doesn't guarantee anonymity, but it would've conferred a certain amount of privacy. I don't know why she decided to claim it outright.
Should New York Lottery winners have the right to remain anonymous?
Personal privacy or public accountability?
A story on a bill in the New York State legislature that would allow lottery winners to remain anonymous has generated a lot of comment today. The arguments go like this:
-- Lottery winners' names should be kept private to shield them from harassment and money grubbers.
-- Lottery winners' names should be made public to increase accountability of the lottery. If you don't want to go public, don't play.
In New York, winners of $1 million or more have to appear at a news conference before they can claim their winnings. Most states have similar rules; just six allow anonymity, and Arizona is considering it.
The bill before the state Legislature -- sponsored by George Maziarz, R-Lockport -- would forbid the lottery from requiring winners to "perform public actions" to get their money.
The above bil was proposed in 2013, whatever happened to it?
Probably died in committee and never made it to the full legislature for a vote.
Congrats On Your Big Win!!!!!
congrats Tammy.
i will be next for sure.
I second that; great retirement enabling win, Tammy!
i love it... felicidades chica!
enjoy ms. real estate broker...!
congrats!
adios
Noche todo...
oh i don't believe ny lottery or here in nj,or anywhere is rigged,
i just don't but i get why"you and maybe a few others"believe it is."
Large cities,has won Quarter of a Million $$$$ plus,
in a plethora of large cities for a long time.
...
I believe it is just simply,luck.As mi father says:
$$$$
"Right ticket"...
"Right time."
Noche todo.(night all)
Felicidades
Congratulation to Tammy Pratt on her win. Since she said, "she never been really happy with what she been doing. Now, she get options.