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."
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I think she's RDGRNRS soulmate ! Good job Cindy.
Come on sully she don't look blind to tiggs...
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.
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 want to hear more about this not having to pay federal taxes thing, on the brother's win.
I bet she's ready to clog the night away. I can tell by the shoes.
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!)
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..
she is sexy......
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
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'?
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.