Seabrook mother wins
$2.5 million grand prize

Virginia C. Hamilton of Seabrook, N.H. won a $2.5 million grand prize on the Merry Millionaire instant game from the Massachusetts State Lottery. Hamilton, who selected the cash option on the prize, received a check for $1.625 million before taxes today at Lottery headquarters in Braintree.

She bought the lucky ticket at the Hess gas station on Broadway in Saugus. The service station will receive a $25,000 commission on the sale.

Merry Millionaire, a $10 ticket, features eight grant prizes of $1 million and three grand prizes of $2.5 million. Overall, there are more than 2,700,000 winning tickets in the game.

Worcester grandmother takes
home $1 million

Sandra S. Sposato became the latest Lottery instant millionaire when she won a grand prize on the $800 Million Spectacular game from the Massachusetts State Lottery. Sposato received her first of 20 annuity checks for $50,000 before taxes today at Lottery headquarters in Braintree.

She bought the lucky ticket at Honey Farms on Belmont Street in Worcester. The store will receive a $10,000 commission on the sale.

$800 Million Spectacular, a $10 instant game, features 80 grand prizes of $1 million and 20 grand prizes of $2.5 million. Overall, there are more than 27 million winning tickets in the game.

Hull retiree wins $1 million grand prize

Richard A. Erickson, a retiree from Hull, won the 55th grand prize of $1 million on the Billion Dollar Bonanza game from the Massachusetts State Lottery. He received his first of 20 annuity checks for $50,000 before taxes today at Lottery headquarters in Braintree.

He bought the lucky ticket at the Tedeschi Food Store on Lincoln Street in Hingham. The store will receive a $10,000 commission on the sale.

Billion Dollar Bonanza is the biggest game ever created by an American Lottery. The $20 instant game features 150 grand prizes of $1 million and 10 grand prizes of $10 million, the largest prize ever awarded in an instant game.

Plymouth woman wins $1 million on Mega Cash

Maria L. Carey of Plymouth won a $1 million grand prize playing the Mega Cash instant game from the Massachusetts State Lottery. She selected the cash option the prize and received a check for $650,000 before taxes today at Lottery headquarters in Braintree.

She bought the lucky ticket at the Cumberland Farms on Samoset Street in Plymouth. The store will receive a $10,000 commission on the sale.

Mega Cash, the newest $20 instant game, features 40 instant prizes of $1 million and four instant prizes of $10 million. One lucky player will win the incredible prize of $20 million.

Bradford woman wins $1 million
on brand new ticket

Connie M. Sebastian of Bradford won a $1 million grand prize on the Ultimate Vegas Getaway instant game, the first day the brand new ticket went on sale at 7,500 agents across the state.

Sebastian, pictured here with her fiancé Patrick Keeler, received her first of 20 annuity checks for $50,000 before taxes today at Lottery headquarters in Braintree.

She bought the lucky ticket at Academy Liquors on South Main Street in Haverhill. The liquor store will receive a $10,000 commission on the sale.

Ultimate Vegas Getaway, a $5 instant ticket, features 1,600 trips for two to Las Vegas, including $500 in spending money. The game also boasts seven instant grand prizes of $1 million and 175 prizes of $10,000. Overall, there are more than 5.5 million winning tickets in the game.

Sheer luck rewards Arlington barber with $1 million

Alfred Iannacone of Arlington is the 13th Massachusetts State Lottery player to win a $1 million grand prize in the $100,000 A Year for Life instant game. Iannacone, a barber, received his first of 20 annual checks for $50,000 today at Lottery headquarters in Braintree.

He bought the lucky ticket at Daggs Deli on Mass Ave in Arlington. The store will receive a $10,000 commission on the sale.

$100,000 A Year for Life, a $10 instant game, features 10 instant prizes of $100,000 A Year for Life (minimum $2 million) and 25 instant prizes of $1 million. Overall, there are more than 11 million winning tickets in the game.

Pembroke pipefitter wins
$1 million grand prize

Mark L. Donlan of Pembroke became the latest Lottery millionaire when he won a $1 million grand prize on the $100,000 A Year for Life game from the Massachusetts State Lottery. Donlan, a pipefitter by trade, received his first of 20 annual checks for $50,000 today at Lottery headquarters in Braintree.

He bought the lucky ticket at Cumberland Farms on Pleasant Street in Bridgewater. The store will receive a $10,000 commission on the sale.

$100,000 A Year for Life, a $10 instant game, features 10 instant prizes of $100,000 A Year for Life (minimum $2 million) and 25 instant prizes of $1 million. Overall, there are more than 11 million winning tickets in the game.

$1 million grand prize won by Westfield grandmother

Josefina Sanabria, a grandmother of 15, took home a grand prize of $1 million in the $5,000,000 Jackpot game from the Massachusetts Lottery. Sanabria of Westfield received her first of 20 annuity checks for $50,000 before taxes today at Lottery headquarters in Braintree.

She bought the lucky ticket at Pipe N’ Book on Elm Street in West Springfield. The store will receive a $10,000 commission on the sale.

$5,000,000 Jackpot features more than $640 million in cash prizes, including 10 grand prizes of $5 million and 40 grand prizes of $1 million. Overall, the $10 instant game contains more than 22 million prizes.

Canton player takes home $1 million prize

Eddie Pomeroy of Canton is the first Massachusetts State Lottery player to win a $1 million grand prize on the new instant game Lucky 5’s>. The brand new $5 game features six grand prizes of $1 million, nearly 4,000 prizes of $1,000 to $10,000 and nearly half a million prizes of $30 to $500.

Pomeroy received his first of 20 annuity checks for $50,000 recently at Lottery headquarters in Braintree. He bought the lucky ticket at Cassie’s Corner Store on Chapman Street in Canton. The store will receive a $10,000 commission on the sale.

Fan wins grand prize on
Boston Red Sox instant game

Marc R. Copeland of Boston won a $1 million grand prize in the Boston Red Sox instant game from the Massachusetts State Lottery. The Red Sox fan received his first of 20 annuity checks for $50,000 before taxes recently at Lottery headquarters in Braintree. The Boston Red Sox game, a $5 instant ticket, features 10 instant prizes of $1 million and 10 instant prizes of $100,000. The game also gives players the opportunity to enter bonus drawings for Red Sox gear and the grand prize of Season Tickets for Life.

He bought the lucky ticket at Grampy’s on Cambridge Street in Boston. The store will receive a $10,000 commission on the sale.

The Boston Red Sox game, a $5 instant ticket, features 10 instant prizes of $1 million and 10 instant prizes of $100,000. The game also gives players the opportunity to enter bonus drawings for Red Sox gear and the grand prize of Season Tickets for Life.

Plymouth Mom wins
Patriots Season Tickets for Life

Second of five pairs of tickets won as Lottery game passes $60 million in sales

A Plymouth mother and lifelong New England Patriots fan became the second Massachusetts Lottery player to win Season Tickets for Life after her name was selected from more than 320,000 second-chance drawing entries.

Rafaela Oliveira won the fabulous prize in the New England Patriots instant game, the first NFL licensed Lottery game. The $5 instant game – which was introduced by Treasurer Timothy P. Cahill and Robert Kraft, Chairman and CEO of The Kraft Group at the start of the 2009 football season – has already sold more than $60 million in tickets.

“I’m anticipating getting a lot of phone calls from friends,” Oliveria said at Lottery headquarters recently. “This has been incredible.”

The New England Patriots instant game features 10 instant prizes of $1 million, 4,250 VIP ticket packages, and unique Patriots merchandise. As the game reaches five sales milestones, Season Tickets for Life will be awarded in separate second-chance drawings (visit www.masslottery.com. for more details).

“The New England Patriots Lottery instant ticket brings together two organizations that are dedicated to winning and serving their fans,” said Treasurer Cahill, chairman of the Massachusetts State Lottery Commission. “Most importantly, we are raising millions of dollars in local aid for our 351 cities and towns.”

The New England Patriots ticket follows in the tradition of the Lottery’s successful line of sports-themed tickets. Since 2006, the Massachusetts Lottery has sold about $900 million in sports-themed tickets and raised more than $125 million for police officers, fire fighters, teachers and other essential municipal services.

“We’re so happy for Rafaela and her family,” said Patriots Chairman and CEO Robert Kraft. “It feels good to reward so many Patriots fans with these incredible prizes while also benefiting cities and towns throughout the Commonwealth through the sales of Patriots instant tickets.”

In another exciting game feature, two bonus drawing winners have the chance to take home $1 million in the “Million Dollar Drive.” In the first “Million Dollar Drive” on Nov. 22, 2009, June Chapman of Easton won $300,000. In the promotion, the winning contestant walks onto the Gillette Stadium field to pick from 24 hidden prizes on larger-than-life instant tickets. Eight tickets are worth $100,000; six are worth $200,000; four others are worth $300,000; two prizes are worth $400,000; two are worth $500,000 and two grand prize tickets are worth $1 million. The second Million Dollar Drive will be scheduled during the 2010 season.

“Even with the 2009 football season nearing its conclusion this weekend, the Lottery can still deliver excitement for Patriots fans,” said Lottery Executive Director Mark Cavanagh. “The number and variety of winning experiences in this instant ticket is unparalleled in the industry.”

About the Massachusetts State Lottery

The Massachusetts State Lottery is dedicated to providing revenue for the Commonwealth's 351 cities and towns. Since 2003, the Lottery has returned more than $6.3 billion to taxpayers. The Lottery, through our 7,500 agents, offers players exciting and entertaining games, a formula that has made us among the most successful lotteries in the nation. For more information, please visit www.masslottery.com..

About the New England Patriots

The Patriots were named the eighth and final charter franchise of the American Football League (AFL) on Nov. 16, 1959 and are celebrating their 50th anniversary season this year. In 1994, Robert Kraft purchased the franchise and vowed to bring New England its first league championship. The Patriots delivered on that promise at the end of the 2001 season and became just the second team in NFL history to win three Super Bowls in a four-year span after winning back-to-back titles in 2003 and 2004. Since 1994, the Patriots have won more games (178) and more often (.657 winning percentage) than any other NFL team. For more information, please visit www.patriots.com.

Man’s best friend rewards
master with $1 million

Jon Adams owes a lot to his dog. It was time to feed Lady, a German Shepherd-Collie mix, but Adams’ can opener was broken so he headed to the store to buy a new one.

While at Stop & Shop in North Attleboro, he also picked up a Mega Cash ticket and won a $1 million grand prize. Adams also of North Attleboro selected a cash option on the prize and received a check for $650,000 today at Lottery headquarters in Braintree. Stop & Shop will receive a $10,000 commission on the sale.

Mega Cash, the newest $20 instant game, features 40 instant prizes of $1 million and four instant prizes of $10 million. One lucky player will win the incredible prize of $20 million.

Charlestown woman wins grand prize

Kathleen A. Burns won the 53rd grand prize of $1 million on the Billion Dollar Bonanza game from the Massachusetts State Lottery. Burns of Charlestown received her first of 20 annual checks for $50,000 before taxes today at Lottery headquarters in Braintree.

Billion Dollar Bonanza is the biggest game ever created by an American Lottery. The $20 instant game features 150 grand prizes of $1 million and 10 grand prizes of $10 million, the largest prize ever awarded in an instant game.

She bought the lucky ticket a 7-Eleven on Milk Street in Charlestown. The store will receive a $10,000 commission on the sale.

Lucky charm for Brockton secretary

Marjorie J. Richard's faith in her lucky charm paid off today when she claimed a $1 million prize on the Lottery’s $100,000 a Year for Life instant game. But this is not the first time Richards has had good fortune playing the Lottery.

In 1976 she appeared on the Big Money game show and walked away $10,000 richer. Since then she has held onto the lucky Big Money ticket in hopes of repeating her success.

Richards, shown here with her husband Walter who is holding the Big Money lucky charm, bought the $100,000 a Year for Life ticket at the Oak Street Convenient store located at 350 Oak Street in Brockton.

The store will receive a $10,000 commission on the sale. This is the 11th of 25 $1 million prizes claimed to date, there are also 5 $100,000 a Year for Life prizes remaining in the game.

Quincy mom gets $1 Million Birthday Present

Susan Delucca’s father gave her the birthday present of a lifetime – a Billion Dollar Bonanza instant ticket worth $1 million.

Delucca, who recently received her first check for $50,000, will celebrate her next 19 birthdays with such a check from the Massachusetts State Lottery. The Quincy mother of two said she is still planning how she will enjoy her prize.

Her father bought the lucky tickets at Stop & Shop on the Southern Artery in Quincy. The store will receive a $10,000 commission on the sale.

Billion Dollar Bonanza is the biggest game ever created by an American Lottery. The $20 instant game features 150 grand prizes of $1 million and 10 grand prizes of $10 million, the largest prize ever awarded in an instant game.

Burlington player becomes a
Merry Millionaire

Edmundo T. Reis of Burlington won the fifth grand prize of $1 million in the Merry Millionaire game from the Massachusetts State Lottery. Reis, who selected to receive the cash option on the prize, received a check for $650,000 today at Lottery headquarters in Braintree.

He bought the lucky ticket at One Stop Mart on Winn Street in Burlington. The store will receive a $10,000 commission on the sale.

Merry Millionaire, a $10 holiday ticket, features eight grand prizes of $1 million and three grand prizes of $2.5 million. Overall, there are more than 2,700,000 winning tickets in the game.

Mega Cash Grand Prize won by
Millbury retiree

Lawrence C. Gilmond, a retired Millbury resident, took home a $1 million grand prize on the Mega Cash game from the Massachusetts State Lottery. He received his first of 20 annuity checks for $50,000 before taxes today at Lottery headquarters in Braintree.

He bought the lucky ticket at Riverside service station on Canal Street in Millbury. The agent will receive a $10,000 commission on the sale.

Mega Cash, the newest $20 instant game, features 40 instant prizes of $1 million and four instant prizes of $10 million. One lucky player will win the incredible prize of $20 million.

Helpful son rewarded with $1 million grand prize

When Angelo Codispoti’s father asked him to move his car out of the driveway so he could go to the store, the 19-year-old volunteered to drive his father to Market Square Beverage. His helpful decision resulted in a $1 million grand prize for the Lynn college student.

While his father picked up supplies for the recent Patriots playoff game, Codispoti bought a New England Patriots instant ticket that contained a $1 million grand prize. Codispoti, who opted for a lump sum payment, said he will use his winnings to pay for college.

New England Patriots, a $5 instant game features 10 instant prizes of $1 million, 4,250 VIP ticket packages, and unique Patriots merchandise. The marquee prizes in the game are five second-chance drawings for five pairs of Season Ticket for Life.

Market Square Beverage received a $10,000 commission on the sale.

Worcester woman rings in New Year with grand prize

Jesslyn P. Johnson of Worcester won the sixth grand prize in the $1,000,000 Money Mania instant game from the Massachusetts State Lottery. She received her first annuity check for $50,000 before taxes today at Lottery headquarters in Braintree.

She bought the lucky ticket at The News Room on Front Street in Worcester. The store will receive a $10,000 commission on the sale.

$1,000,000 Money Mania, a 5 instant game, features ten grand prizes of $1 million and more than 166,000 prizes of $100 to $20,000. Overall, there are more than 6.3 million winning tickets in the game.

A Spectacular grand prize for Peabody grandfather

Minas J. Dakos of Peabody took home a $1 million grand prize in the $800 Million Spectacular instant game from the Massachusetts State Lottery. Dakos received his first of 20 annuity checks for $50,000 before taxes today at Lottery headquarters in Braintree.

He bought the lucky ticket at Town Variety on Central Street in Peabody. The store will receive a $10,000 commission on the sale.

$800 Million Spectacular, a $10 instant game, features 80 grand prizes of $1 million and 20 grand prizes of $2.5 million. Overall, there are more than 27 million winning tickets in the game.

Melrose player wins $250,000 on Mega Millions

Luka Stipanov won a $250,000 prize when he matched five numbers on the Dec. 4, 2009 drawing of Mega Millions. His numbers of 4, 33, 41, 51 and 56 earned him the huge prize. Stipanov, a bartender, said he will use his winnings to buy his own tavern.

He bought the lucky ticket at Beacon Hill Variety on Beacon Street in Boston. The store will receive a $2,500 commission on the sale.

Mega Millions, the biggest game in the nation, has the largest jackpots ever offered by an American Lottery. To enter, players choose five numbers for a field of 56 and one number – the Mega Ball – from a separate field of 46.

Players win the jackpot for matching all six numbers and win a $250,000 prize for matching the first group of five. Drawings are held every Tuesday and Friday nights and aired on WCVB-TV Channel 5 at 11:24 p.m.

Stow stone mason wins $1 million grand prize

Michael Beals, a stone mason from Stow, is the fifth Massachusetts State Lottery player to win a $1 million grand prize on the Mega Cash instant game. Beals, who selected the cash option on his prize, received a check for $650,000 before taxes today at Lottery headquarters in Braintree.

He bought the lucky ticket at Russells Convenience Store on Main Street in Maynard. The store will receive a $10,000 commission on the sale.

Mega Cash, the newest $20 instant game, features 40 instant prizes of $1 million and four instant prizes of $10 million. One lucky player will win the incredible prize of $20 million.

Uxbridge player wins Harleys Davidson

John G. Sefakis Sr. of Uxbridge recently took home a Harley Davidson Fat Boy motor cycle he won playing the Harley-Davidson instant game from the Massachusetts State Lottery.

Sefakis picked up his bike from Sheldon’s Harley-Davidson in Auburn. He bought the lucky instant ticket at County Cupboard on Main Street in Bolton.

Harley-Davidson, a $5 instant game, features 10 grand prizes of $1 million and 30 “Fat Boy” motor cycles as well as authentic Harley-Davidson gear. Overall, there are more than 6.7 million winning tickets in the game.