Schenectady – Two local hunters trapped $1 million each playing New York Lottery scratch-off games, claiming at the New York Lottery’s Rochester claim center within one day of each other. Their million dollar prizes make them the first local New York Lottery millionaires of 2006.

Jason Spencer of Nunda was announced today as one of the New York Lottery’s newest millionaires, just three days before his 27^th birthday. Spencer, who was recently laid off from his job, said he has only one birthday wish – to return to work and save his million for an early retirement at the young age of forty-six.

Spencer is the first to win the $1 million jackpot prize on the Million Dollar Player’s Club Instant game, a $5 Instant game ticket that offers players 12 chances to win. Spencer purchased his winning ticket at the Arrow Mart located at 9924 Rt. 408 in Dalton. He will receive his prize in 20 annual installments of $50,000, less required tax withholdings. Spencer is the 1^st New York Lottery Millionaire from Nunda ever.

Rushville family man Timothy Bennett has finally found his "silver lining" and this time it wasn’t at his job as a slitter operator at Terphane, Inc. where he creates the silver linings that protect food products. This time, Bennett found his fortune by scratching off a New York Lottery Instant game ticket. The thirty-nine year old father of two said that he always considered himself unlucky until now. Now that he’s a millionaire, Bennett plans to pay off his debt and give his children the financial support they need to pursue a college education.

Bennett attributes his lucky win to the New York Lottery retailer that sold him the ticket at the Western Mini Mart located at 469 S. Main Street in Canandaigua. The retailer convinced him to play by using the Lottery’s popular slogan, "You’ve got to be in it to win it!" Bennett won his million on the Spread The Wealth Instant game, a $5 ticket that offers players 12 chances to win up to $1 million. He will receive his prize in 20 annual installments of $50,000, less required tax withholdings.

Since its inception in 1967, the New York Lottery has generated more than $27 billion in revenue to help support education statewide, including a record $2 billion in fiscal year 2004-2005 on revenues of $6.27 billion. For more information, contact the New York Lottery Press & Community Relations office at 518-388-3415 or email here.