Schenectady, NY – The New York Lottery teamed up with the New York Mets to introduce New York City’s newest Lottery Millionaires. The winners representing Staten Island, Queens, and Brooklyn received a total of $4,000,000 on the field at Shea Stadium as part of Thursday’s pre-game activities.

A Rich Man in Richmond County

Thirty-seven-year-old John Borrell of Staten Island is Richmond County’s second Lottery Millionaire of 2008. Borrell couldn’t sleep the night he scratched his $2,000 A Week For Life instant ticket to reveal he hit the jackpot. The ticket guarantees a minimum prize payout of $2,000,000.

“I really don’t consider myself a lucky person and I rarely play the Lottery,” said Borrell. “I had $5.00 in change in my pocket so I took a chance. I guess there is such a thing as luck after all!”

Borrell joins 65 other Richmond County players in Lottery history to have won a Lottery top prize valued at $1,000,000 or more; the most recent being Donald Nicholas of Staten Island who won $1,000,000 on the Big Bucks instant ticket in March.

Borrell, who works at One On One Physical Therapy in Staten Island, bought his lucky ticket on April 28, 2008 at the Lucky Deli & Grocery on Bay Street in Staten Island. He claimed his $2,000,000 winner at the Lottery’s New York City Customer Service Center on April 29th. He will receive quarterly payments of $26,000 each, less required tax withholdings. After tax withholdings he will receive $16,771.

Queens Man has a Hunch; Wins Big!

Forty-two-year-old Rafael Batista of Douglaston is Queens County’s fourth Lottery Millionaire of 2008. Batista couldn’t stop smiling after he scratched his Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas instant ticket and realized he won $1,000,000.

“I had a feeling that I should go out and buy a Lottery ticket,” said Batista. “I noticed the new ticket in the dispenser so I went with it. Boy I sure am glad I did!”

Batista admitted to sleeping with his ticket until he had a chance to claim it. He is the 240th Queens County player in Lottery history to win a top prize valued at $1,000,000 or more; the most recent being Michael Perez of Saint Albans who won $14,000,000 on the April, 7 2008 Lotto drawing.

Batista is a self employed tractor mechanic who bought his lucky ticket on April 20, 2008 at the 7-Eleven on Northern Boulevard in Little Neck. He claimed his $1,000,000 winning ticket at the Lottery’s New York City Customer Service Center on April 22nd. He will receive 20 annual payments of $50,000 each, less required tax withholdings. After tax withholdings his check will total $34,075.

A Reluctant Winner in Brooklyn

Forty-five-year-old Colleen Losquadro of Brooklyn is Kings County’s sixth Lottery Millionaire this year. A very excited Losquadro scratched her $5,000,000 Extravaganza instant ticket and realized instantly she was a $1,000,000 winner.

“I was definitely excited when I scratched the ticket in the store,” said Losquadro. “I must admit though, I was also a little apprehensive. It took a little while for it to really sink in.”

Losquadro said she was on her way to the beach and decided to stop at the store to buy some drinks. “The color of the ticket caught my eye so I went ahead and bought it”, said the mother of one. Losquadro is the 240th Kings County player in Lottery history to win a top prize valued at $1,000,000 or more. The most recent was Zi Zhi Zhang, also from Brooklyn, who won $1,000,000 on the Bedazzled instant ticket in April.

Losquadro, a real estate agent for Talk of Town Realty Corporation in Brooklyn bought her lucky ticket on April 24, 2008 at the Mill Basin Convenience Store on Avenue U in Brooklyn. She claimed her $1,000,000 winner at the Lottery’s New York City Customer Service Center on April 24th. She will receive 20 annual payments of $50,000 each, less required tax withholdings. After tax withholdings her check will total $32,251.

The New York Lottery contributed nearly $2.6 billion to help support education in New York State on incoming revenues of $7.549 billion in fiscal year 2007-08 - - a profit margin of 34.3%. The New York Lottery continues to be North America’s largest and most profitable Lottery, earning over $34.2 billion in education support statewide since its founding over 40 years ago.