Longtime Friends Split $8.3 Million Lotto Winnings

Two longtime friends from Lido Beach are suddenly rich, as they won a late March New York Lotto jackpot and will be splitting the $8.3 million winnings. Elizabeth Kelly, 56, and Randi Bernstein, 63, both of Lido Beach, have been friends for 20 years, but only recently started playing Lotto together. And it has paid off pretty quickly.

"It was kind of a fluke-y decision we made in the last couple of months," said Bernstein, who works as a postmaster for the United States Post Office. "I’m not really sure why we started playing or why we choose Lotto."

The two came up with a system, too: Bernstein buys the tickets and Kelly checks them. Keeping their system running smoothly, Bernstein spent a few dollars on some Quick Pick tickets for the March 18 drawing at Rip's Cards & Things on Long Beach Road in Oceanside, and Kelly checked the numbers in the newspaper. As soon as she saw the numbers, Kelly called Bernstein.

"I was in total denial," said Bernstein. "I thought ‘how could this be?’ And then there was a lot of crying."

Bernstein and Kelly opted to receive the cash value of their prize, with each receiving a one-time payment totaling $2,714,232.

Bernstein said she plans to replace her old car and do some much need work on her home. Kelly said she needs a little more time before making any decisions.

Photo: New York Lottery