Valhalla's Darlene Smith Wins $3 Million in Lottery Scratch-Off Game

Valhalla resident Darlene Smith won the $3 million top prize on the new Instant Millionaire scratch-off game, but almost missed her opportunity.

“I almost walked away from the machine and didn’t buy the ticket,” said Smith in a prepared statement. The New York State Lottery announced Smith’s win on Wednesday.

“I went to the Stop & Shop [on North Broadway in White Plains] to buy my husband’s favorite ice cream cake and decided to buy a couple Lottery tickets from the vending machine,“ she added. The gentleman ahead of me was taking a long time so I walked away and picked up a loaf of bread. When I walked past the machine he was gone so I bought my tickets.”

One of those tickets was the Lottery’s new Instant Millionaire scratch-off game. “Stop & Shop labels the new games when they put them in the machine. Those are the ones I like to play,” said the 27-year veteran of the U.S. Postal Service.

Smith purchased her life changing ticket on February 15 and claimed it later that day. “My husband didn’t want to hang onto it for long. I signed the back of the ticket and brought it in to claim.”

Smith has yet to decide on how she would like to receive her $3,000,000 prize. She can elect to take a lump sum of $2,360,000 netting her $1,561,848 after required withholdings. She also has the option of receiving 20 annual payments of $150,000 (net $99,270).

“I honestly don’t know how I will spend the money,” said Smith. “I’m still thinking about that, but I do know I want to be smart about it.”

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