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Daniel DeSanto was named the top winner at the Golden Nugget Atlantic City Hotel, Casino and Marina on Friday, March 14, where more than $1.5 million in prizes were awarded in the annual second-chance drawing, officials said.
“They called my name and I didn’t know what hit me,” DeSanto said. “I just won a million dollars, and I can't believe it. Maybe I can retire a little earlier.”
Throughout 2024, New Jersey Lottery players submitted non-winning Scratch-Off tickets online for a second chance at big money.
Each quarter, 100 names were randomly selected, winning $250 and securing a spot in the Grand Prize Drawing held Friday, officials said.
In addition to DeSanto’s $1 million prize, 14 other players took home winnings ranging from $10,000 to $100,000, including:
$100,000 Winners:
- Daniel Brown (Essex County)
- Diane Hackney (Passaic County)
$50,000 Winners:
- Duane Sulo (Ocean County)
- Charles Strine (Cumberland County)
- Francisco Flores (Passaic County)
$25,000 Winners:
- Florence Novatkowski (Ocean County)
- Pat Bailey (Cumberland County)
- Samuel Kyeremeh (Hudson County)
- Ernesto Luna (Hudson County)
$10,000 Winners:
- Louie Cortazzo (Union County)
- Sharon Riggi (Passaic County)
- Judith Redd (North Carolina)
- Inez Ponton (Bergen County)
- William Hays (Union County)
James Carey, Executive Director of the New Jersey Lottery, called the event one of the highlights of his career.
“I look forward to this event every year. The energy in the room was incredible. It is always a highlight of my career to celebrate people on what is one of the happiest days of their lives,” Carey said.
The drawing was conducted under the supervision of Mercadien, P.C. Certified Public Accountants to ensure accuracy, officials said.
Lottery officials say the annual contest—now in its 14th year—continues to give players an "ultimate do-over" with a second chance at life-changing prizes.
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