The Bronx deli workers who sold a $1 million Mega Millions ticket amid the game’s $1 billion jackpot are hoping the local winner will return to split their pot — since their store receives no bonuses from sale.
While New York pays $10,000 to retailers selling winning Mega Millions or Powerball tickets, no such benefit exists involving lesser winners.
“I hope this new winner comes along, take care of me and the other guys,” said Al, a worker at the New Way Deli in Kingsbridge Heights, where the in-game billion dollar ticket dollars was sold last week. .
Al, who declined to share his full name, told the Post that a former customer won $1 million at Powerball in 2017 and returned afterwards to distribute the money to other deli customers.
“He came back and blessed everyone. He was giving $500 to random customers, $2,000 to this guy, $5,000 to this guy. He spent about $50,000 just to give people money,” Al recalled. “We told him he won. He was shaking. The guy didn’t believe it. He said, “Don’t play with me.” He came back and blessed everyone.
The lone winning ticket for Friday’s $1.34 billion Mega Millions game jackpot was sold at the Speedy Café Speedway gas station in Des Plaines, Illinois, lottery officials said.
The station will now receive $500,000 for the sale of the ticket, in accordance with Illinois regulations.
Al said his team hopes to strike gold by selling a winning first place ticket involving a big jackpot.
“God rewards those who are honest,” he said. “Hopefully the third time will be the jackpot. That’s what we want. We want the big one.
“When we hit the jackpot, everyone will be like, ‘This store?’ Go on. We will have lines at the door.
Unlike Illinois, New York requires its lottery winners to identify themselves publicly, although they can choose to raise money through a limited liability company.
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