WALLINGFORD, Conn. (WTNH) — Instead of attending the Knicks’ championship parade in Manhattan, a life-long fan stopped by Connecticut to claim a $3.4 million jackpot Thursday.
Bernard Bonaparte of Queens, N.Y., felt inspired to test his luck after the team’s championship run and purchased a Lotto! ticket. His ticket matched all six numbers in the June 12 lottery drawing.
Greenwich gas station sells $3.4M Lotto! jackpot ticket, adding to store’s winning streak
“It was the Knicks! The Knicks won! That’s what it is!” Bernard said when he claimed his prize at Connecticut Lottery Headquarters in Wallingford. “The Knicks won. That’s what’s important right now … it feels good.”
Bonaparte said he was strategic about where he purchased his ticket. He went to a hot spot for lottery players at the Gulf Station at 1324 E. Putnam Ave. in Old Greenwich.
Bonaparte plans to buy a house and move somewhere with a warmer climate, but no matter where he ends up, his Knicks loyalty will go with him.
“I love New York, and I love the Connecticut Lottery!” he said.
The winning numbers were 7 – 18 – 21 – 25 – 34 – 40.
The store sold a $25,000 scratch game several weeks ago. In 2025, it sold a $1,000,000 scratch game ticket, and in 2024, it sold another scratch ticket worth $4.3 million. During the last two years, they also sold scratch game winners worth $40,000 and $30,000.
Download the News 8 app to get breaking news and weather alerts.
Watch News 8 on WTNH.com or the free WTNH News 8 streaming app on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV and select Samsung Smart TVs.