Business & Tech

East Farmingdale Man Hits the Powerball

Duerette Dempster bought his $10,000 winning ticket at Laxmi Cards & Gifts.

In the midst of the recent lotto fever surrounding , Duerette Dempster routinely bought a lottery ticket from Laxmi Cards & Gifts.

He didn't win the Mega Millions, but he did hit the April 7 Powerball drawing, walking out of the shop $10,000 richer.

"I go [to Laxmi] three or four times a week…" Dempster said of his trusted lottery ticket haunt. "I play it there every time."

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Laxmi won't be paying out directly to Dempster, however, as jackpots his size must be claimed at the Lottery's customer service centers, the closest being in Garden City.

So will Dempster travel to Europe? Buy a car? Put it in the bank? As for his plans for the cash, he is keeping that a secret.

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"That's my business," he said simply. He does want to add a few more zeroes to his prize however, and said he will keep playing the lottery until he does.


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