Trip to Laundromat Nets Bundle of Money

Jose Gomez went out to wash his clothes and really cleaned up.

The Huntington Station man won a $2 million scratchoff Lottery prize. Buying a car with his winnings might be the first order of business.

Gomez, 35, and his laundry arrived at Combo Laundromat on Aug. 25,  thanks to owner Robert Hou, who picks up customers on weekends who don't have cars.  While washing his clothes, Gomez indulged in a habit of playing the lottery, and decided on the scratch-off lottery game Monopoly Millionaire.

After spotting the word "jackpot" on the ticket, "He turned color," said Josue Roman, a friend. "He was nervous and shaky. And he thought he won $200,000 but there were six zeroes." 

He'll get $1,323,600 after taxes. 

Gomez received a ceremonial check Thursday outside the laundromat on Lowndes Avenue from lottery spokeswoman Yolanda Vega.

Through Vega, Gomez said he worked in landscaping and had a family but declined to say where.

He also said hasn't made specific plans for the money since he's waiting for it to arrive in his bank account after claiming the prize on Aug. 26.  Vega quoted  Gomez  as saying that he "can't believe it's real."

Hou, who has owned the laundromat for two years, was pleased for his customer. This was the first big ticket he'd sold, he said, and he won't see any benefit but that didn't seem to be a big concern. "This is great," Hou said. "We are very very happy for him."

Vega said Gomez is the state's 99th Lottery millionaire this year.