Man wins lottery for the second time on anniversary of wife's death: "Couldn't believe it"

NEW YORK -- A Long Island man won for the second time $1 million from the New York Lottery and was presented with his second big check on Wednesday, May 11th -- the two-year anniversary of his wife's death from cancer.

What will he do with his latest winnings?

“Enjoy life” with his new fiancée and share his good fortune with his family, Bruce Magistro said.

Magistro, a construction worker, said winning again feels just as unbelievable as it did the first time. This time, he scored the top prize on a "Win $1,000 A Week For Life" scratch-off game.

“I started scratching the ticket and I saw one 'Life' symbol and then the second and I thought, ‘this is impossible.’ I saw the third 'Life' and even I couldn’t believe it," Magistro said.

48-year-old Magistro first hit the jackpot in 2012 when he won on the retired "Extreme Cash" game.

"At my last event, Yolando Vega told me there was always a chance I could win again. I took her words to heart," Magistro said.

In the years since, Magistro lost his wife to cancer. Much of the money he won the first time around was spent on medical bills for his late wife.

Magistro has found love again, and is newly engaged.

He has his choice of payout for the $1 million he has won. He could receive a guaranteed $1 million paid out in 20 annual installments and additional annual prize payments after that, for life -- or he could take the cash value in a single lump sum of about $527,560 net.

Magistro said he's chosen the 20-year option.

Repeat winners are rare but not unheard of.

Earlier this month, a woman in North Carolina who is battling cancer won the lottery for a second time.