Valencia County residents won about $2.3 million playing New Mexico Lottery games in fiscal year 2009.

The county's biggest prize winner was a Los Lunas family.

Sam Anaya, wife Carol, son James and brother-in-law Meliton Gallegos won $190,000 playing Roadrunner Cash.

Other top prize winners from Los Lunas include Scratcher players Christine Salazar, who won $50,000; Anna Matson won $30,000; Serafina Morales won $15,000; and Emily Grubb won $10,000.

Elaine Cogan won a $24,000 Roadrunner Cash prize.

Richard Marquez was the big winner from Belen with a $38,500 Roadrunner Cash prize.

Scratcher player Donald Beggs of Belen hit a $10,000 prize.

Lucy Aragon was Tomé's largest winner with a $13,000 Scratcher prize.

Los Lunas Kicks 66 sold a Scratcher paying $60,000 to Albuquerque resident Dorothy Garcia.

In fiscal year 2009, the New Mexico Lottery paid players $171.6 million in prizes. This includes the cash option of $102.9 million from the $206.9 million Powerball jackpot hit by nine friends from Roswell in September 2008.

Powerball jackpots are funded by sales from 32 lotteries, including the New Mexico Lottery.

"There was an abundance of good luck in New Mexico last year," said Lottery CEO Tom Romero. "Players won great prizes while helping thousands of young people pursue their dreams of a college education."

All lottery profits are returned to the state to fund Legislative Lottery Scholarships, a tuition-assistance program for eligible New Mexico residents attending the state's public colleges and universities.

In fiscal year 2009, lottery profits totaled $40.8 million on ticket sales of $147.1 million.

For selling approximately $5 million in tickets last year, the county's 37 lottery retailers earned $333,000 in commissions.

Retailers earn 6 percent on every lottery ticket sold, and 1 percent for cashing prizes under $600. Bonuses are paid to stores selling jackpot-winning tickets.

Since its inception in 1996, the lottery has raised $406 million for education and more than 54,000 students have attended college on Legislative Lottery Scholarships.

As of the Spring 2008 semester, 2,250 high school graduates from Valencia County have received $9 million in Legislative Lottery Scholarships.

Information about Legislative Lottery Scholarships is available at www.nmlottery.com