AMSTERDAM — Surrounded by more than a dozen family members, Amsterdam resident Rosemary Pratt was handed a ceremonial check representing the $3 million she won on a New York Lottery Royal Riches instant game.

A beautician at Fantastic Sam’s on Route 30 in Amsterdam, Pratt, 61, stood beside her husband at the Lottery’s headquarters in Schenectady and told the media that the situation was “unreal.”

Pratt bought the ticket on May 2 at the Mini Kwik Mart on Route 30 across the street from her job and headed to the Lottery’s office in Schenectady less than 90 minutes later, Lottery spokeswoman Yolanda Vega said.

Vega said the ticket was logged as sold at 9:15 a.m. that day, and Pratt arrived at the Lottery’s claim center at 10:45.

Pratt and her husband, Leon, a retired factory worker at General Electric, were uncomfortable in the media spotlight and designated son-in-law Bruce Hopkins as family spokesperson.

Hopkins said the Pratts were concerned with ensuring their family would be able to continue on with their lives unfettered by the media attention a lottery win could bring to them.

A special announcement booth was set up in the lobby at the New York Lottery’s headquarters, replete with a gigantic example of the Royal Riches scratch-off ticket that costs $10.

Guests at the announcement were treated to a layered, fruit-filled cake made by Villa Italia bakery at 226 Broadway. The Schenectady bakery makes all the cakes for the New York Lottery’s announcements there, officials said.

Rosemary Pratt said she was still considering what to do with the money she’ll receive in payments of $150,000 each year for 20 years.

“I haven’t thought about that,” Rosemary Pratt said.

Over the course of 20 years, Rosemary Pratt will receive $2,044,500 and the state and federal governments will get $955,500. The IRS will claim 25 percent of the annual payment, New York state takes 6.85 percent, Lottery spokesman John Charlson said.

Rosemary Pratt’s daughter, Denise Hopkins, said her parents are hard workers. “Ever since I was little, both of them,” Denise Hopkins said.

Lottery officials took the opportunity Monday to hail its record-breaking sales for fiscal year 2007-08, with people spending $7.549 billion hoping to win money.

Of the roughly $7.5 billion people spent on the lottery during the 2007-08 fiscal year, $3.9 billion was paid out in prizes, according to the New York Lottery.

A total of $2.6 billion went to New York Lottery Aid to Education, which includes the Leaders of Tomorrow Scholarship, according to the New York Lottery.

The New York Council on Problem Gambling Inc. operates a 24-hour, toll-free hot line providing support for people with gambling problems and referrals for local treatment. The hot line number is 1-800-437-1611.