It was a week of golden opportunities for Florida Lottery players, with six lucky individuals striking it rich and claiming a staggering $7 million in combined scratch-off prizes! From Panama City to Tampa, the Sunshine State witnessed a windfall of instant millionaires, each with their own story of luck and a winning ticket.
Scratching Their Way to Success:
The winning streak began on Monday with Russell Golden of Panama City claiming a cool $1 million prize from the “500X THE CASH” game. Golden, who opted for a lump sum payment of $640,000, purchased his winning ticket at Captain Hai’s Fresh Seafood Market & Convenience Store, earning the store a $2,000 bonus commission.
READ: Pinellas County Man Wins $2 Million Florida Lottery Prize From The Gulfport Market
Tuesday brought double the joy with not one, but two millionaires emerging. Matthew Maio, 41, of Nokomis, scratched his way to a $1 million win with the “$20 GOLD RUSH LIMITED” game, taking home $795,000 after choosing the lump sum option. His lucky ticket came from Osprey BP, which received a $2,000 bonus commission.
Adding to the excitement, Donald Geisler, 66, of Tampa, became a millionaire on the same day thanks to the “FLORIDA 300X THE CASH” game. Geisler opted for a lump sum of $695,500 and purchased his winning ticket at Harney Food Store, earning them a $2,000 bonus.
Big Wins, Big Dreams:
Wednesday saw another lucky player emerge. Avery Leach, 57, of Jacksonville, scratched his way to the top prize of $2 million with the “$2,000,000 100X BONUS CASHWORD” game. Leach, who received a lump sum payment of $1,280,000, found his winning ticket at Circle K, which earned a hefty $4,000 bonus commission. This game boasts over 8.7 million winning tickets, offering players the chance to multiply their prize up to 100 times!
READ: Port Charlotte Man Turns $5 Into $1 Million With Florida Lottery Scratch-Off
The winning wave continued on Thursday with Edis Gutierrez Garcia, 39, of Fort Pierce, claiming a $1 million prize from the ever-popular “500X THE CASH” game. Garcia, who chose a lump sum payment of $640,000, purchased his winning ticket at Town Star Convenience Store, earning them a $2,000 bonus commission.
Wrapping up the week of winners, Jorge Rodriguez Acosta, 46, of Lutz, joined the millionaire club with another “500X THE CASH” win. Opting for a lump sum of $640,000, Acosta purchased his winning ticket at 7-Eleven, which earned them a $2,000 bonus commission.
More Than Just Money:
The Florida Lottery not only creates instant millionaires, but also contributes significantly to the state’s educational system. Over $47 billion has been directed towards enhancing education, with more than 983,000 students receiving aid through the Bright Futures Scholarship Program. Additionally, 99% of the Lottery’s revenue is reinvested back into Florida’s economy through prize payouts, retailer commissions, and educational transfers.
READ: Florida Woman Wins $2 Million Monopoly Scratch-Off Prize
With these six incredible stories, the Florida Lottery reminds us that a little luck and a scratch-off ticket can change your life. Who knows, maybe the next big winner could be you!
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