The Florida Lottery announced that Christopher Richards, 54, of Fort Lauderdale, claimed a $1 million top prize from THE FASTEST ROAD TO $1,000,000 Scratch-Off game at Florida Lottery Headquarters in Tallahassee. He chose to receive his winnings as a one-time, lump-sum payment of $790,000.00.
Richards said he hadn’t told his teenage daughter about his win before he came in to claim his prize. ”I’m going to surprise her by setting up a trust fund in her name, ensuring she can go to college, and getting her a reliable vehicle,” he told the Lottery. ”As a parent, you always want to give your kids more than you had and now I can.”
Richards purchased his winning ticket from Legends Pub, located at 6235 North Federal Highway in Fort Lauderdale. The retailer will receive a $2,000 bonus commission for selling the winning Scratch-Off ticket.
The $30 game, THE FASTEST ROAD TO $1,000,000, launched in February and features 155 top prizes of $1,000,000 and over $948 million in cash prizes! The game’s overall odds of winning are one-in-2.79.
Scratch-Off games are an important part of the Lottery’s portfolio of games, comprising approximately 75 percent of ticket sales and generating more than $1 billion for the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund (EETF) in fiscal year 2019-20.
Florida Lottery offices are currently open to the public by appointment only for players with prizes valued at $600 or more. Players can request a claim appointment at Headquarters and district offices through the Lottery’s website, at www.flalottery.com/howToClaim. Players can still utilize the secured drop box located at each district office or mail tickets to Florida Lottery Headquarters or a district office.