JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Talk about having a happy holiday!
A 51-year-old Jacksonville Beach man just won big after claiming a $1 million prize from the 500X THE CASH Scratch-Off game at the Lottery’s Jacksonville District Office, the Florida Lottery announced Monday.
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According to a release, the 51-year-old man purchased his winning ticket from Gate located at 4121 San Pablo Parkway in Jacksonville. The retailer received a $2,000 bonus commission for selling the winning Scratch-Off ticket.
The man chose to receive his winnings as a one-time, lump-sum payment of $640,000.00.
News4JAX talked to Braeden Rampey, who said he regularly plays the lottery and puts money together with his friends to buy tickets.
“What we do is we get, like, five or six friends, We’ll throw $600 go get some scratch-offs, see if we even break even. We’re lucky if we do,” Rampey said.
He said he would invest the money if he hit the jackpot from a scratch-off.
“Probably throw in some good stocks. Yeah, it’s kind of hard nowadays, though, given the state of the world economy, the U.S. economy. Probably buy a home somewhere. Let that accrue,” Rampey said.
“The $50 500X THE CASH Scratch-Off game features a top prize of $25 million—the largest ever offered on a Florida Scratch-Off game—and the best odds to become an instant millionaire!" the lottery said. “With more than $1.66 billion in cash prizes, this game’s overall odds of winning are 1-in-4.23.”
Related: Scratch-off success: A math professor teaches you how to maximize your odds
Since its inception, Scratch-Off games have awarded more than $64.3 billion in prizes, created 2,230 millionaires, and generated more than $19.50 billion for the state’s Educational Enhancement Trust Fund (EETF).