Florida Ranks As The Luckiest Lottery State In America

If you've ever wondered which state has sold the most winning lottery tickets, a new report by Lottery Critic has detailed that information. It included the probability of winning the Powerball and Mega Millions lotteries on the East Coast. It turns out that Florida is the luckiest state in the region, having sold the most winning lottery tickets.

"At LotteryCritic.com, we have analyzed the winning probabilities and ticket sales in order to gain insights into which states have the highest likelihood of winning the top three prizes," they state.

The overall results produced some surprising information. Florida sells the most winning lottery tickets, and Washington DC has sold the fewest winning tickets. In addition, Virginia is the only state that has sold the jackpot in both lotteries.

"Lottery Critic's analysis suggests that population size and ticket sales volume play a significant role in the number of wins for each state. While individual probabilities of winning vary, the key to enhancing one's odds lies in participating more frequently, rather than focusing on specific states," Lottery Critic concludes.

This report suggests that the Sunshine State sees a higher participation in lottery ticket sales due to certain factors, such as the number of retirees and tourists. As a result, Florida was the leader in Mega Million ticket sales. Furthermore, Florida also has sold the most winning Powerball (4+ numbers plus Powerball) tickets at 133. The state that has sold the second most is New York, with 91, followed by Pennsylvania, with 63.

Another interesting note here is that the winning records in your state don't necessarily affect your chances of winning future lotteries. For example, Florida ranks as the state with the fourth best chance to score a Powerball and Mega Ball winner (4 + numbers plus Powerball) based on 111/1,000,000 odds.

Check out Lottery Critic's full report here.

What makes a great skatepark? Essential requirements revolve around safety conditions, open space, and overall atmosphere. In Florida, two skateparks were recently listed among the best in the country.

In SkateboardHQ's feature, "13 Skateparks in the U.S. You Need To Visit," they take you on a tour through some of the greatest bowls in the continental United States. From the Northwest corner of Oregon to the Southeast corner of Florida, this list rolls through a lot of ground.

"You’ll find some of the most epic street courses alongside iconic locations and facilities designed for skaters and by skaters, including the largest full-concrete pipe and one of the oldest-running skateparks in America," SkateboardHQ expxlains.

The largest full-concrete pipe they mention belongs to Lake Cunningham Regional Sports Park, in San Jose, CA. At 68,000-square-feet, it's the largest skatepark in California. As for the "oldest," we'll get to that shortly.

Whether they are built into the recreational facilities of a suburban town, or between buildings on city streets, skateparks can serve a great purpose. Under safe conditions, such parks provide a place for youth and skate enthusiasts alike to support each other while they work on their craft. There is a true artistic and creative component to skateboarding. Furthermore, the sport takes a great deal of discipline. To master a trick (or even to get a feel for riding) you have to go through rounds of repetition. Often, you fall, get up, try again, and then fall again.

Skateboarding is an activity that also can have very little cost affiliated with it. After the price of a board and the necessary safety equipment (such as a helmet and padding), most community parks are free admission.

There are some great organizations (mostly West Coast-based) that thrive off building and restoring skateparks in various communities. Evergreen based out of Portland, focuses on structuring parks for all skill levels. Montana Pool Service, a non-profit organization, aims to connect youth communities with their generous work installing parks across the country.

So let's grab a board and take stroll through the two Florida skateparks that were named among the best in the country.

Skatepark of Tampa, commonly known as SPoT, is located at 4215 E. Columbus Dr. They offer indoor and outdoor facilities. They also sell many skate products, further inspiring the all-encompassing skate experience. Furthermore, SPoT provides various programs, including camps, birthday parties, and a session they call "Girls Meetup."

Here we have the oldest running public skatepark in America. It's been open since 1977. Like the sport, this park has fallen flat, but then bounced back up when many thought it would stay down. Kona Skatepark is located at 8739 Kona Ave. The grounds offer a clubhouse as well given the Kona experience is all about community. They host events, and they will occasionally have live music or competitions at their park.