Like it's not hard enough for us locals to score a win on those Florida Lottery scratch off tickets. The Florida Lottery reports " Collin Reed, 39, of Baltimore, claimed a $1 million top prize from the $5 GOLD RUSH DOUBLER Scratch-Off game." That's the top prize in that $5 scratch off and there's plenty more to come. The game came out 10 months ago and still has half (14) of it's grand prize winning tickets out there. That's 14 more $1 million dollar wins! Here's a look at the ticket that scored Collin a million from a Publix in Naples, Florida
The winning ticket was bought at the Publix, 7101 Radio Road in Naples.
The same plaza as Lobster Rolls No. 1. Ya'll go to that place for the lobster rolls, but I'm telling you, their potato salad is underrated. Worth the trip.
Also, I can't say for certain that Collin is a tourist. But if Collin knows someone down here, you shoulda let them cash the ticket. As you know, there's no state income tax in Florida. But if you're a resident from there, Maryland is gonna take an 8% cut of that money. Plus another 3% or so goes to Baltimore for city tax. Ouch, that's over $100K more of your money. Poof. Just estimating here, it looks like after the lump some payout reduction + taxes, that million dollar win is now about $575,000. Still a solid payday on a $5 dollar ticket. Congrats Collin.
Only 3 Florida Lottery Scratch Off Tickets Have ALL Of Its Grand Prize Winners Remaining
I love playing Florida Lottery scratch off tickets. But I also want to win. And the best way to win (I hope) is to do a little research. Did you know that some of the tickets at the counter have all of their top prizes already gone? It's true, and they don't tell you. I mean, I'll tell you, with this link right here. But if you're impulse buying at the Publix in Fort Myers, you really don't know. Also, you really don't know which tickets are completely fresh, meaning, which tickets have never had a grand prize claimed. But I know, and I'll tell you.
The Florida Lottery has a website that tracks all their current tickets. You can see the odds, the prizes, and more importantly - how many of those prizes are available. You can also sift through the data and find out who won on what ticket and where they bough it. Take for instance the 500X The Cash Game. It had a $25 million dollar top prize. A guy in Bonita Springs bought one of those winning tickets at a Circle K on Bonita Beach Road. The other went to a guy in Riverview, Florida and he got his ticket at Publix.
It's with that data, I found that there's only 3 Florida Lottery scratch off tickets that no one has claimed a grand prize - yet. Does this mean these tickets are due? Maybe it means that these tickets aren't as popular? Does it mean that someone has a winning ticket and for some reason hasn't turned it in yet? I really don't know. But one of these tickets has to hit big eventually, and I want it to be from me.
$50,000 TRIPLE MATCH
I don't usually play the $2 tickets, but they are great as Christmas gifts. There are 6 $50,000 winning tickets out there somewhere. Your odds of finding one is 1-in-3,025,450. The odds of being bit by an alligator in Florida is 1 in 3.2 million. So your odds of winning with this ticket is better than being bit by an alligator while living in Florida.
$5MM TRIPLE MATCH
Here's the $20 version of that other ticket. Eight people will be lucky enough to find a $5 million dollar winning ticket while playing this game. Unfortunately, the odds of that are 1-in-3,774,705. So I'd steer clear of alligators.
$1M YR/LIFE SPEC
This one is absolutely nuts. This $50 ticket was launched on February 27, 2023 and no one has claimed a grand prize yet. $1 million dollars a year for life. You could actually afford to buy a house in Florida with that kind of money. What are the odds? There's only 2 of the grand prize tickets out there, and the odds that you'll find one is 1-in-21,727,995. Those odds seem daunting, but the odds of winning Powerball are 1 in 292 million. So by comparison. It's better. But I'd really steer clear of alligators.
Is that all?
Yeah, as of November 15th, 2023 that's the only 3 that fit the criteria. Another thing you may want to know is that many of those tickets at the counter have no big winner left. I put that list right here.
Good luck all. And play responsibly. Scratch off tickets should be fun.
