GENERAL NEWS RELEASES
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FIRST $1 MILLION PRIZE CLAIMED IN TALLAHASSEE-- The Florida Lottery today announced that BILLION DOLLAR BLOCKBUSTER Scratch-Off winner, Joseph Gonzales, 48, of Holiday, claimed his $1 million prize at Florida Lottery headquarters. Gonzales is the first Lottery player to claim a $1 million prize in the recently launched Scratch-Off game. Gonzales chose the one-time, lump-sum payment option for his winnings, in the amount of $650,000.00. He purchased his winning ticket from Darlington Food Store, located at 2505 Roselawn Drive in Holiday. According to Gonzales, who frequently plays Florida Lottery games, he purchased his winning BILLION DOLLAR BLOCKBUSTER ticket on the first day of sales. "It took me a few days to calm down, I couldn't believe I won," Gonzales said. Gonzales was still in the store when he scratched his ticket and realized he was a winner. "I started to tear up, but stopped myself. Instead, I let out a little 'woo-hoo' and walked out of the store," added Gonzales. A father of four, Gonzales says this couldn't have come at better time. The new $20 Scratch-Off game, BILLION DOLLAR BLOCKBUSTER, offers the highest cash payout of any game in the Lottery's 21-year history. The game launched on February 24 and features more than $1 billion in prizes, including 10 instant-win prizes of $10 million. The overall odds of winning are 1-in-2.98. Tickets may be purchased at any of the more than 13,000 Florida Lottery retail locations statewide. Since 1988, the Florida Lottery has contributed more than $19 billion to the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund, benefiting our students and schools, as well as funding more than one million Bright Futures scholarships. By a two-to-one margin, Florida voters in 1986 approved a constitutional amendment authorizing the state to operate a lottery for the purpose of generating significant additional moneys for education. # # # |
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