Press Release

TALLAHASSEE — Today, the Florida Lottery (Lottery) announces that Kerim Akel, 67, of Navarre, claimed a $1 million prize from the 500X THE CASH Scratch-Off game at Lottery Headquarters in Tallahassee. Akel chose to receive his winnings as a one-time, lump-sum payment of $820,000.00.

Akel purchased his winning ticket from Publix, located at 8244 Navarre Parkway in Navarre. The retailer will receive a $2,000 bonus commission for selling the winning Scratch-Off ticket.

The $50 game, 500X THE CASH, 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 game's overall odds of winning are 1-in-4.50.

Scratch-Off games are an important part of the Lottery's portfolio of games, comprising approximately 77 percent of ticket sales in fiscal year 2021-2022. Since inception, Scratch-Off games have generated more than $17.69 billion for the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund (EETF).

ABOUT THE FLORIDA LOTTERY

The Florida Lottery is responsible for contributing more than $43 billion to enhance education and sending more than 950,000 students to college through the Bright Futures Scholarship Program. The Florida Lottery reinvests 99 percent of its revenue back into Florida's economy through prize payouts, commissions to more than 13,000 Lottery retailers, and transfers to education. Since 1988, Florida Lottery games have paid more than $85.8 billion in prizes and made more than 3,500 people millionaires. For more information, please visit www.flalottery.com.