Woman, 69, wins $1 million on scratch-off lotto ticket bought from grocery store

24 August 2023 , 01:11

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The winning ticket was bought at a Publix Supermarket in Miami (Image: AP)

A 69-year-old woman has hit the jackpot, winning $1 million (£785,850) after playing a scratch-off lottery ticket she bought at a supermarket in Florida.

Amelia Agosto bought the 500X THE CASH Scratch-Off game at a Publix Supermarket in North Miami, according to the Florida Lottery. She headed to the Lottery's Miami District Office where she decided to take a one-off lump sum payment of $820,000 (£644,400).

As a result of selling the winning ticket, the Publix supermarket on Biscayne Boulevard is set to receive a bonus commission $2,000 (£1,572). The $50 Scratch-Off game 500X THE CASH features a top prize of $25 million.

That's the largest ever offered on a Florida Scratch-Off game. According to the Florida Lottery, it has the "best odds to become an instant millionaire!"

The woman was playing a Florida Lottery scratch card when she won (AP)

Scratch-Off games offer top prizes ranging from $50 to more than $25 million with other prize levels on each ticket too. Players need to match any of their numbers to any of the winning numbers to win the prize shown for that number.

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If players get a 5X, 10X, 20X, 50X, 100X, or 500X symbol then that multiplies the prize amount shown for that symbol. If players uncover a moneybag symbol they win double the prize amount shown for all 35 prizes.

Players who match any of the winnings numbers to one or both of their bonus numbers win $500 instantly per bonus spot. The scratch card was launched in February 2022.

Since then, both prizes of $25 million have been paid out and 155 of the 160 $1 million prizes have been paid out. 292 of the 300 £50,000 prizes have been paid, with 2,081 of the 2,147 $20,000 paid out.

Of the 2,138 $10,000 prizes, 2,083 have been paid, while 8,310 of the 8,544 $5,000 prizes have been paid. For the $1,000 prizes, 41,043 have been paid of the total 42,856.

There are 888,924 prizes worth $500, of which 866,145 have been paid. The Scratch-Off game's lowest prize amount of $100 has 8,568,184 prizes of which 8,384,282.

The game's overall odds of winning are one in 4.5 Scratch-off games are described as an important part of the Lottery's portfolio of games - bringing in around 72 per cent of ticket sales in the financial year from 2022-2023.

The Florida Lottery says Scratch-Off games have awarded more than $57.1 billion in prizes since its inception. It has also created 1,802 millionaires and generated more than $17.77 billion for the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund.

The Florida Lottery has contributed more than $44 billion to enhance education. It's also sent more than 950,000 students to college through its Bright Futures Scholarship Program.

The Florida Lottery reinvests 99 per cent of its revenue back into the economy through prize payouts, commissions to more than 13,500 Lottery retailers and transfers for education. Since 1988, Florida Lottery games have paid more than $87.5 billion in prizes and made more than 3,500 people millionaires.

Fiona Leishman