LUCKY LOTTO
‘I’m back,’ cries lottery winner after second $1m jackpot six months after first big win – but he immediately lost $180k
He's not the only one lately to experience a wild stroke of luck
A LOTTERY player has defied the odds by winning his second $1 million jackpot in six months
However, he immediately had to hand over $180,000 of his latest lottery windfall.
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A man in Florida has stunned lottery officials by winning his second $1,000,000 prize in six months.
Scottie Grant of Escambia County claimed his seven-figure prize from the 500X THE CASH scratch-off game in May.
It came just six months since his prior win.
In December 2022, he won $1 million playing the very same scratch-off game.
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"I'm back!" Grant said as he claimed his latest prize at the Florida Lottery headquarters.
Although he won $1,000,000 both times, he only received $820,000 each time.
That's because Grant chose to receive his prizes as lump sum payments, rather than take the full amounts in the form of annuity payments.
Florida does not tax lottery winnings, although Grant would have had to pay Federal income tax on his winnings both times.
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The scratch-off wizard purchased his latest winning ticket at Circle Food Mart in Pensacola.
The 500X THE CASH game costs $50 per ticket, but features a top prize of $25 million.
'I went outside & cried,' says lotto player who won $1m after getting puzzling message on app - win came on perfect day
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Grant is not the only lottery player who has enjoyed a stroke of luck lately.
One player in Illinois recently learned the value of checking his old tickets.
An anonymous winner was shocked to find out he was owed $1,000,000 from a Powerball draw held one month ago.
It was only when he looked at his old mobile tickets via the app that he saw a message that read: "You’re A Winner!"
Top lottery winners in the US
Millions dream of winning the lottery and finding fame and fortune. These are the biggest winners in US lottery history.
- Edwin Castro - $2.04 billion, Powerball, Nov. 8, 2022, in California.
- Theodorus Struyck - $1.765 billion, Powerball, Oct. 11, 2023, in California.
- Unknown winner - $1.602 billion, Mega Millions, Aug. 8, 2023, in Florida.
- Marvin and Mae Acosta from Los Angeles, California, John and Lisa Robinson from Munford, Tennessee, and Maureen Smith and David Kaltschmidt from Melbourne Beach, Florida - $1.586 billion, Powerball, Jan. 13, 2016.
- Unknown winner - $1.537 billion, Mega Millions, Oct. 23, 2018, from South Carolina.
- Unknown winner - he sued the mother of his child to keep his identity hidden - $1.348 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 13, 2023, from Maine.
- Unknown winner - $1.337 billion, Mega Millions, July 29, 2022, from Illinois.
- Cheng and Duanpen Saephan, and Laiza Liem Chao - $1.326 billion, Powerball, April 7, 2024, from Oregon.
- Yanira Alvarez - $1.08 billion Powerball, July 19, 2023 in California.
- Wolverine FLL Lottery Club - $1.05 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 22, 2021, from Michigan.
- Unknown winner - $842.4 million Powerball, Jan. 1, 2024, from Michigan.
Over in South Carolina, another player decided to follow his gut and buy the same ticket as the person in front of him at a liquor store.
His intuition paid off and he ended up winning $200,000.
“It was like an out-of-body experience,” the man told local NBC affiliate WYFF.
"I wouldn’t have bought it if the customer in front of me hadn’t."
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Remember, playing the lottery is a form of gambling and should be done responsibly.
If you or someone you know has signs of gambling addiction, call the National Gambling Hotline at 1-800-522-4700 or visit the National Council on Problem Gambling website.