The Florida Lottery announced that Santa Rosa County resident Kerim Akel, of Navarre, Florida, 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, a Retired U.S. Air Force electrical engineer, 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.
Recently, there have been a few millionaire winners around Florida. From scratch-off lottery tickets, recent winners include a Volusia County resident from DeLand, a Lake County resident from Groveland, another Lake County man from Astatula, a Seminole County resident from Longwood, another Seminole County resident from Sanford, an Osceola County resident from Kissimmee, and another Volusia County resident from DeLand.
Another Kissimmee resident won $2 million playing Powerball. A Riviera Beach resident also recently won $4 million playing Mega Millions.