A Jefferson County woman has won a $1 million prize from a Florida Lottery scratch-off game, state lottery officials said on May 4.
Brenda Larry, of Monticello, claimed her winnings from a 500X THE CASH Scratch-Off game at Florida Lottery headquarters in Tallahassee, according to a news release.
She chose to take her winnings as a one-time, lump-sum payment of $640,000. Larry bought the $50 ticket at Pit Stop, 1546 N. Jefferson St. in Monticello, the Lottery said.
“You have to play to win, and I don’t rely on luck. I move with purpose, and I’m truly blessed,” Larry said in the release.
The $50 game has more than $1.66 billion in cash prizes available and an overall odds of winning of 1-in-4.23.
Scratch-off tickets remain the backbone of the Florida Lottery’s lineup, paying out more than $70.8 billion in prizes and generating more than $20.98 billion for the state’s Educational Enhancement Trust Fund, according to the agency.
Florida does not have a personal income tax; it wasn’t immediately clear how much Larry will owe the IRS from her winnings, however.
“Winnings from lottery and gambling activity must be reported on your tax return and are fully taxable by the IRS,” according to Jackson Hewitt, the national tax preparation service.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Monticello woman wins $1 million from Florida Lottery scratch-off
Reporting by Jim Rosica, Tallahassee Democrat / Tallahassee Democrat
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
