Several Publix shoppers got quite a bonus this week after they purchased Florida Lottery tickets from there.
In one week, eight different Publix stores across Florida sold Fantasy 5 tickets worth $30,000 and up. One of those lucky winners nabbed a jackpot of $106,000 and another won a $113,000 prize. The biggest windfall from this week’s Publix-Florida Lottery wins was from the chain store nearest the University of Florida’s main campus (see below).
Over the years, the Publix store chain headquartered in Lakeland, Florida, has sold winning lottery tickets, including record-setting Powerball and Mega Millions jackpots. In fact, the first time a Powerball lottery prize reached $1 billion was in 2016, and a Melbourne Beach Publix sold one of three winning tickets. In 2023, another beachside Publix − this one in Neptune Beach, Florida − set a record for largest Mega Millions prize at $1.58 billion. That’s in addition to several second-tier wins for $1 million or more, and millions in Fantasy 5 lottery drawings.
Corporate policy, however, states Publix will not comment on lottery winners.
Deadline to claim a Powerball, Mega Millions grand prize, a million-dollar secondary prize, or a Fantasy 5 jackpot varies by state (see below).
A “second-tier” win means a player correctly matched five numbers in the Powerball and Mega Millions lottery, and the overall jackpot typically rolls over.
Below is information about the Mega Millions, Powerball, recent lottery wins from Publix grocery stores and how long to claim a lottery prize in Florida.
What were winning Fantasy 5 numbers for Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025?
The Fantasy 5 winning lottery numbers for Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025, Midday drawing were 10-15-16-30-36.
The Fantasy 5 winning lottery numbers for Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025, Evening drawing were 10-15-21-23-29.
Which Publix grocery stores in Florida sold winning Fantasy 5 tickets?
According to the Florida Lottery, the following Fantasy 5 games resulted in wins in October 2025 from a Publix grocery store:
How long to cash in a winning Florida Lottery ticket? Deadline to claim Powerball, Mega Millions
Rules for claiming lottery prizes vary by state.
In Florida, prizes for Florida Lottery must be claimed within 180 days (six months) from the date of the drawing. To claim a single-payment cash option, a winner has within the first 60 days after the applicable draw date. This applies to Florida Lottery games and Mega Millions and Powerball tickets purchased here, whether your prize was $1 million, $5 million or a record-setting $1.8 billion.
Can Florida lottery winners remain anonymous? Does Florida Lottery reveal the names of jackpot winners?
According to Florida Lottery’s website, winners cannot remain anonymous: “Florida law mandates that the Florida Lottery provide records containing information such as the winner’s name, city of residence, game won, date won, and amount won to any third party who requests the information.”
However, the site states, the “names of lottery winners claiming prizes of $250,000 or greater will be temporarily exempt from public disclosure for 90 days from the date the prize is claimed, unless otherwise waived by the winner.”
Lottery experts and lawyers have said there are ways to remain anonymous if you win.
Sangalang is a lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram at @byjensangalang. Support local journalism. Consider subscribing to a Florida newspaper.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: 8 Publix stores in Florida sold winning Fantasy 5 lottery tickets, one worth $113,000
Reporting by Jennifer Sangalang, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Florida Times-Union
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
