The Florida Lotto is one of the most popular lottery games in the state of Florida. It is operated by the Florida Lottery and offers players the chance to win huge jackpot prizes. TheLotter provides a guide to everything you need to know about the Florida Lotto, including how it works, the odds of winning, and some of the biggest jackpots in the game’s history. Keep reading to learn more about how much money is up for grabs in the Florida Lotto.
How the Florida Lotto Works
The Florida Lotto is a jackpot-style lottery draw game. Players choose 6 numbers from 1 to 53. Twice a week on Wednesday and Saturday evenings, six winning numbers and a Bonus Ball are drawn. To win the jackpot, you must match all six winning numbers. Lesser prizes are awarded for matching 3, 4 or 5 numbers. The minimum jackpot is $2 million and it rolls over each draw until there is a winner. Tickets cost $1 per play.
Game Play
To play Florida Lotto, visit any Florida Lottery retailer and select 6 numbers on a play slip or ask for a Quick Pick to have the lottery terminal randomly choose numbers for you. You can play up to 10 consecutive draws on one play slip by marking the Advance Play box. Each board costs $1 per draw. You can also subscribe to play the same numbers for 26, 52 or 104 draws to avoid having to purchase tickets each time. Lotto subscriptions are only available online on the Florida Lottery website.
The Florida Lotto draw takes place every Wednesday and Saturday from Tallahassee. The winning numbers are usually announced around 11:15 pm ET on draw nights. You can check online after the draw to see if you have won a prize.
Odds and Prizes
The odds of winning the Florida Lotto jackpot are 1 in 22,957,480. This makes matching all 6 numbers extremely difficult, but not impossible. The overall odds of winning any prize are 1 in 81.
Florida Lotto prizes start from $2 for matching just the Bonus Ball. Here are the other prize tiers:
- Match 3 Main Numbers – $5
- Match 4 Main Numbers – $100
- Match 5 Main Numbers – $1,000
- Match 5 Main Numbers + Bonus Ball – $5,000
- Match 6 Main Numbers (Jackpot) – $2 million+
All players who match 5 numbers win $1,000 in addition to the other prizes they may win. For an extra $1, you can add EZmatch to your ticket for a chance to win up to $500 instantly. Prizes must be claimed within 60 days of the applicable drawing.
Biggest Florida Lotto Jackpots
Some truly enormous jackpots have been won over the years playing Florida Lotto. Here are some of the biggest:
$106.5 million
In September 1990, a ticket sold in Orlando matched all six numbers to win a $106.5 million Florida Lotto jackpot. It was the biggest lottery prize ever won in the U.S. at the time. The winners opted to receive a lump sum payment of $50.7 million instead of the full amount in yearly installments over 25 years.
$91.4 million
Just a few months after the record $106.5 million jackpot, the Florida Lotto produced another massive prize. In December 1990, a retired couple from Hudson claimed a $91.4 million Florida Lotto jackpot. It was the second biggest lottery win in U.S. history at the time. They chose the cash option too and received $47.4 million up front.
$83.7 million
In July 2004, an Orlando man won half of a huge $167.4 million Florida Lotto jackpot. His share of the prize came to $83.7 million. The 59-year-old said he had been playing the same numbers for years and would retire immediately to enjoy his winnings.
$72.9 million
A Florida Lotto ticket sold in Melbourne Beach hit the $72.9 million jackpot in November 1998. The winners were a married couple in their 60s who came forward a few weeks after the draw. They opted for a one-time payout of over $36 million rather than receiving the full amount over 25 years.
$70 million
In August 1999, a Jacksonville family syndicate won a $70 million Florida Lotto prize. The group of 13 had been purchasing lottery tickets together for 17 years when they finally hit the jackpot. After state and federal taxes, each winner’s share came to around $2.9 million.
Record Florida Lotto Jackpot
The largest ever Florida Lotto jackpot to date was worth a whopping $259 million. It was won in August 2008 by two winners who split the enormous prize.
Retired airline pilot Jim McCullar from Lakeland claimed one half of the jackpot six weeks after the draw. His share came to $130.3 million paid out as a one-time lump sum of $73.7 million after taxes. McCullar said he had been playing the Florida Lotto for 20 years before hitting the jackpot.
The other half was won by St. Petersburg nurse Anne Slater. She also opted for a cash payout of her $130.3 million prize and received $73.7 million after taxes. Slater said she didn’t realize she had won for 10 days until she checked the numbers before throwing away her old ticket. She immediately quit her job and went into retirement.
$259 million remains the biggest Florida Lotto jackpot won to date. It’s also the second largest lottery jackpot ever won in the state. However, as the game continues to roll over, there’s always a chance an even bigger Florida Lotto prize is just around the corner!
Breakdown of How Florida Lotto Funds Are Used
The money generated from Florida Lotto ticket sales doesn’t all go towards the jackpot. The revenue is used to support a variety of good causes benefiting Florida residents.
Here is a breakdown of how Florida Lotto revenue is allocated:
Prizes – 61%
The biggest portion goes back to players in the form of prize money. On average, around 61 cents of every dollar spent on Florida Lotto tickets is paid out in prizes across all categories. Even if no one wins the jackpot, there are always thousands of lower-tier winners.
Education – 25%
A quarter of all Florida Lotto revenue goes to help fund education in the state of Florida. This provides a crucial source of K-12, college, and university funding. Over $1 billion in lottery contributions are transferred annually to the state’s Educational Enhancement Trust Fund.
Retailer Commissions – 6%
Approximately 6% of revenue goes back to Florida Lottery retailers in the form of commissions for selling the tickets. This ensures they earn commission for facilitating lottery games.
Operations – 5%
Around 5% of Florida Lotto earnings are used to cover operational costs like staffing, marketing, equipment, and facilities. This funds the infrastructure required to administer the Florida Lottery.
Transfers to Trust Fund – 3%
3% of revenue is transferred to the state’s General Revenue Fund which provides funding for a variety of government services.
In total, around 88% of all Florida Lotto revenue goes back into the state in the form of prizes, commissions, education funding, and government services. This return means playing the lottery benefits Florida residents in multiple ways.
The Impact of Florida Lotto Funding on Education
The quarter of all Florida Lotto revenue that goes towards education makes a huge difference to schools and students across the state.
Here are some of the key benefits:
- New school construction – Funding allows new schools to be built to accommodate growing student populations.
- Classroom technology – Money is used to install state-of-the-art computers, tablets, interactive whiteboards, STEM equipment, and more.
- School security upgrades – Lottery funds pay for improved safety measures like security cameras, fencing, and monitoring equipment.
- Maintenance – Aging school infrastructure can be renovated and upgraded with repairs, expansions, and equipment replacement.
- Scholarships – Thousands of students qualify for financial aid like the Bright Futures scholarship funded by the lottery.
- Teacher salaries – Lottery contributions help pay for bonuses and salary increases to attract and retain teaching talent.
Without the $1 billion+ provided annually by the Florida Lottery, funding for this education spending would need to be raised through increases in property taxes or cutting other areas of the state budget. The Lottery provides a voluntary method for Florida residents to contribute towards education funding.
So while playing the Florida Lotto gives you a chance to win huge prizes, it also does a lot of good by supporting schools and students all across the state.
Notable Florida Lotto Winners
Playing the Florida Lotto has turned ordinary people into millionaires overnight. Here are some of the state’s biggest winners over the years:
Jim McCullar – $73.7 million
As mentioned earlier, Jim McCullar from Lakeland won half of a $259 million Florida Lotto jackpot in 2008. His share came to $130.3 million which he accepted as a one-time payout of $73.7 million after taxes. The retired airline pilot had been playing the lottery for 2 decades before hitting the jackpot.
Maureen Smith – $72.9 million
Clearwater resident Maureen Smith landed a $72.9 million Florida Lotto prize in August 1999. She opted to take the winnings as a lump sum of $36.4 million. At the time, it was the second biggest Florida Lotto jackpot ever won. Smith didn’t realize she had the winning ticket until 10 days later and immediately called her daughter yelling “Oh my God, I won the lottery!”
William Myers – $72 million
Unemployed construction worker William Myers from Tampa won half of a huge $145 million Florida Lotto jackpot in May 2000. His portion came to $72 million which he accepted as a one-time payout of $41.4 million after taxes. Myers immediately began planning an early retirement to enjoy his winnings.
Shefik Tallmadge – $38.6 million
Orlando resident Shefik Tallmadge won a $38.6 million Florida Lotto jackpot in October 2009. He was the only winner, so didn’t have to split the prize. Tallmadge opted for a lump sum payout of $24.2 million and said he planned to invest the money for his family’s future. He had recently lost his job, so the winnings came at the perfect time.
Roger Croteau – $33.5 million
Retiree Roger Croteau claimed a $33.5 million Florida Lotto prize in January 2009. The Spring Hill resident selected the cash option and received $21.3 million after mandatory tax withholdings. Croteau said he had been playing the lottery for 25 years and already knew what he planned to do with the unexpected windfall.
Why the Odds Are in Your Favor Playing Florida Lotto
Florida Lotto certainly isn’t an easy game to win with odds of 1 in almost 23 million. But there are some good reasons why the odds are actually in your favor when you play:
Huge Number Selection
Choosing from 53 numbers gives you an enormous range of options. With a pick 6/53 game matrix, the number combinations work in your favor. The odds are substantially better than playing a 6/49 lotto.
Two Draws a Week
Florida Lotto takes place twice a week giving you 104 chances a year to hit the jackpot. More draws equals more opportunities to win compared to lotteries that only draw once a week.
Rollover Jackpots
The minimum $2 million starting jackpot rolls over when there’s no winner. This allows the top prize to rapidly grow into huge eight and nine-figure sums. Rollovers result in massive jackpots.
Odds Don’t Change
No matter the size of the Florida Lotto jackpot, your odds of winning always stay fixed at 1 in 22,957,480. Jackpots can roll over endlessly without affecting your chances of hitting the big one.
Can Play in Groups
Playing in an office syndicate, with friends, or as part of a Florida Lottery pool gives you more tickets and number combinations in draws. This improves your overall chances of winning.
So even though the headline odds seem astronomical, there are some compelling reasons why players still have a good shot at winning a Florida Lotto prize.
5 Time-Tested Tips to Win the Florida Lotto
Here are 5 helpful tips to maximize your chances of winning a Florida Lotto jackpot:
1. Buy more tickets
The simplest way to increase your odds is to buy more tickets. Playing 10 lines instead of 1 gives you 10 times as many chances to match the winning numbers. Lottery syndicates let you pool money to afford more tickets.
2. Try a subscription
Subscriptions allow you to play the same numbers for 26, 52, or 104 draws without having to buy tickets manually. As well as being convenient, a subscription means you never risk missing a draw.
3. Use random numbers
Instead of picking sentimental numbers, use Quick Picks or a random number generator app. Random sequences have the same chance of winning compared to any other numbers.
4. Mix high and low numbers
Mix up high and low numbers in your selection instead of choosing all numbers below 31 or over 31. Balancing your picks often leads to more winning combinations.
5. Check your tickets
It sounds obvious but make sure to always thoroughly check your tickets. Millions in prizes go unclaimed each year because people make mistakes checking their numbers.
Why Playing the Lottery Responsibly is Important
Playing the Florida Lotto is fun with the chance to win big. However, it’s important to always gamble responsibly. Here are some key tips for responsible play:
- Only spend what you can afford – Never chase losses or exceed your entertainment budget buying tickets.
- Balance lottery play with other priorities – Don’t let lottery spending impact day-to-day commitments.
- Don’t play on credit – Only spend what’s in your account to avoid building up debt.
- Keep play recreational – View the lottery as entertainment rather than a way to make money.
- Don’t overestimate your chances – Understand the lottery is a game of chance, not skill.
- Use winnings wisely – Invest or save any major prizes you’re lucky enough to win.
- Play for fun, not out of habit – If your play stops being enjoyable, consider taking a break.
Playing Florida Lotto responsibly means enjoying the excitement without spending more than you can afford or letting it impact other aspects of your life.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some common questions about the Florida Lotto game:
How old do you need to be to play Florida Lotto?
You must be at least 18 years old to purchase Florida Lottery tickets.
What days are the Florida Lotto drawings?
Drawings take place every Wednesday and Saturday evening.
What time is the Florida Lotto drawing?
Drawings are usually held at 11:15 pm ET.
What are the 5 most common Florida Lotto numbers?
The 5 numbers most frequently drawn are: 10, 33, 31, 23, and 53.
Can you buy Florida Lotto tickets online?
Yes, you can purchase tickets online at the official Florida Lottery website. You can also set up subscriptions.
How long do you have to claim a Florida Lotto prize?
There is a deadline of 60 days from the applicable drawing to claim any prize.
What is the biggest Florida Lotto jackpot ever?
The record jackpot is $259 million from August 2008. Two winners split the prize and received $130.3 million each.
Has anyone won the Florida Lotto multiple times?
Incredibly, one woman named Joan Ginther from Texas won 4 separate multimillion dollar jackpots while vacationing in Florida.
What are the odds of winning the Florida Lotto?
The overall odds are 1 in 22,957,480 but can vary slightly depending on the size of the prize pool.
Conclusion
The Florida Lotto gives players the chance to win truly staggering sums that can transform their lives in an instant. Jackpots frequently climb to tens of millions of dollars and the game has produced enormous record-breaking winners over the years.
While winning the jackpot is tough with odds of 1 in almost 23 million, buying multiple tickets in a syndicate or with a subscription can improve your chances. Setting a lottery budget and playing responsibly also ensures Florida Lotto remains an enjoyable form of entertainment.
With two chances a week to win multimillion dollar prizes, a huge number matrix, and rollover jackpots, Florida Lotto is one of the most exciting lottery games in the country. It’s no wonder the game is so incredibly popular with Florida residents dreaming of becoming the next big lottery winner!