A 57-year-old Marion County woman who enjoys collecting dimes recently won a $1 million prize from the Florida Lottery thanks to a lucky dime she spotted outside a local store.
Shortly before purchasing the winning scratch-off ticket, Ocklawaha resident Sara Mallory had traveled with her husband to the Belleview Food Store located at 10015 E Highway 25 in Belleview. When their motorcycle pulled into the parking lot, Mallory stated that she “noticed a shiny dime had landed on heads” underneath their vehicle.
“My husband and I enjoy collecting dimes, and that symbol changed everything, encouraging us to buy a ticket,” added Mallory.
While at the store, Mallory purchased the winning $5 MONOPOLY SECRET VAULT scratch-off ticket, claiming a $1 million top prize.
On Monday, March 31, the Florida Lottery announced that Mallory stopped by its headquarters in Tallahassee to claim her winnings. She chose to receive a one-time, lump-sum payment of $576,900.
The Belleview Food Store received a $2,000 bonus commission for selling the winning ticket.
The $5 MONOPOLY SECRET VAULT scratch-off game offers over $130 million in cash prizes, including six top prizes of $1 million. The overall odds of winning are 1-in-3.95, according to lottery officials.
For more information, visit the Florida Lottery online.