Over $1.2 million in prizes has been won by Ocala residents from the Florida Lottery this year, with the organization reporting over $350 million in first quarter winnings across the state.
On Monday, the Florida Lottery reported that it sold more than 53,243 winning tickets valued at $600 or more across the state from January 1 to March 31.
In total, those tickets generated over $353.4 million. Approximately 74.61% of the total prizes awarded were through scratch-off games.
According to the organization, the state “created 52 new millionaires” and had an “average of 890 winners each day.”
Locally, there have been several residents in and just around Marion County who have laid claim to large prizes this year.
On March 18, a scratch-off ticket with a $2,500-a-week-for-life prize was sold at a 7-Eleven just south of Marion County.
On March 26, an Ocala resident claimed a six-figure prize from a Fantasy 5 lottery ticket purchased from a local Publix.
That same day, an Ocala resident claimed a winning $1 million scratch-off purchased at a local liquor store.
Two days later, on March 28, another Ocala resident claimed a six-figure prize from a Fantasy 5 lottery ticket. That ticket was also purchased at the same Publix as the winning ticket two days prior.