Gary Thomas, a resident of Dothan, Alabama, has turned a few dollars into millions after winning a single scratch-off ticket in Florida.
The 49-year-old paid $5 for his scratch-off ticket at Lotto Discount Liquor in Campbellton, Florida, not far from the Alabama border and about 20 minutes away from his hometown of Dothan.
Thomas subsequently earned the top prize from the $5 scratch-off game called “$150,000 a Year for Life”. He chose to receive his winnings as a one-time, lump-sum payment of $2,440,000 instead of opting for the prize of $150,000 a year for life. The lucky Alabama man claimed his check at the Florida Lottery headquarters in Tallahassee, Gray News reported.
“It’s still sinking in,” Thomas told the Alabama Lottery after his win. “I couldn’t believe it! I still can’t believe it!”
According to USA Today, the “Year for Life” family of instant games from the Florida Lottery offers tickets priced from $1 to $50, including the “$150,000 a Year for Life” ticket.
The outlet said Thomas has won the first of four top prizes, giving him $150,000 yearly for the rest of his life, or a lump sum of $2.4 million. There are still three top prizes remaining.
The game was launched in July.