Dog Wins $3 Million Florida Lottery Prize

A lucky dog from Ocoee has won a $3 million prize in the Florida Lottery’s $600,000,000 Gold Rush scratch-off game.

That’s the word out of Tallahassee Friday following owner William Kelly’s appearance at the Florida Lottery offices to claim the big win on behalf of his four-legged companion.

It seems Kelly has a Christmas tradition of giving out lottery tickets to friends, family and an occasional canine, a media release from the lottery stated. This year he bought three of the $20 Gold Rush tickets to put in stockings, including one that belongs to his dog.

While it’s unclear if the dog scratched off its own ticket, it is clear the one in its stocking was a jackpot winner, the lottery reported.

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“I always hope to at least win my money back and I play to win, but I never expected this,” Kelly told lottery officials when he claimed the prize.

Kelly took the prize in one lump-sum payment of $2,351,422.02, lottery officials reported.

It hasn’t been revealed just what breed the critter happens to be or how much of the money will be splurged on kibble and bones.

The $20 Gold Rush game is one of the lottery’s newest additions. The game, the lottery reports, offers better odds of winning $30 to $500 than previous Gold Rush games while also offering the best odds ever of winning $500,000. Eight top prizes of $3 million remained as of Friday.

Kelly purchased his winning ticket at a Publix in Ocoee, lottery officials reported.

Photo credit: William “Bill” Kelly/Courtesy of the Florida Lottery

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