Zephyrhills Woman Collects $1 Million In Florida Lottery Scratch Off Game

ZEPHYRHILLS, FL — A Zephyhills woman has a lot more money in her bank account after claiming the top prize of $1 million in the Florida Lottery's $5 Gold Rush Supreme scratch-off game Wednesday.

Heather Walters, 56, chose to receive her winnings as a one-time, lump sum payment of $880,000.00.

''When I realized I had a match, I began slowly scratching to reveal what the prize was,'' Walters said. ''At first, I thought I had won $1,000, then $100,000. Imagine my shock when I kept scratching to reveal three more zeros.''

Walters said playing the lottery is a favorite pastime of hers and her lifelong best friend. She said she was thrilled to share the news with her friend.

Walters purchased her winning ticket from Winn-Dixie at 36348 State Road 54 in Zephyrhills, which will receive a $2,000 bonus commission for selling the winning scratch-off ticket.

The $5 Gold Rush Supreme game launched in January and features more than $199 million in cash prizes, including 24 top prizes of $1 million. The game's overall odds of winning are one-in-3.97.