$25M Prize Claimed By FL Lottery Scratch-Off Winner

VENICE, FL — A Sarasota County man claimed the top $25 million prize playing the "500X THE CASH" scratch-off game, Florida Lottery said.

Kyle Lindquist, 45, of Venice chose to receive his winnings as a one-time, lump-sum payment of $16 million at Florida Lottery’s district office in Fort Myers.

Lindquist bought his winning ticket from the Circle K gas station at 101 U.S. Highway 41 Bypass S. in Venice.

The retailer received a $50,000 bonus commission for selling the winning ticket.

“500X THE CASH,” a $50 game, features a top prize of $25 million — the largest prize ever offered on a Florida scratch-off game — and the best odds to become an instant millionaire, the agency said.

With more than $1.66 billion in cash prizes, this game’s overall odds of winning are 1 in 4.23.

The Florida Lottery has contributed more than $48 billion to enhance education throughout the state by sending more than million students to college through the Bright Futures Scholarship Program.

The agency reinvests 99 percent of its revenue into Florida's economy through prize payouts, commissions to more than 13,500 lottery retailers and transfers to education.

Since 1988, Florida Lottery games have paid over $98.6 billion in prizes and created more than 4,200 millionaires.