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Visit Astrosage.comFlorida State Lottery Official Information 2025
Established January 12, 1988 to fund education | #1 in U.S. lottery sales | Over $49 billion raised for Florida schools
What Is Florida State Lottery?
The Florida Lottery is a government-operated lottery established on January 12, 1988, following voter approval of a constitutional amendment on November 4, 1986. The lottery was created with a single purpose: to generate revenue for public education in Florida. Organized by the Florida Department of the Lottery, a state government agency, the lottery operates as a self-supporting enterprise fund that receives no state general revenue funds.
The lottery's first game, a $1 scratch-off called "Millionaire," was so successful that it raised $15.5 million in just three weeks - enough to repay the state's startup loan with interest. Over its 37-year history, the Florida Lottery has maintained an exceptional reputation for integrity and has become the #1 lottery in the United States by total sales, generating $9.42 billion in ticket sales during fiscal year 2023-24.
Quick Facts About Florida State Lottery
- Established: January 12, 1988 (to fund public education)
- First Game: "Millionaire" $1 scratch-off ticket
- Annual Sales: $9.42 billion (FY 2023-24) - #1 in United States
- Per Capita Ranking: #7 in the nation
- Ticket Prices: $1 to $50 depending on game
- Top Prize (Record): $1.602 billion (Mega Millions, August 2023)
- Claim Period: 180 days for draw games, 60 days for scratch-offs
- Authorized Retailers: 13,000+ locations statewide
- Education Funding: Over $49 billion since 1988
- Bright Futures Scholarships: 983,000+ students funded
How Does Florida Lottery Work?
The Florida Lottery operates under the Florida Constitution (Article X, Section 15) and Chapter 24 of Florida Statutes. It offers a comprehensive portfolio of games including multi-state jackpot games (Powerball, Mega Millions, Cash4Life), Florida-specific games (Florida Lotto, Fantasy 5, Jackpot Triple Play), daily number games (Pick 2, 3, 4, 5, Cash Pop), and over 70 different scratch-off games at various price points.
All draws are conducted at the Florida Lottery headquarters at 250 Marriott Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32399. Results are published immediately on the official website (floridalottery.com), through the Florida Lottery mobile app, by phone at (850) 921-PLAY, and broadcast on television and YouTube. The lottery maintains complete transparency with all drawings conducted publicly.
Florida State Lottery Financial Overview (FY 2023-24)
The Florida Lottery is one of the most financially successful and transparent state lotteries in the United States. Here is the complete financial breakdown for fiscal year 2023-24, showing how lottery revenue is distributed to prizes, operations, and education funding.
| Category | Amount | % of Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Total Ticket Sales | $9,417,515,000 | 100.00% |
| Terminal Fees & Miscellaneous Revenue | $7,646,000 | 0.08% |
| Total Operating Revenues | $9,424,246,000 | 100.08% |
| OPERATING EXPENSES | ||
| Prize Payouts | $6,254,657,000 | 66.42% |
| Retailer Commissions (6%) | $571,612,000 | 6.07% |
| Gaming Vendor Commissions | $121,971,000 | 1.30% |
| Scratch-Off Ticket Printing | $51,855,000 | 0.55% |
| Draw Game Operations | $70,116,000 | 0.74% |
| Advertising | $39,278,000 | 0.42% |
| Employee Salaries & Benefits | $36,186,000 | 0.38% |
| Other Operating Expenses | $16,384,000 | 0.17% |
| Total Operating Expenses | $7,040,088,000 | 74.75% |
| Operating Income | $2,384,158,000 | 25.31% |
| Nonoperating Revenues (Net) | $26,689,000 | 0.28% |
| Transfer to Education (EETF) | $2,387,584,000 | 25.35% |
About the Financial Data: All financial data is from the Florida Lottery's Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for fiscal year ended June 30, 2024, audited by the Florida Auditor General. The lottery operates on a business model of "revenue minus expenses equals education transfer." Prize payout percentage (66.42%) represents the actual amount paid to winners. Florida has the second-lowest administrative costs among all U.S. state lotteries. Sources: Florida Lottery ACFR 2024, floridalottery.com, Florida Department of Education.
Sales by Product Type (FY 2023-24)
The Florida Lottery's revenue comes from two main product categories: scratch-off instant win games and draw games. Here's how sales were distributed:
| Product Type | Sales Amount | % of Total Sales | Change from FY 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scratch-Off Games | $6,618,079,000 | 70.27% | -6.04% |
| Draw Games (All) | $2,799,436,000 | 29.73% | +1.51% |
| Total Sales | $9,417,515,000 | 100.00% | -3.92% |
Top Games by Sales (FY 2023-24)
Here are the individual lottery games ranked by total sales for the fiscal year:
| Rank | Game | Sales Amount | % of Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Scratch-Off Games | $6,618,079,000 | 70.27% |
| 2 | Pick Family (Pick 2, 3, 4, 5) | $844,165,000 | 9.00% |
| 3 | Powerball with Power Play | $750,904,000 | 8.00% |
| 4 | Mega Millions with Megaplier | $450,061,000 | 4.80% |
| 5 | Florida Lotto | $273,797,000 | 2.90% |
| 6 | Fantasy 5 | $234,193,000 | 2.50% |
| 7 | Cash Pop | $131,469,000 | 1.40% |
| 8 | Cash4Life | $65,800,000 | 0.70% |
| 9 | Jackpot Triple Play | $49,047,000 | 0.50% |
Multi-State Jackpot Games
Florida participates in the nation's largest multi-state lottery games, offering players the chance to win life-changing jackpots. These games are coordinated by the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL) and feature regular jackpots exceeding $100 million.
🎱 Powerball with Power Play
Ticket Price: $2 per play ($3 with Power Play, $4 with Double Play)
Draw Times: Monday, Wednesday, Saturday at 10:59 PM ET
How to Play: Choose 5 numbers (1-69) and 1 Powerball (1-26)
Power Play: Multiplies non-jackpot prizes by 2x-10x
Jackpots Start at $20 Million
💰 Mega Millions with Megaplier
Ticket Price: $5 per play (includes Megaplier)
Draw Times: Tuesday, Friday at 11:00 PM ET
How to Play: Choose 5 numbers (1-70) and 1 Mega Ball (1-25)
Megaplier: Automatic 2x-10x multiplier on non-jackpot prizes
Jackpots Start at $50 Million
💵 Cash4Life
Ticket Price: $2 per play
Draw Times: Daily at 9:00 PM ET
How to Play: Choose 5 numbers (1-60) and 1 Cash Ball (1-4)
Second Prize: $1,000 per week for life
Top Prize: $1,000/Day for Life
Florida State Games
In addition to multi-state games, Florida offers its own exclusive lottery games with draws multiple times daily. These games are only available in Florida and offer excellent odds compared to national games.
🌴 Florida Lotto
Ticket Price: $2 ($3 with Double Play)
Draw Times: Wednesday, Saturday at 11:15 PM ET
How to Play: Choose 6 numbers from 1-53
Special Feature: Automatic random multiplier (2x-10x) on every ticket
Jackpots Average $14.7 Million
🎰 Fantasy 5
Ticket Price: $1 per play
Draw Times: Twice daily (1:05 PM & 11:15 PM ET)
How to Play: Choose 5 numbers from 1-36
Special Feature: If no top prize winner, jackpot "rolls down" to lower tiers
Jackpots Vary
🎲 Jackpot Triple Play
Ticket Price: $1 ($2 with Combo)
Draw Times: Tuesday, Friday at 11:15 PM ET
How to Play: Choose 6 numbers from 1-46, get 3 chances to win
Special Feature: Three separate sets of numbers per ticket
Progressive Jackpot up to $2 Million
💸 Cash Pop
Ticket Price: $1 to $10 (player chooses wager amount)
Draw Times: Five times daily
How to Play: Choose 1-15 numbers from 1-15, or let computer pick
Special Feature: Win up to 250x your wager
Top Prize: $2,500 (on $10 wager)
🎯 Pick 2
Ticket Price: $0.50 or $1
Draw Times: Twice daily (1:30 PM & 9:45 PM ET)
How to Play: Choose 2 numbers from 0-9
Play Types: Straight, Box, Straight/Box, Front/Back Number
Top Prize: $50 (Straight on $1 play)
🎯 Pick 3
Ticket Price: $0.50 or $1
Draw Times: Twice daily (1:30 PM & 9:45 PM ET)
How to Play: Choose 3 numbers from 0-9
Play Types: Straight, Box, Straight/Box, Front/Back Pair
Top Prize: $500 (Straight on $1 play)
🎯 Pick 4
Ticket Price: $0.50 or $1
Draw Times: Twice daily (1:30 PM & 9:45 PM ET)
How to Play: Choose 4 numbers from 0-9
Play Types: Straight, Box, Straight/Box, Front/Back Pair
Top Prize: $5,000 (Straight on $1 play)
🎯 Pick 5
Ticket Price: $0.50 or $1
Draw Times: Twice daily (1:30 PM & 9:45 PM ET)
How to Play: Choose 5 numbers from 0-9
Play Types: Straight, Box, Straight/Box
Top Prize: $50,000 (Straight on $1 play)
Scratch-Off Instant Win Games
The Florida Lottery offers over 70 different scratch-off games at any given time, with ticket prices ranging from $1 to $50. These instant win games account for over 70% of total lottery sales and offer prizes from a few dollars up to $25 million. Popular themes include holiday games, sports, cash games, and seasonal promotions.
Scratch-Off Game Details
- Price Range: $1, $2, $3, $5, $10, $20, $30, $50
- Top Prizes: From $1,000 to $25,000,000 depending on ticket price
- Overall Odds: Vary by game, typically range from 1 in 3 to 1 in 5
- New Games: Released regularly throughout the year
- Holiday Promotions: Special games for Christmas, New Year's, and other holidays
- Second Chance: Enter non-winning tickets for bonus drawings
- Package Deals: GROUPER ($5) and GROUPER Super Sampler ($10) bundles available
Where Education Funds Are Spent (FY 2024-25 Appropriations)
All Florida Lottery profits are transferred to the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund (EETF). For fiscal year 2024-25, the Florida Legislature appropriated $2.5 billion from the EETF to support education across the state. Here's how those funds are distributed:
| Education Category | Amount Appropriated | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Public Schools (K-12) | $848,000,000 | 33.9% |
| Student Financial Aid Including Bright Futures Scholarships |
$728,000,000 | 29.1% |
| State Universities | $663,000,000 | 26.5% |
| Florida Colleges Community college system |
$263,000,000 | 10.5% |
| Total Education Funding | $2,500,000,000 | 100.0% |
Bright Futures Scholarship Program: Since its creation, the lottery-funded Bright Futures Scholarship Program has helped more than 983,000 Florida students attend college. The program provides merit-based scholarships to Florida high school graduates who meet academic requirements and pursue higher education in Florida. Over $49 billion has been transferred to education since the lottery began in 1988.
🏆 Historic Wins & Notable Winners
$1.602 Billion - Biggest Florida Win Ever
Date: August 8, 2023
Game: Mega Millions
Winner: Saltines Holdings, LLC (anonymous)
Location: Publix in Neptune Beach
Significance: Largest Mega Millions jackpot in history and third-largest U.S. lottery prize ever. Winner took lump sum of $794.2 million.
$590.5 Million - The Polite Winner
Date: May 18, 2013
Game: Powerball
Winner: Gloria MacKenzie, 84 years old
Story: Another customer kindly let her go ahead in line at Publix, where she bought the winning Quick Pick ticket. She was the sole winner of the second-largest single Powerball jackpot at the time.
Prize: $370.9 million lump sum ($278 million after taxes)
$451 Million - The Birthday Boy
Date: January 5, 2018 (Florida Lottery's 30th Birthday!)
Game: Mega Millions
Winner: Shane Missler, 20 years old, Port Richey
Story: Won with $5 in scratch-off winnings reinvested into Quick Pick tickets. One of the youngest major lottery winners ever. The win occurred on the exact 30th anniversary of the Florida Lottery.
Prize: $281.9 million lump sum
Richard Lustig - The Seven-Time Winner
Years: 1993-2010
Hometown: Orlando, Florida
Total Winnings: $1,052,205 across seven lottery wins
Biggest Win: $842,152 in 2002 (Mega Money)
Fame: Wrote bestselling book "Learn How to Increase Your Chances of Winning the Lottery" - featured on national TV shows and became known as the "Lottery Expert"
Notable Facts About Florida Lottery Winners
• 619+ Florida residents became millionaires in the last 5 years through lottery wins
• 5 winners became multi-millionaires (prizes over $100 million) in the same period
• $44 million jackpot expired unclaimed in December 2023 (Jacksonville)
• $36 million Mega Millions prize expired unclaimed in February 2024 (Jacksonville)
• Since 1988, 30+ major jackpots have gone unclaimed in Florida
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I buy Florida Lottery tickets?
Florida Lottery tickets can only be purchased in person at authorized retailers within Florida. There are over 13,000 authorized locations including convenience stores, supermarkets (Publix, Winn-Dixie), gas stations (7-Eleven, Circle K), and other retail outlets. Look for locations displaying the official Florida Lottery sign. Online sales are legally prohibited - tickets must be purchased in person from authorized retailers.
Can I buy Florida Lottery tickets online?
No. Online sales of Florida Lottery tickets are strictly prohibited under Florida law. In December 2024, the Florida Lottery shut down unauthorized courier services attempting to sell tickets online. Only physical tickets purchased in person at authorized retailers within Florida are valid. Any website, app, or service claiming to sell Florida Lottery tickets online is illegal and potentially fraudulent.
When are Florida Lottery draws conducted?
Florida Lottery conducts multiple draws daily. Powerball: Monday, Wednesday, Saturday at 10:59 PM ET. Mega Millions: Tuesday, Friday at 11:00 PM ET. Florida Lotto: Wednesday, Saturday at 11:15 PM ET. Fantasy 5: Daily at 1:05 PM and 11:15 PM ET. Cash4Life: Daily at 9:00 PM ET. Pick games (2,3,4,5): Daily at 1:30 PM and 9:45 PM ET. Cash Pop: Five times daily. Results are available immediately on floridalottery.com and the mobile app.
How do I claim a Florida Lottery prize?
For prizes under $600, you can claim at any authorized Florida Lottery retailer. For prizes from $600 to $250,000, visit a Florida Lottery district office with your signed ticket, completed claim form, and valid ID. For prizes over $250,000 or multi-state jackpots, you must visit Florida Lottery headquarters in Tallahassee. You can also mail claims up to $250,000. All claims must be made within 180 days for draw games or 60 days after a scratch-off game ends. Prizes over $5,000 have 24% federal tax withholding; Florida has no state income tax on lottery winnings.
What is the prize payout ratio for Florida Lottery?
In fiscal year 2023-24, the Florida Lottery paid out 66.42% of ticket sales as prizes to winners - totaling $6.25 billion in prizes. This means for every $100 in ticket sales, approximately $66 is returned as prize money. The remaining funds cover retailer commissions (6%), operational costs including advertising and administration, and transfers to education (25.35%). Florida maintains one of the most efficient operations in the nation with the second-lowest administrative costs among all U.S. state lotteries.
Are Florida Lottery prizes taxable?
Yes, lottery winnings are subject to federal income tax. Prizes over $5,000 have 24% federal tax automatically withheld. However, Florida does not have state income tax, so lottery winnings are not subject to Florida state tax. Winners will receive a W-2G form for tax reporting. Depending on your total income, you may owe additional federal taxes when filing your return. It's recommended to consult with a tax professional or financial advisor after winning a substantial prize.
How does Florida Lottery compare to other state lotteries?
The Florida Lottery is the #1 lottery in the United States by total sales, generating $9.42 billion in fiscal year 2023-24. It ranks #7 nationally in per capita sales. Florida also has the second-lowest administrative costs of any state lottery (only Rhode Island is lower). Since 1988, the Florida Lottery has transferred over $49 billion to education, making it one of the most successful education funding programs in the nation. The lottery has funded Bright Futures scholarships for over 983,000 Florida students.
Can I remain anonymous if I win the Florida Lottery?
Partially. Winners of prizes $250,000 or more can remain anonymous for 90 days after claiming their prize under a 2022 Florida law. After 90 days, the winner's name becomes public record. Many winners choose to claim prizes through a trust or LLC to add a layer of privacy. Winners' names, city of residence, prize amount, and where the ticket was purchased are eventually made public due to Florida's strong public records laws. The 90-day period allows winners time to secure legal and financial advice before their identity is revealed.
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Visit Astrosage.comWhere to Buy Florida State Lottery Tickets
Physical Purchase Only: Florida State Lottery tickets must be purchased in person from authorized retailers located within the state of Florida. The lottery operates through a network of over 13,000 authorized retailers including convenience stores, supermarkets, gas stations, and other retail locations.
Find Authorized Retailers: Look for stores displaying the official Florida Lottery sign. Major retail chains selling lottery tickets include Publix, Winn-Dixie, 7-Eleven, Circle K, and many independent retailers. You can use the "Where to Play" tool on the official website to find retailers near you.
No Online Sales: Online ticket sales and courier services are illegal in Florida. The Florida Lottery does not sell tickets through its website or mobile app. Any third-party website, app, or service claiming to sell Florida Lottery tickets is operating illegally and should be avoided.
⚠️ Important Legal Notice: Online sales and courier services for Florida Lottery tickets are prohibited by law. In December 2024, the Florida Lottery shut down unauthorized courier service "The Lotter" for illegally selling tickets online. Only physical tickets purchased in person from authorized Florida retailers are valid. Purchasing through unauthorized channels is illegal and may result in forfeiture of any winnings. Players must be 18 years or older.
Verification: Always verify winning numbers on the official Florida Lottery website at floridalottery.com or through the official mobile app. Results are also available by phone at (850) 921-PLAY and are published in newspapers and broadcast on television.
Mobile App: While you cannot buy tickets through the app, the official Florida Lottery mobile app allows you to check winning numbers, scan tickets to see if you won, enter second-chance drawings, and find nearby retailers.
Visit Official Florida Lottery Website