Florida man wins $1 million in Florida Lottery 500 the Cash scratch-off game

C. A. Bridges, USA TODAY NETWORK - Florida
·4 min read

Another Floridian has gotten a big jump toward millionaire status.

James Breseman of Beverly Hills, Florida, risked 50 bucks on a 500X The Cash scratch-off game in January and won $1 million, the Florida Lottery announced Monday.

Breseman, 63, Curatolo opted for the one-time, lump-sum payout of $640,000. He scored his ticket at the Publix at 6760 West Gulf to Lake Highway in Crystal River. That Publix received a $2,000 bonus commission for selling the winning ticket, lottery officials said.

James Breseman, 63, of Beverly Hills, Florida, won $1 million in the 500x the Cash scratch-off game, according to the Florida Lottery.
James Breseman, 63, of Beverly Hills, Florida, won $1 million in the 500x the Cash scratch-off game, according to the Florida Lottery.

According to lottery data, 52 people have won $1 million in the 500x The Cash game since it began this year, with all but two winners choosing the cash option. The most recent one, as yet unnamed but from St. Petersburg, won a million last Friday with a ticket from Reliance Food Mart at 5405 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, Street North.

The game's overall odds of winning something are 1-in-4.23, the Florida Lottery says. The odds of winning $1 million are 1-in-274,004, one of the lowest odds for that size jackpot in all of the Lottery's offerings. There are 52 more $1-million prizes available.

No one has yet won either of the two top 500x The Cash prizes of $25 million. The odds for that prize are a bit steeper, at 1-in-2,1920,355.

Meanwhile, no one has won Mega Millions yet and the estimated jackpot for Tuesday night is $800 million. The Powerball lottery jackpot was won two times in one week last month and was last reset when a ticket in California won the Powerball drawing on Monday, August 19. The current Powerball jackpot is up to $134 million.

What games are in the Florida Lottery?

The Florida Lottery has a variety of national and state games. Drawings are held:

  • Powerball: 10:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.

  • Mega Millions: 11 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.

  • Florida Lotto: 11:15 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday.

  • Jackpot Triple Play: 11:15 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.

  • Cash4Life: 9 p.m. daily.

  • Fantasy 5: Daily at 1:05 p.m. and 11:15 p.m.

  • Cash Pop: Daily at 8:45 a.m., 11:45 a.m., 2:45 p.m., 6:45 p.m. and 11:45 p.m.

  • Pick 2, 3, 4, 5: Daily at 1:30 p.m. and 9:45 p.m.

The Florida Lottery also sells dozens of scratch-off games with prizes up to $15 million.

You can scan your Powerball, Mega Millions, Florida Lotto and scratch-off tickets with the Florida Lottery app.
You can scan your Powerball, Mega Millions, Florida Lotto and scratch-off tickets with the Florida Lottery app.

Can you scan Florida scratch-off tickets? Does the Florida Lottery have an app?

Yes! Just use the Florida Lottery app (iOS | Android), tap on "Check My Ticket" in the bottom menu and then SCAN BARCODE. Center the ticket's UPC in your camera to find out if you're a winner.

How do you cash scratch-off tickets in Florida?

  • Prizes of $599 or less: Claim at any authorized Florida Lottery retailer or Florida Lottery district office.

  • Prizes for $600 to $1 million: Must be claimed in person at any Florida Lottery district office for games that do not offer an annual payment option.

  • Prizes greater than $1 million and all prizes with an annual payment option: Must be claimed at Florida Lottery headquarters, except Mega Millions and Powerball prizes, which can be claimed at any Florida Lottery district office.

You also can claim your winnings by mail if the prize is $250,000 or less. Mail your ticket to the Florida Lottery with the required documentation.

What is the best Florida Lottery scratch-off game?

Depends on what you're looking for.

The scratch-off game with the best odds of winning something may be Gold Rush Limited, where you have a 1-in-2.65 chance of winning something, according to lottery officials.

The game with the biggest single payment jackpot remaining is the $50 500X the Cash, which has two $25 million jackpots still in play (odds of winning, 1-in-21,920,355). Next would be the $30 300X the Cash, which has two $15 million jackpots left. You've got a 1-in-11,701,050 shot at that one.

For potentially the most total cash, depending on your likely lifespan, spending $50 for a chance at $1,000,000 a Year for Life Spectacular (minimum 25) is the biggest value. There's one left of those, with odds of 1-in-21,727,995.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Florida Lottery: Citrus County, Florida man wins $1 million