Florida
Lucky Florida? State had a hot streak with 17 Powerball, Mega Millions wins − in 3 months
As Florida sees Powerball and Mega Millions winning streak, the California Lottery said it’s been a lucky May for 6 players.
This is what you can buy if you win the $1 billion lottery
Mega Millions and Powerball are approaching record numbers. Here’s what the winner could buy if they hit the jackpot.
USA TODAY
When it comes to lottery wins, Florida is on a hot streak.
In three months, Florida had 17 lottery prize winners in Powerball and Mega Millions − with ticketholders becoming a millionaire overnight. Some of those wins were from back-to-back drawings. Adding to the hot streak? One ticket from Florida matched all five numbers plus the Powerball to win the $214 million jackpot earlier this month.
And it all starts with a $2 lottery ticket.
As they say in the lottery business, “it could happen to you.”
TL;DR Powerball and Mega Millions lottery wins in Florida
- Tuesday, May 14, 2024: Mega Millions, $1 million
- Tuesday, May 7, 2024: Mega Millions, $1 million
- Monday, May 6, 2024: Powerball, $214 million grand prize
- Tuesday, April 23, 2024: Mega Millions, two tickets won $1 million each
- Friday, April 19, 2024: Mega Millions, $1 million
- Saturday, April 6, 2024: Powerball, $1 million
- Friday, April 5, 2024: Mega Millions, $1 million
- Monday, April 1, 2024: Powerball, $1 million
- Tuesday, March 26, 2024: Mega Millions, two tickets won $1 million each
- Monday, March 25, 2024: Powerball, $1 million
- Saturday, March 23, 2024: Powerball, $1 million
- Friday, March 22, 2024: Mega Millions, $1 million
- Monday, March 18, 2024: Powerball, $1 million
- Saturday, March 9, 2024: Powerball, $1 million
- Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024: Mega Millions, $1 million
In 3 months, Florida had 17 lottery wins for Powerball and Mega Millions. Here’s where winning tickets were bought
Here’s the list of winners and where the winning Mega Millions and Powerball lottery tickets were purchased from February to May, according to the Florida Lottery.
- A Tuesday, May 14, 2024, Mega Millions ticket worth $1 million was a Quick Pick ticket purchased from Publix, No. 1742, 30841 Mirada Blvd., San Antonio.
- In the Tuesday, May 7, 2024, Mega Millions lottery drawing, a secondary winner matched five to win $1 million. That ticket was a Quick Pick purchased at 7-Eleven, No. 34151, 24651 S Tamiami Trail, Bonita Springs.
- In the Tuesday, April 23, 2024, Mega Millions lottery drawing, there were two secondary winners that scored $1 million for matching five numbers, according to the Florida Lottery. One was a Quick Pick ticket purchased at Presidente Supermarket, No. 23, 2199 N.W. 36th St., Miami, and one from Circle K, No. 1205, 101 Buena Ventura Blvd., Kissimmee.
- In the Friday, April 19, 2024, Mega Millions lottery drawing, a secondary winner gets $1 million for matching five numbers. It was a Quick Pick ticket from Publix, No. 0777, 9300 W Commercial Blvd., Sunrise.
- In the Friday, April 5, 2024, Mega Millions lottery drawing, a secondary winner gets $1 million for matching five numbers. This Quick Pick ticket was purchased at Publix, No. 1719, 8160 Wiles Road, Coral Springs.
- The Tuesday, March 26, 2024, Mega Millions lottery drawing produced two secondary winners for $1 million each. A Quick Pick ticket was purchased at Murphy USA, No. 7338, 29 Mike Stewart Drive, Crawfordville, and another ticket came from Publix, No. 631, 4495 Roosevelt Blvd., Suite E-1, Jacksonville.
- In the Friday, March 22, 2024, Mega Millions lottery drawing, a Quick Pick ticket from Publix, No. 0785, 4141 N. Federal Highway, Boca Raton, matched five numbers to win $1 million.
- In the Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024, Mega Millions lottery drawing, one Quick Pick ticket matched five numbers to win $1 million. That ticket came from 7-Eleven, No. 32624, 1651 S.W. St. Lucie West Blvd., Port St. Lucie.
Some other notable Powerball lottery wins in Florida:
- Powerball jackpot dropped back down to $20 million again, when one ticket in Florida matched all five numbers and the Powerball in the drawing on Monday, May 6, 2024, to win the $214 million grand prize.
- In Oregon, Cheng Saephan, 46, his wife Duanpen Saephan, 37, and friend Liza Chao, 55, matched all five numbers plus the Powerball to win the record $1.3 billion jackpot with a cash option of $608.9 million on Saturday, April 6, 2024. It was the fourth highest Powerball jackpot of all time and the eighth-highest lottery jackpot of all time. There was a secondary win in Florida for that April 6 Powerball drawing that resulted in a $1 million prize for whomever purchased a Quick Pick ticket from Circle K, No. 9802, 5025 Tampa Road, Oldsmar.
- No joke: Someone matched five numbers to win $1 million in the Monday, April 1, 2024, Powerball lottery drawing. The Quick Pick ticket came from Sedano’s Supermarket, No. 40, 12981 S. Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando.
- In the Monday, March 25, 2024, Powerball lottery drawing, someone won $1 million for matching five numbers. That Quick Pick ticket came from 7-Eleven, No. 39998, 331 W. Silver Star Road, Ocoee.
- In the Saturday, March 23, 2024, Powerball lottery drawing, a Quick Pick ticket from Publix, No. 1142, 7830 Land O’Lakes Blvd, Land O’Lakes, matched five numbers to win $1 million.
- In the Monday, March 18, 2024, Powerball lottery drawing, someone won $1 million for matching five numbers. The ticket was purchased at Stop & Save Food Store, 4801 Clewis Ave., Tampa.
- In the Saturday, March 9, 2024, Powerball lottery drawing, a Quick Pick ticket from City Food Mart, 21 N. 7th St., Haines City, was worth $1 million for matching five numbers.
How long do you have to cash in a winning Florida Lottery ticket?
Prizes for Florida Lottery must be claimed within 180 days (six months) from the date of the drawing. To claim a single-payment cash option, a winner has within the first 60 days after the applicable draw date to claim it.
Are other states as lucky as Florida when it comes to Powerball and Mega Millions lottery? Is California a lucky lottery state?
While Florida has had 17 lottery winners in three months for Powerball and Mega Millions, the California Lottery said it’s been a lucky May for six players taking home lottery prizes of all sizes.
- Grace Chu won $10 million from a California 200X scratch-off ticket from 7-Eleven, 5724 Thorton Ave., Newark.
- Daniel Fissaha won $5 million from a 100X Scratchers ticket that was purchased at Tip Top Liquors in San Jose, California.
- Deloria Cooper won $5 million from a Lucky 7’s Scratchers ticket purchased from a 7-Eleven on Via Las Rosas in Oceanside, California.
- Lucy Sansosti won $5 million from a 2024 Scratchers ticket sold at ARCO in Newport Beach, California.
- Arturo Saludes won $2 million on an Instant Prize Crossword Scratchers ticket, purchased from the A-1 Valley Market Deli in Lake Elsinore, California.
- Christopher Powers won $1 million playing an Xtreme Multiplier Scratchers ticket that was purchased at EZ Foodmart in Bakersfield, California.
What are the Top 10 largest lottery jackpots in U.S. history?
The following Mega Millions and Powerball jackpots are the Top 10 biggest lottery jackpots in U.S. history, as of May 24, 2024. This list shows many billion-dollar lottery winners from California and at least two from Florida.
- 10. $1.08 billion Powerball drawing — July 19, 2023; California
- 9. $1.13 billion Mega Millions drawing — Tuesday, March 26, 2024; New Jersey
- 8. $1.3 billion Powerball drawing — April 6, 2024; Oregon
- 7. $1.337 billion Mega Millions drawing — July 29, 2022; Illinois
- 6. $1.35 billion Mega Millions drawing — Jan. 13, 2023; Maine
- 5. $1.537 billion Mega Millions drawing — Oct. 23, 2018; South Carolina
- 4. $1.58 billion Mega Millions drawing — Aug. 8, 2023; Florida
- 3. $1.586 billion Powerball drawing — Jan. 13, 2016; California, Florida and Tennessee
- 2. $1.765 billion Powerball drawing — Oct. 11, 2023; California
- 1. $2.04 billion Powerball drawing — Nov. 7, 2022; California
Sangalang is a lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network-Florida. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram at @byjensangalang. Support local journalism. Consider subscribing to a Florida newspaper.
In 2025, the Ole Miss Rebels’ PA announcer came over the mic and proclaimed “B.T.A.” after they beat the Florida Gators 34-24.
That Rebels team has some key pieces coming back for their 2026 campaign, but they will be playing a totally different Florida team. However, if the Rebels did what they did last year, they will have a great chance of beating the Gators this season.
Kewan Lacy Repeat
Last year, Ole Miss running back Kewan Lacy rushed for 224 yards and three touchdowns against Florida. He had himself a day, and though he will be going against a different defensive style in 2026, it is still a scheme that he and the Rebels have seen.
The Florida Gators hired new head coach Jon Sumrall last winter to bring back a winning mindset to Florida.
Ole Miss got to see the defense Sumrall runs twice this past season when he was the head coach at Tulane. Lacy rushed for 155 yards and three touchdowns in their two games against Tulane.
If Lacy does what he did last year to the Gators, the Rebels have a great shot to win this game.
The Trinidad Chambliss & Deuce Alexander Connection
In addition to Lacy having two great games against Sumrall’s defense, quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and wide receiver Deuce Alexander both showed out as well.
Chambliss threw for 589 yards and threw three touchdown passes. He also rushed for an additional 148 yards.
Furthermore, Chambliss showed a lot of patience in the pocket and progressed through his reads quite well. He just tore apart Tulane’s defense, and a lot of that happened with the help of his receiver, Alexander.
Alexander had the most receptions in both games against the Green Wave. He totaled 11 catches for 181 yards and one touchdown.
Chambliss found Alexander down the field a lot in both these games, and the duo will be a huge threat to the Gators in 2026.
Take Florida seriously
Florida has struggled in the past few years, but they are no cake walk. In their last two seasons, they have gone 12-13 but have proved they can beat good teams.
This includes upsetting Ole Miss and ruining their playoff run in 2024. That game was in Gainesville, where the Rebels will return for the game against the Gators in 2026.
The Florida Gators have made many moves to their roster and coaching staff. This team is a lot different from last year. A new team has the ability to surprise a lot of people.
Golding and the Rebels must recognize that and prepare diligently for a battle against the Gators.
The Rebels have a better team going into this game, and if they can repeat what they did so well against Sumrall’s defense last year, they will walk out of Gainesville with a huge win in what could be an early turning point of the season.
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Florida baseball’s Brendan Lawson home run vs Rider in NCAA Gainesville Regional
Florida baseball topped Rider in walkoff fashion behind Brendan Lawson’s home run. See the moment.
Florida baseball is now one win away from returning to a Super Regional for the first time in three years.
The Gators dispatched in-state rival Miami behind seven home runs to come away with a 22-10 win over the Hurricanes to reach the Gainesville Regional final on Saturday, May 30, at Condron Ballpark.
Florida (41-19) jumped out to a 6-1 lead over Miami, but the Hurricanes steadily chipped away at the deficit.
After Miami hit a solo home run in the first inning, Florida quickly answered with six runs in the bottom of the frame, which was highlighted by a 3-run homer from Cade Kurland.
The two teams traded runs as Miami delivered back-to-back RBI hits in the third with Karson Bowen hitting a solo home run to make the score 7-4. Then, in the fourth inning, the Hurricanes picked up two more runs, while Bredan Lawson scored on a fielding error as Miami (39-19) narrowed UF’s lead to 8-6.
The Hurricanes tied the game in the fifth inning after a run was walked in and another scored on a fielder’s choice.
Florida then erupted for a seven-run rally with two outs in the sixth inning. Miami needed four different arms to get out of the inning before Kyle Jones hit a decisive 3-run double to build a 15-8 lead.
Miami picked up two more runs in the eighth inning, but the Gators answered decisively by hitting five home runs in the bottom of the frame to put the game away.
Here’s what happened in Florida’s win over Miami:
The Gators hit five different home runs in the eighth inning, which came from Kurland, Blake Cyr, Brendan Lawson, Ethan Surowiec and Karson Bowen.
Cade Kurland hit a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth inning to extend Florida’s lead over Miami to 16-10.
In the eighth inning, Jackson Barberi surrenders an RBI single. He then get hits by a line drive, which allows a run to score as Miami narrows Florida’s lead to 15-10.
The Gators plate seven runs all with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning. The Canes walked back-to-back runs, which is followed by an infield error that plates another run. Karson Bowen scored on a wild and Kyle Jones delivers a 3-run double build Florida a 15-8 lead over Miami. The Canes have made four pitching changes in the inning.
The Hurricanes score for a third straight inning as they pick up two more runs in the fifth to make it an 8-8 game. Luke McNeillie walked in a run, which led to him exiting the game. Florida failed to turn a double play and allowed the tying run to score.
Another throwing error to first base allows for Brendan Lawson to score from first base and extend UF’s leads to 8-6 in the bottom of the fourth.
Luke McNeillie throws a wild pitch, which allows for the Hurricanes to score a run and narrow the score to 7-6 in the fourth inning.
Aidan King’s night is done after allowing an RBI single as Miami narrows the score to 7-5 in the top of the fourth inning. King allowed five runs from eights and recorded three strikeouts in 3.1 innings. Luke McNeillie enters the game on the mound.
Karson Bowen hit a solo home run in the bottom of the third inning to extend UF’s lead to 7-4
Miami narrows the score to 6-4 after plating three runs in the bottom of the third inning. Aidan King gave up four straight hits with two outs, which included an RBI double and a 2-run single.
The Gators answer quickly in the bottom of the frame as UF takes a 6-1 lead over Miami. Kyle Jones scores from a fielding error followed by Ethan Surowiec driving in a run with a sac fly. Karson Bowen came up with an infield RBI single, while Cade Kurland delivered a 3-run homer over the left field wall.
Before the inning ends, Miami takes out starting pitcher AJ Ciscar.
The Canes hit a solo home run from the fourth pitch of the games.
Miami’s Jake Ogden hits a home run off the fourth pitch of the game to give the Hurricanes a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Aidan King then gives up a double and a hit by pitch, but gets out of the jam with a double play.
- CF Kyle Jones
- SS Brendan Lawson
- LF Blake Cyr
- 3B Ethan Surowiec
- DH Caden McDonald
- C Karson Bowen
- 1B Landon Stripling
- 2B Cade Kurland
- RF Hayden Yost
On the mound is Aidan King
How to watch Florida baseball vs Miami
TV Channel: ACC Netowrk
Streaming: ESPN+
Florida vs. Miami will be broadcast nationally on the ACC Network on Saturday, May 30. Eric Frede and Lance Cormier will call the game from the booth at Condron Family Ballpark.
Stream Florida baseball vs Miami
Florida baseball vs Miami projected starting pitchers
RHP Aidan King (2-5, 4.00 ERA) vs RHP AJ Ciscar (4.44 ERA, 5-4)
Florida baseball upcoming schedule
- NCAA Regionals, May 29-June 1
- NCAA Super Regionals, June 5-8
- College World Series, June 12-22
Reach Florida Gators writer Andrew Abadie at AAbadie@usatodayco.com or on X (formerly Twitter) at @AndrewAbadie. You can also find him on Facebook at Andrew Abadie Sports Reporter or on Instagram @andrewabadie_sports.
A Florida woman was arrested after she drove onto a golf course while intoxicated, crashed her car, and found with dozens of miniature bottles of Fireball whiskey, according to authorities.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office identified her as 34-year-old Erika Mayer, of Palmetto.
“She was smashed,” Sheriff Grady Judd said in a video shared on X earlier this week. “She was drunk — capital DRUNK. Wrecked her car. She said, ‘But I haven’t been drinking.’
The sheriff’s office said deputies responded to a single-car crash near Streamsong Golf Resort on May 14 shortly before 7 p.m. When deputies arrived, they found a red 2018 Hyundai resting on a sidewalk and a woman sitting beside the car.
Investigators said Mayer appeared impaired, displayed slurred speech, poor balance, and incoherent behavior. Deputies also detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage on her breath, the sheriff’s office said.
A witness told deputies they saw Mayer driving across one of the golf courses in the area before the crash.
Judd said deputies searched Mayer’s car, where they found 21 open mini bottles of Fireball Cinnamon Whiskey, two empty 50 milliliter bottles of 99 Brand liqueurs, and an unopened 10-pack of Fireball.
“And she had empty Fireball bottles in her pants,” Judd said, adding that she was “drunker than Cooter Brown” and “had no idea where she was.”
Deputies said they asked Mayer to perform field sobriety exercises and provide breath samples, but she refused both requests.
According to Judd, Mayer told deputies she declined the tests because she heard it was a bad idea to participate in field sobriety exercises.
Mayer was arrested and charged with DUI, DUI with property damage, and refusing to submit to a DUI test. She was also cited for failure to drive within a single lane and possessing an open container of alcohol in a vehicle.
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No one was hurt in connection with the crash, authorities said.
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