Three Florida Lottery players hit the top prize in Friday’s Fantasy 5 drawings, taking home roughly $60,000 each from tickets bought at everyday neighborhood stores in Tampa, Lauderhill, and Indian Harbor Beach.
Winning Tickets
The midday drawing produced the winning numbers 8, 16, 18, 19, and 24. One Quick Pick ticket matched all five numbers to win $60,201. That ticket was purchased at a 7-Eleven located at 17621 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. in Tampa.
Later on Friday, the evening drawing dropped the numbers 2, 21, 22, 24, and 25. Two tickets split that top prize, with each worth $59,227. One was sold at Star Seven Grocery on NW 55th Ave. in Lauderhill, and the other came from the Publix located on E. Eau Gallie Blvd. in Indian Harbor Beach.
According to the Florida Lottery’s official list, all three of these tickets were still unclaimed as of the most recent update. If you have one of them, the lottery recommends signing the back of the ticket right away and putting it somewhere safe.
To collect the cash, winners have to claim prizes over $600 in person at a Florida Lottery district office. The state gives players exactly 180 days from the drawing date to file their claim. Winners will need to bring the signed ticket, a valid photo ID, and a completed claim form.
Because the winnings are over $5,000, players also need to be prepared for federal tax withholdings. District offices are located across the state to handle payouts, including facilities in Tampa and Miami Lakes. Lottery officials suggest winners talk to a financial or tax professional before making any large money decisions.
Original reporting: Tampa Free Press — read the source article.
