The Cumberland Farms store on Floresta Drive was a revolving door of media and frequent customers who had heard the news Thursday morning that one lucky Florida Lottery player bought the winning ticket there.
By 11:30 a.m., store clerk Keri Frosch stopped curious people short and just said with a smile, "No, we don't know who it is."
But she does know that receipts show about 4,000 people bought tickets Wednesday night alone.
"When it's that high it happens," Frosch said, referring to high ticket sales. "When it goes up to $82 million, forget it."
The small store, tucked away in a strip mall across the street from Floresta Elementary School, was packed with customers at about 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. Many appeared to have stopped on their way home from work to pick up tickets. The line at times stretched to the back of the store, while customers chatted about the odds of winning.
The winner who bought the ticket in Port St. Lucie will split the jackpot with whomever purchased another ticket in Lady Lake matching all six Florida Lotto numbers. The winning numbers picked Wednesday were 12-13-17-27-32-36.
The news comes with a bonus for each store: $30,000 for its owner. Frosch said Cumberland Farms' owner lives in Massachusetts and hadn't yet heard the news Thursday morning.
Wednesday night's jackpot was the fourth largest in Florida history, said Florida Lottery Communications Director Albert Bea. The estimated $82 million jackpot includes 10 rollovers.
But a winner isn't a winner until the ticket arrives in Tallahassee.
Winning ticketholders must bring the ticket and two forms of identification to the state headquarters, he said. And the ticketholder has 180 days to get there.
"But we expect those folks in sooner than that," Bea said.
Thanks for reminding us for the ten-thousandth time.
Lather, Rinse, Repeat.
Anyways, it looks like the media is ready to pounce on whoever the winner may be. I think I would claim the ticket then move out of state if it were me.
"The news comes with a bonus for each store: $30,000 for its owner. Frosch said Cumberland Farms' owner lives in Massachusetts and hadn't yet heard the news Thursday morning."
I doubt if the owner of Cumberland Farms will get excited over $30,000, but all the publicity can't hurt. I hope the money will go to the store and its employees, although I doubt it. I have no idea what a huge corporation does with its share of a winning ticket..probably goes to charity. (just a guess) I'm happy for the winners, but I always think it's funny when the retailer or one of the clerks at a store takes credit for selling the winning ticket. And what's even stranger is that business actually increases for a while because people think it's lucky.
Yes, there is a 180-day claiming period. But, assuming the ticketholder(s) want cash, they have only 60 days from the DRAWING to claim.
Thanks for reminding us for the ten-thousandth time.
Thanks for reminding us for the ten-thousandth time.
10,293 to be exact....
Thanks for reminding us for the ten-thousandth time.
Lather, Rinse, Repeat.
Anyways, it looks like the media is ready to pounce on whoever the winner may be. I think I would claim the ticket then move out of state if it were me.
Todd-you've almost caught up to me!
OK, maybe now we need to push Florida to join Mega Millions, or more likely Powerball, with Jeb leaving office in less than a year.
Thanks for reminding us for the ten-thousandth time.
10,293 to be exact....
4/21/2006
lolololololol.....you are sooooo badddddd....lolololool
Happy Friday..."DD".......and now how much did you win????lololoololol
Libra: When I'm good, I'm bad, when I'm bad, I'm better....
I got 10 QP on the FL Lotto and won a "goose egg".
DD
PS: Have a good weekend !!!!
"The news comes with a bonus for each store: $30,000 for its owner. Frosch said Cumberland Farms' owner lives in Massachusetts and hadn't yet heard the news Thursday morning."
I doubt if the owner of Cumberland Farms will get excited over $30,000, but all the publicity can't hurt. I hope the money will go to the store and its employees, although I doubt it. I have no idea what a huge corporation does with its share of a winning ticket..probably goes to charity. (just a guess) I'm happy for the winners, but I always think it's funny when the retailer or one of the clerks at a store takes credit for selling the winning ticket. And what's even stranger is that business actually increases for a while because people think it's lucky.
Libra: When I'm good, I'm bad, when I'm bad, I'm better....
I got 10 QP on the FL Lotto and won a "goose egg".
DD
PS: Have a good weekend !!!!
4/22/2006
HI "DD"
So you won a "goose egg"?? Was it "GOLDEN".....????
Hi Libra,
No golden egg....better luck next time..
Have a good evening,
DD