Ruskin Ticket Holder Wins Jackpot in Wednesday Florida Lottery Fantasy 5 Draw
A single ticket purchased in Hillsborough County secured the top prize in the Florida Lottery’s Fantasy 5 evening drawing on Wednesday. The winning Quick Pick ticket matched all five numbers—6, 11, 13, 22, and 36—earning the holder a jackpot of $112,208. The winning entry was sold at the Sun City Shell station located at 711 Cypress Village Boulevard in Ruskin.
While the Fantasy 5 game produced a winner, other major draw games on Wednesday did not yield jackpot strikes. The Florida Lotto jackpot rolled over and is estimated to reach $20.5 million for the subsequent Saturday drawing, as no tickets matched the six numbers required to win the $19.25 million grand prize. Similarly, the Powerball and Cash4Life drawings held the same evening resulted in no top-tier winners.
Winners of Florida Lottery prizes valued between $600 and $1 million must claim their winnings at a district office or the lottery headquarters. For the Ruskin winner, the nearest facility is the Tampa district office at Centerpoint Business Park. Claimants are typically advised to sign the back of their ticket immediately and secure it until they can present it for verification. Since its inception, the Florida Lottery has contributed billions to the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund, which supports public education and scholarship programs like Bright Futures.
Despite the excitement surrounding jackpot wins, financial analysts frequently caution players about the steep odds against winning. The probability of matching all five numbers in Fantasy 5 is approximately 1 in 376,992. Furthermore, lottery winnings are subject to federal tax withholdings, which can significantly reduce the actual take-home amount. Critics of state-sponsored lotteries often argue that such games can act as a regressive tax on lower-income individuals who may spend a disproportionate percentage of their earnings on tickets. Experts recommend that winners consult with financial and legal advisors to manage sudden influxes of wealth and avoid common financial pitfalls associated with lottery windfalls.
miamiherald.com
