Winn-Dixie In Hallandale Beach Sells Three Million Dollar Ticket
A South Florida lottery player is holding a Mega Millions ticket worth $3 million after the Friday night drawing. The winning Quick Pick ticket was purchased at the Winn-Dixie Liquor store located at 1055 West Hallandale Beach Boulevard in Hallandale Beach, Broward County. The ticket matched all five white ball numbers—11, 34, 36, 43, and 63—but missed the gold Mega Ball, which was 13.
While a standard match-five prize is $1 million, this player opted for the Megaplier add-on for an additional $1. The 3x multiplier drawn on Friday tripled the winnings to $3 million. Had the player matched the final Mega Ball, they would have won the estimated $303 million jackpot. The odds of matching all five white balls are approximately 1 in 12.6 million, whereas the odds of winning the full jackpot are roughly 1 in 302.6 million.
Despite the significant win, the recipient will not take home the full amount. The Internal Revenue Service requires a mandatory 24 percent federal withholding on prizes over $5,000, immediately reducing the payout by $720,000. The winner may also face additional federal tax liabilities when filing their annual return, depending on their total income bracket. Additionally, Florida Lottery rules typically require prizes of this magnitude to be claimed in person at the state headquarters in Tallahassee, rather than at local district offices in Miami or West Palm Beach.
The winner has 180 days from the date of the drawing to claim the prize. Financial experts often advise winners to sign the back of the ticket immediately, secure it in a safety deposit box, and consult with a certified public accountant or financial advisor before coming forward to claim the money.
miamiherald.com
cbsnews.com
