Winter Haven Man Wins Big From Scratch Off: Here’s How Much

A Winter Haven man wins Big from a Florida Lottery scratch off ticket. Usually we hear about people winning $1 million from a scratch off ticket. Well, this man won $5 million from a scratch off ticket. The Winter Haven man bought a $20 Gold Rush Limited scratch off game ticket and hit the jackpot. The man purchased the winning lottery ticket from the Haines City Food Mart on US Highway 17–92 W. in Haines City. The man chose to take the money as a one lump sum payment of $3.96 million.

There are actually two gold rush, limited scratch off games from the Florida Lottery. Firstly, one of them has a $5 million top prize. Secondly, the other one has a $1 million top prize finally there are still nine remaining $5 million top prizes available. While there are 26 $1 million top prizes left.

The Florida Lottery is responsible for contributing more than $45 billion to enhance education and sending more than 983,000 students to college through the Bright Futures Scholarship Program. The Florida Lottery reinvests 99 percent of its revenue into Florida's economy through prize payouts, commissions to more than 13,500 Lottery retailers, and transfers to education. Since 1988, Florida Lottery games have paid more than $89 billion in prizes and made more than 3,700 people millionaires.

Chances are minimal that we'll see a white Christmas in Florida this year. Actually, Tampa Theatre is playing White Christmas that week, but that's probably not going to make you bust out a sweater and mittens... do you really own a pair of mittens?

Here are some good deals I found from Tampa International Airport for Christmas week. All of these flights are for a 7 day stay leaving the Wednesday before Christmas on December 20 and returning to Tampa on Wednesday, December 27. Definitely avoiding travel those last few days before Christmas and the day after Christmas will save you some cash. I usually fly on Christmas day itself. You save a bundle and won't have to deal with insane crowds. If you get an evening flight, you'll still get to spend Christmas morning with friends and family.

None of these cities will guarantee you a snowfall on Christmas, but if you've been nice this year, Santa might work some magic. Here are 5 of my favorite picks that are an easy 2-3 hour flight from Florida. And most are priced right at the moment from Tampa.

While you don't always see snow in the city itself on Christmas Day, there are usually plenty of options a day trip away. I'd suggest heading up into the mountains of Vermont. They're amazing in the fall but my Christmas, those colorful leaves are long gone so you won't see those. But there are a ton of scenic routes to the ski resorts where you'll find all the snow you need - even if it's not natural stuff. As a Floridian, you won't be able to tell the difference. Portland, Maine is another great spot to spend Christmas. Do some shopping at LL Bean or just watch the lights sparkle in Portland's Old Port while you devour lobster rolls.

The windy city means crazy wind chills. But you can always warm up with a big deep dish pizza at one of my favorite spots in the world Lou Malnati's. There are locations all around the Chicago area and I've yet to have a bad pizza at any of them. Catch a Blackhawks game while you're there too. As great as Sonya Bryson is when she does the Star Spangled Banner at Tampa Bay Lightning games, the national anthem experience in Chicago cannot be topped. It'll rock your world.

While politicians don't conjure up warm fuzzy feelings for the holidays, DC can get its fair share of the white stuff. A couple years ago they got more than any of the states in the northeast. Plus you're a short train ride away from lots of other great spots to visit for Christmas like New York and Philadelphia.

This one's the priciest flight on this list, but I love visiting Montreal. You're almost guaranteed to see some snow during a December visit. But don't bring just a Florida-level winter jacket. December in Montreal can be brutally cold with temps below freezing at times. Even though I hate the team, a Montreal Canadiens game is a must if they're in town while you're there. The loudest hockey game I ever went to was a WATCH party for the Habs when they were playing the Rangers in New York City.

This last one I can't tell you a single thing about. I've never been to Watertown, New York. It made this list only because it's so darn cheap. Flying around Christmas to one of the northern most parts of the U.S. for under $200? That's a deal. And I'm sure the hot cocoa will taste just as good as it would in Manhattan.