The odds were 1 in 2,692,215.
But that did not stop this one Florida man from trying.
And a Florida man nearly fainted when he made $2 million off this $10 purchase.
Americans love to gamble.
There are more than 2,000 casinos, sportsbooks, and gambling venues across the United States.
In 2022, 84 million people visited a casino in America.
But casinos and sportsbooks are not the only form of gambling in the United States.
There are also 45 states that have a lottery.
Millions of Americans play the lottery each year.
It is the most popular form of gambling in the United States.
And it is no surprise why.
The lottery offers a chance to win life-changing money while only risking a few bucks.
According to lottery statistics, Americans spent a staggering $105.6 billion on lottery tickets last year.
This is expected to increase to $194.14 billion by 2025.
The highest lottery win ever came in November of 2022 when an individual from California won $2.04 billion.
But studies show more than 70% of all lottery winners end up entirely broke after winning.
Of course, most lottery players lose their money.
But there are a few lucky winners here and there, like 38-year-old Richard Hawkins from Lakeland, Florida.
Florida has the second most lottery sales in the United States with $9.32 billion.
Richard Hawkins purchased a $10 TRIPLE 777 scratch-off lottery ticket from the Wabash Marathon in Lakeland.
According to the Tallahassee Democrat, “the $10 Triple 777 scratch-off game features more than 6 million winning tickets and offers more than $158.8 million in total cash prizes, including eight top prizes of $2 million” and “players can win up to 15 times.”
Dawkins faced a 1 in 2,692,215 chance of winning.
But he hit the jackpot and turned his $10 purchase into a $2 million winning ticket.
“Hawkins chose to claim his winnings as a one-time, lump-sum payment of $1,280,000,” WFLA reported. “The retailer will receive a $4,000 bonus commission for that sale.”
Studies show that 86% of people who have played the lottery have said they won something at least once.
But Richard Hawkins got to experience the feeling every lottery player hopes for when scratching off their ticket.
DeSantis Daily will keep you up-to-date on any new developments in this ongoing story.
