A $20 scratch-off ticket bought at a gas station in Panama City just turned into a life-changing payday for a Tampa woman. Mercedes Nunez, 34, claimed a $5 million top prize from the Florida Lottery’s 200X The Cash game, one of only eight such jackpots built into the entire game.
According to the Florida Lottery, Nunez bought her winning ticket from the Murphy USA station at 1405 W. 15th Street in Panama City. As reported by the West Orlando News, the Florida Lottery announced that Nunez claimed her prize from 200X The Cash and opted to walk away with a one-time lump-sum payment rather than waiting on an annuity.
Nunez made the trip to Florida Lottery Headquarters in Tallahassee on June 29 to officially claim her winnings, per the Herald-Tribune. Rather than the full $5 million prize, she chose the cash option, which the Florida Lottery lists at $2,779,400 — the same figure confirmed in the agency’s own winning-ticket records.
Four of Eight Top Prizes Still in Play
200X The Cash is a $20 scratch-off game carrying a $5 million top prize and overall odds of 1-in-2.96, according to the Florida Lottery. The game features more than 6.9 million winning tickets in total and offers more than $313 million in cash prizes across all tiers…