Dog's owner gladly claimed it on his behalf
A lucky dog from Ocoee has won a $3 million prize in the Florida Lottery's $600,000,000 Gold Rush scratch-off game.
That's the word out of Tallahassee Friday following owner William Kelly's appearance at the Florida Lottery offices to claim the big win on behalf of his four-legged companion.
It seems Kelly has a Christmas tradition of giving out lottery tickets to friends, family and an occasional canine, a media release from the lottery stated. This year he bought three of the $20 Gold Rush tickets to put in stockings, including one that belongs to his dog.
While it's unclear if the dog scratched off its own ticket, it is clear the one in its stocking was a jackpot winner, the lottery reported.
"I always hope to at least win my money back and I play to win, but I never expected this," Kelly told lottery officials when he claimed the prize.
Kelly took the prize in one lump-sum payment of $2,351,422.02, lottery officials reported.
It hasn't been revealed just what breed the critter happens to be or how much of the money will be splurged on kibble and bones.
The $20 Gold Rush game is one of the lottery's newest additions. The game, the lottery reports, offers better odds of winning $30 to $500 than previous Gold Rush games while also offering the best odds ever of winning $500,000. Eight top prizes of $3 million remained as of Friday.
Kelly isn't the only recent big winner in the Florida Lottery from the area. On Wednesday lottery officials said Fay Blake, 62, of Orlando won $5 million in the the Mega Millions drawing on Jan. 9.
Blake later stated that she was "bothered" by winning due to feeling that it is against her religion to gamble. (See GET OUT THE VIOLIN: Florida woman grieving about $5 million lottery win, Lottery Post, Jan. 16, 2015.)
Kelly purchased his winning ticket at a Publix in Ocoee, lottery officials reported.
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Thanks to wizeguy and Toney725 for the tip.
That's a lot of kibble!
FLORIDA FLORIDA FLORIDA!!!!! Thats the main state that wins all the big money!! There is constant million dollar winners in that state! Someone won another cool million from that state from last nights MM. Just would like to see other states win sometimes.
Cute!
Wish my dog would win the lottery. Or maybe my cat.
Err......this was a Florida scratch-off game......
Lucky dog! I'm yet to gain enough courage to play those $20 cards. But I'll gladly buy 10 cards of the $2 kind..go figure
I know what my dog is getting for her Birthday. Congrats winner.
OK....a dog...has won...a million dollar jackpot.
Does this shake my confidence of possibly winning a jackpot or boost it?...
You are so right. Almost every week, last year, there was usually a million dollar Powerball winner from Florida.
It hasn't been revealed just what breed the critter happens to be
Gold en Retriever
Florida lottery winners are coming up with some weird stories/behaviours lately. Next thing you know, the dog will claim that Uncle Fido does not levy taxes on its four legged counterparts and as such, should not have taxes deducted from the winnings. It remains to be seen if the critter will be represented by a lawyer of the four or two legged variety. Florida, what have you been smoking lately?. All I ever wanted was to hunt down a few jackpots, not tell some weird crazy stories. Dognabit!!!.
Florida is the best in this country.Georgia is #2
Bam, RedStang, cleaver!
" the dog will claim that Uncle Fido does not levy taxes on its four legged counterparts"
The dog will definitely have to pay federal income taxes. The question is how much. Since he dog isn't a US citizen the rate will depend on whether it's a US resident or just visiting. Assuming it doesn't have a green card I'd figure it's just visiting, and therefore pays at the lower non-resident alien rate.
you might let Miss Annie choose , being that shes a little bandit / bully