Seminole County

Altamonte Springs man wins $1 million from scratch-off lotto ticket

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. — A 46-year-old Altamonte Springs man used $20 he was gifted by a friend to buy a scratch-off lotto ticket that won him a $1 million prize.

Tavores Tymes bought the $5 Gold Rush Supreme Scratch-Off ticket from the Wawa located at 1390 E. Altamonte Drive in Altamonte Springs, lottery officials said. The store will receive a $2,000 bonus commission for selling the winning ticket.

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“I was having a bad day and called up an old friend who sent me $20.00,” Tymes said in a statement. “The next morning, I used the cash to buy a Scratch-Off ticket — and just like that, I won! I immediately drove up to Tallahassee to claim my $1 million prize!”

READ: Florida man wins $1 million lotto prize while back-to-school shopping with daughter

Lotto officials said Tymes chose to receive his prize as a $880,000 lump-sum payment.

He said he plans to invest his money in property by growing crops and living off the land.

READ: More than 250 people win cruises & gift cards from non-winning scratch-off tickets

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Sarah Wilson

Sarah Wilson, WFTV.com

Sarah Wilson joined WFTV Channel 9 in 2018 as a digital producer after working as an award-winning newspaper reporter for nearly a decade in various communities across Central Florida.