Lucky ticket brings Bradenton man $1.5 million Florida Lotto jackpot
A Bradenton man is now a millionaire thanks to a lucky Florida Lotto ticket.
Richard Wonders purchased his fateful lottery ticket at Cottage Mini Mart, 6123 26th St. W., Bradenton. Wonders used the “Quick Pick” option, which allows the lottery terminal to randomly generate some or all of a ticket’s numbers.
In Wonders’ case, the machine had the magic combo.
He won the $1.5 million jackpot up for grabs during a Florida Lotto drawing on July 29. Wonders chose to claim his winnings as a one-time, lump sum payment of $1,299,317, according to the Florida Lottery.
Cottage Mini Mart will receive a $20,000 bonus commission for selling the ticket.
The next Florida Lotto drawing is set for Wednesday, and the jackpot then will be $1.25 million.
Other recent local lottery winners include residents of Bradenton, Sarasota and North Port that scored top prizes on scratch-off games.
Florida Lottery games and scratch-offs continue to fund the state’s Educational Enhancement Trust Fund and the Bright Futures Scholarship Program.