When the Firecracker Millionaire game rolls around next year, and if you live in Palm Beach County, you should think about playing it.

It certainly has been lucky.

A second winner -- of only seven in the state -- surfaced Wednesday to claim a $1 million prize. He's Ernest Vasiliou, 50, of Lake Worth.

Vasiliou purchased his winning ticket at Publix, located at 5970 S. Jog Road in Lake Worth, the Lottery said.

I wrote earlier this week about Kristen Gallant, 35, of Greenacres, who was among three $1 million winners to come forward late Monday afternoon.

Rather than try to match numbers, the Lottery guaranteed seven $1 million winners on July 4. It's the state's fifth annual millionaire raffle.

The two others announced were James Kenneth Bush, 50, of South Daytona, and Stephen Quinley, 35, of Jacksonville.

In the regular Florida Lottery, some weeks might yield a winner, and some might not. But in a raffle, winners are guaranteed.

A limited number (750,000) of tickets, at $20 each, were sold to make the prize pool. The odds of winning $1 million were 1-in-107,143. The game also was set up to have nine $50,000 winners, 11 $5,000 winners and 1,000 players with $500.

The winners announced Wednesday also included Peggy Socha, 57, of Largo and Kenny Ferrer, 33, of Deltona. There's still one unclaimed ticket, sold on U.S. 19 in the town of Holiday.

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Kristen Gallant, 35, of Greenacres was among three $1 million winners to come forward late Monday afternoon.

The game was called the Firecracker Millionaire Raffle. Rather than try to match numbers, the Lottery guaranteed seven $1 million winners on July 4. It's the state's fifth annual millionaire raffle.

Gallant, who frequently plays Florida Lottery games, said she usually doesn’t check her tickets right away to see if she is winner, but this time she had a lucky feeling, she told Lottery officials.

“I had to look twice at the computer screen, I just couldn’t believe it,” Gallant said in the Lottery's release. She purchased her raffle ticket at Shell Gas Station, located at 5050 Lake Worth Road in Greenacres.

The two others announced were James Kenneth Bush, 50, of South Daytona, and Stephen Quinley, 35, of Jacksonville.

In the regular Florida Lottery, some weeks might yield a winner, and some might not. But in a raffle, winners are guaranteed.

A limited number (750,000) of tickets, at $20 each, were sold to make the prize pool. The odds of winning $1 million were 1-in-107,143. The game also was set up to have nine $50,000 winners, 11 $5,000 winners and 1,000 players with $500.

For more information about the promotion or the Florida Lottery, visit www.flalottery.com.

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The Florida Lottery announced today that Florida Lotto winner Jeffrey Thomas Youel, 47, of Sunrise, claimed the $6 million jackpot drawn on June 20.

Youel chose the one-time, lump-sum payment of $3,348,662. The winning Quick Pick ticket was purchased at Publix, located at 13700 State Road 84 in Davie. The retailer received a bonus incentive of $15,000 for selling the ticket.

The winning numbers were:
04 - 23 - 29 - 38 - 45 - 52

Youel is the 83rd Florida Lotto jackpot winner to purchase a winning ticket in Broward County, according to the Lottery. To date, there have been more than 950 jackpot winners statewide.

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So the Lottery and the parimutuels can get along...

The Florida Lottery announced today that two players matched all five winning numbers in Sunday's Fantasy 5 drawing. They'll split $176,878.24 ($88,439.12 each).

The interesting part is that one of the winners was via a Quick Pick at Palm Beach Kennel Club. The winning numbers: 06 - 13 - 15 - 22 - 24

The Lottery is fun, but I find it interesting that a person would take that in addition to dog racing, simulcasting and poker. So the question out there for those who hit the paris: How many of you play the Lottery?

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In the Florida Lottery, some weeks might yield a winner, and some might not.

In a raffle, winners are guaranteed.

So the Florida Lottery has brought back the raffle concept and the Firecracker Millionaire Raffle, which was popular last year. Seven players will become millionaires and 1,020 players will win $500 to $50,000.

But tickets are $20. They went on sale in May and are limited to only 750,000 statewide.

In addition to making seven players new millionaires, the Lottery is working with Travelocity to offer players who purchase their tickets by June 3, the opportunity to instantly win one of 60 three-night cruises to their destination of choice, according to a Lottery press release.

A cruise horn will play on the Lottery terminal, a prize alert symbol will appear on the Firecracker ticket, and a prize coupon will print, indicating an instant win.

The odds of winning $1 million are 1-in-107,143. Players holding the first seven numbers drawn will each receive the top prize of $1 million. Players holding the next nine winning numbers will each receive $50,000; the next 11 winners will each receive $1,000; and the final 1,000 winners will each receive $500 – for a total prize payout of $8,005,000.

Ticket sales will end once the 750,000th ticket is sold or at midnight on July 3, whichever occurs first.

All winning numbers will be available on the Florida Lottery’s Web site at about 3 p.m. July 4.
For more information about the promotion or the Florida Lottery, visit www.flalottery.com.

If tickets sell out, the game will generate approximately $5.5 million for the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund (EETF), the Lottery says.

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Bad news if you live in anywhere but... Winner, South Dakota. Honest.

The Florida Lottery today announced that Wednesday's Powerball winner came not from our population-drenched state, but from the state famous for Mount Rushmore.

(Oxymoron? Lucky person in South Dakota?)

The winning numbers were: 05 - 06 - 12 - 16 - 21 and the Powerball was 07. The Power Play multiplier was 3.

From The Associated Press:

The winning ticket was sold in Winner, S.D., a ranching and farming town of 2,800 people.

Only two retailers sell Powerball tickets in town: the Ampride and Lil' Feller convenience stores. The seller of the jackpot ticket won't be announced until the winner comes forward, he said. The business that sold the ticket gets $50,000.

But there were still some nice payouts in Florida (by the way, I'm always amazed at how the technology had the Powerball billboard on my way to work reset by this morning, I should write about that):

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With the Powerball jackpot zooming past $222 million, you could argue the numbers are actually now on your side as we head into Wednesday's 10:59 p.m. drawing.

That's pretty hard to say in a game that carries a 1-in-195 million chance of winning.

Look at it this way: If you could buy up every possible Powerball combination of the 59 white balls and 39 red balls, it would cost $195 million. But you'd be guaranteed of winning the jackpot.

Bet $195 million to make $222 million. Gamblers call it an overlay.

Of course, two other factors come into play that stop people (OK, the very rich) from doing that: 1.) You get taxed and 2.) Someone else might hit the jackpot, too, and you'd have to split that $222 million -- resulting in a net loss for you. (Personally, I play high numbers, over 31, so I won't have to split with the people who play birthdays.)

Best advice? Buy one ticket, or maybe two.

WPLG-Ch. 10 airs the winning numbers in the first 10 minutes or so of its newscast.

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You'll have to try again for the largest lottery jackpot in Florida's history.

The Florida Lottery Sunday announced that no one hit Saturday's Powerball drawing, which was at $192 million and counting. Ticket sales spike when the jackpot get large, so now the big prize is at $222 million -- and growing.

The next drawing is at 10:59 p.m. Wednesday.

The winning numbers were: 19 - 23 - 34 - 52 - 57 and the Powerball was 21.
(You know, Johnny Unitas wore No. 19., Michael Jordan was 23, Walter Payton was 34, I'll be 52 in a couple of years and I usually shoot 57 for nine holes of golf. Darn!)

Channel 10 carries the Lottery drawings on a short tape-delay on its newscast and more info it at flalottery.com.

Powerball is a multi-state, mega-jackpot lotto game that is played in 30 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Florida added the game this year.

It is the largest Powerball jackpot in more than a year. The last Powerball jackpot to go this high was a $275 million jackpot on March 15, 2008.

Our Lisa Huriash reported Saturday on Powerball frenzy, and we had a Q-and-A.

There still were some prizes in Florida drawn Saturday. According to the lottery:

1 player matched five numbers, winning $200,000.

1 player matched four numbers plus the Powerball, winning $10,000.

196 players matched four numbers, each winning $100.

357 players matched three numbers plus the Powerball, each winning $100.

11,183 players matched three numbers, each winning $7.

5,345 players matched two numbers plus the Powerball, each winning $7.

35,679 players matched one number plus the Powerball, each winning $4.

74,741 players matched only the Powerball, each winning $3.

35,420 players added Power Play and matched one of the non-jackpot winning combinations listed above, multiplying their winnings by 5. Of those, two Power Play players won $1 million by matching five numbers.

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This is why we got Powerball. To dream the dream.

The largest Powerball jackpot in the history of Florida is at stake Saturday, estimated at $192 million.

For those who don't know, Powerball is a mega-jackpot lotto game that is played in 30 states, including Florida, which added it in January. It is in addition to the Florida Lottery, which gets a cut of the tickets you buy here.

The game’s starting jackpot is $20 million, and increases if no one matches all five numbers plus the Powerball. Well, the Powerball jackpot has rolled over 12 times since April 11, resulting in the largest lottery jackpot nationally for the 10:59 p.m. drawing Saturday. (Channel 10 airs the winning numbers on tape-delay during its newscast. If I'm them, I promo the heck out of this on Saturday.)

With tickets still being sold, the number is fluid, but when these jackpots get large, the ticket sales soar. It always amuses me that when the prize is at, say, $20 million, people don't play. But when it gets into the hundreds, they sell even more tickets, because that's serious money.

Dislaimer paragraph: To nail Powerball, you'll need five of 59 numbers, then the one red Powerball (out of 39). That's a 1 in 195,249,054 chance.

If no one hits Powerball in the next few weeks, we have a chance at the all-time Powerball record, not just the highest every in Florida. In 2006, $365 million was shared by eight co-workers in 2006 at a meatpacking plant in Lincoln, Neb.

More information and past winning numbers are at FloridaLottery.com, Powerball.com or MUSL.com.

Got a gambling problem? 1-888-ADMIT-IT. (1-888-236-4848.)

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Sayed Eltahir of Miramar doesn't waste any time: He hit for $1 million Thursday night and drove right to Lottery headquarters in Tallahassee to claim it this morning.

“The whole family is so excited,” he said, according to Lottery officials. (I'm trying to reach him to get more from him.)

Big winners have to go to Tallahasse, claim the prize in person and the Lottery does due diligence on them.

The 52-year-old won in the Billon Dollar Blockbuster Scratch-Off game. He's the ninth player to hit a $1 million prize; a Leesburg man hit the $10 million earlier in the week (see below).

Eltahir chose the one-time, lump-sum payment option of $650,000. He purchased his winning ticket from Frank’s Deli, 2100 45th St., Suite B-26 in West Palm Beach.

The new $20 Scratch-Off game, offers the highest cash payout of any game in the Lottery’s 21-year history. The game launched on Feb. 24, and features more than $1 billion in prizes, including 10 instant-win prizes of $10 million.

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The Florida Lottery announced today that two players matched all five winning numbers in the Sunday's Fantasy 5 drawing, and they're both South Floridians.

They'll share the $175,646.62 top prize ($87,823.31) each.

The winning numbers were: 08 - 23 - 24 - 32 - 33

They were sold at Publix, 5855 W. Oakland Park Blvd., in Lauderhill and at $ Saver, 2200 Lake Ida Road #E2 in Delray Beach.

So, check those tickets.

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If you happened to be driving through Naples in mid-November and bought a lottery ticket, do some double-checking.

The Florida Lottery announced today that a $24 million Lotto jackpot ticket remains unclaimed. The 180-day limit to claim the top prize expires at midnight May 11.

In case you don't remember, here were the numbers: 07 – 11 – 20 – 30 – 45 – 53. You know, if you had a 53-year-old son born on July 20 and a 45-year-old daughter born on Nov. 30, THESE ARE YOUR NUMBERS!

The winning ticket was sold at: Racetrac as a Quick Pick, at 3725 Pine Ridge Road, Naples.

Any Florida Lottery retailer can validate the winning ticket, but you have to still have it. Then you would go to Tallahassee to claim the money. I would be happy to drive you.

Questions? Call 850-487-7787 or go to flalottery.com.

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A 40-year-old Coral Springs man won the $500,000 Mega Money jackpot, the Florida Lottery announced today.

Vincent Ausanio, 40, of Coral Springs, claimed the April 17 jackpot today. He chose the one-time, lump-sum payment option of $365,133.50.

The winning Mega Money Quick Pick ticket was purchased at Publix, located at 411 S. Cypress Road in Pompano Beach. The retailer received a bonus incentive of $1,000 for selling the jackpot-winning ticket, the Lottery said.

The winning numbers were:

19 - 23 - 41 - 44 and the Megaball was 17

That's five numbers, with the lowest being 17... so, do you play low numbers next time, figuring they're due?

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Trying his luck before heading to an Easter egg hunt provided profitable for Juan Alcocer, and I bet he hopped up and down like a bunny.

Alcocer, 36, of Pompano Beach, hit for $1 million Sunday in the Billion Dollar Blockbuster Scratch-Off game. He told Lottery officials on Monday that he stopped in to buy his ticket at Sample Road Operating, 250 E. Sample Road in Pompano Beach, before going to an Easter egg hunt.

The Billion Dollar Blockbuster Scratch-Off game has a top prize of $10 million. Tickets are $20 each. It's the seventh time the $1 million prize has hit, including last month for an 86-year-old Coconut Creek man.

The game launched on Feb. 24, but nobody has yet hit the $10 million prize. Odds of winning: 1-in 6,552,000. The odds of winning the $1 million are 1 in 546,000.

Alcocer (who declined further comment and the Lottery's photo op) chose the one-time, $650,000 lump-sum payment option. Lottery officials say Alcocer stated he worked in the construction industry.

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So, a person enduring financial hardship hits the lottery, but... gets only $600.

That's the suggestion by the Tennessee legislature, according to one news report. The idea is for those who have less money to burn to not spend it on the lottery.

Rep. Stacey Campfield (R-Knoxville) introduced the bill and according to one TV station, says: “If you can't afford the bare necessities and if you rely on the government for the bare necessities of life, you shouldn't be taking what money you do have and blowing it on the lottery."

Boy, I'm mixed on this one. What do you think? Too much government? Or a necessary way to help people from themselves?

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Here's what our economy is coming to: Even The Florida Lottery is handing out coupons.

The lottery sent a coupon flyer to 7.8 million homes last week, with buy-one, get-one-free offers and information on a new "second-chance" drawing. Lottery sales are down about 7 percent from last year, and there's a need to generate interest in some of its lesser-known games, said the Lottery's Jackie Barreiros.

"We're not just Powerball and Lotto," she said. "People sometimes forget that."

The tickets are for: Buy-one get one for $1 scratch-off, $2 scratch-off, Fantasy Five and Mega Money tickets; $2 off any $5 scratch-off ticket; $5 off a Billion Dollar Blockbuster ticket.

Total savings: $12.

The Lottery's goal was to deliver coupons to every household in the state. If you didn't get your coupons, go to the district lottery office in West Palm Beach, she said. But you have to sign for them.

"We’re just not handing them out blindly to everyone," she said.

The sales effect: "Too soon to tell."

My take: It's not quite like getting free money but it sure cuts into the percentages. With the lottery games overall taking 50 percent of what you wager, a two-for-one makes it an even bet.
By the way, horse racing pays back 80 percent and slots more than 90 percent.

The lottery also is promoting the Billion Dollar Blockbuster second-chance game. You go to FlaLottery.com, register your non-winning Billion Dollar Blockbuster ticket, with name and e-mail address; they start drawings on April 6 and email you if you win.

It's the first time since 1996 coupons have been issued.

So, will the coupons entice you to play more? I haven't played in years, but now the price is right.

Also, since you're here on the gambling blog, check my main page and skim through all the other articles about local casinos, the state legislature and the compact and a goofy way to calm your poker nerves.

And if you want to just go totally crazy, just bookmark me. I think it's worth your time.

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An 86-year-old Coconut Creek man claimed a $1 million prize at Florida Lottery headquarters Monday morning, according to the lottery.

The man, Murray Eisenberg, purchased his winning ticket from Publix, located at 4760 W. Hillsboro Blvd. in Coconut Creek.

Eisenberg won in the Billion Dollar Blockbuster Scratch Off. Joanna Raulerson, 52, of Fruitland Park, also won. It's the second and third Lottery players to claim a $1 million prize in the recently launched Scratch-Off game, which costs $20 per ticket.

Lottery officials described Eisenberg as a "very private" person. By state law, lottery winners' names are public, and the Lottery e-mails a mass-media release after each winner to let the public know when a prize has been awarded, officials said.

Eisenberg chose a $650,000 one-time lump-sum payment rather than $50,000 a year for 20 years.

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We reported about the Powerball ticket sales on Sunday, and now here's the deal on finding out whether you've won, according to the Florida Lottery:

Beginning Tuesday, Florida Lotto and Mega Money drawings will be moving to a new time, 11:15 p.m. Tickets for Florida Lotto and Mega Money may continue to be purchased until 10:40 p.m. on the night of the drawing.

The overall schedule:

POWERBALL Wed. and Sat., 10:59 p.m. ET
FLORIDA LOTTO Wed. and Sat., 11:15 p.m. ET
MEGA MONEY Tues. and Fri., 11:15 p.m. ET
FANTASY 5 Daily, 11:15 p.m. ET
PLAY 4 Daily, 1:30 p.m. ET and 7:57 p.m. ET
CASH 3 Daily, 1:30 p.m. ET and 7:57 p.m. ET

Also beginning January 6, Florida Lottery TV carrier stations will air the live drawings, show the drawings within minutes of the live drawings, or display on-screen the winning numbers from the drawings. Viewing times and the type of coverage vary by station.

All Florida Lottery winning numbers will continue to be available at all Florida Lottery retailers, on the Lottery’s Winning Numbers hotline at (850) 921-PLAY, and on the Lottery’s Web site at www.flalottery.com. Additionally, players will continue to have 24-hour access to the drawings via Webcasts posted on the Lottery Web site. And, players can now register on the site to receive winning numbers and other Florida Lottery information via e-mail or text messaging.

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Powerball, the multistate game with jackpots that often cross $100 million, starts in Florida on Jan. 4. The first drawing is Jan. 7.

The odds are astronomical, as current Florida lottery players say, but there's still the dream.

So, how will it affect what you play now?

(Not sure if the 'comments' portion of this blog has been fixed. My apologies. If not, email me at nsortal@sun-sentinel.com and I'll put up the comments later today.)

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Now you can mix the gambling of poker with that of golf, on a golf course.

The World Series of Golf involves poker-type bets -- raise, check or fold -- with how you're playing a particular hole.

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When I go to the track, I’ll put $5 to win on a horse if I like it. If I love a horse, I’ll shell out $10 or $20.

But I can’t imagine anybody in their right mind doing the same thing with their Lotto picks.

As in, “I really like my chances of hitting the 4-11-17-26-39-44 this week. So I’m going to put $3 on those numbers, not just $1.”

Yet that’s what the state is about to allow, in an effort to boost Lotto revenues.

Starting March 5, the Florida Lottery will let Lotto players increase their potential winnings by selling add-on bets to each set of picked numbers.

Those who play the minimum $1 will be eligible for the standard jackpot pool. Those who play for $2 will get an additional $10 million if their numbers hit. And those who play for $3 will get an additional $25 million if they pick all six numbers.

My reaction: Anybody who buys the add-on has to be nuts.

Lotto is already the biggest sucker bet going. For somebody to double or triple their bet on a 23 million-to-1 shot is madness. Shame on the state for trying to boost revenues this way.

Here’s what would have been a better idea: Lowering the minimum bet to 10 cents.

It’s something racetracks have done with longshot gimmick bets such as superfectas. By lowering the minimum, people can get much more bang for their buck, as in 10 different combinations instead of 1.

Imagine if you could get 50 sets of Lotto numbers, not just five, for your weekly $5 quick pick.

That’s something even a sporadic Lotto player like myself could get on board with, even if it meant getting a smaller share of a jackpot.

What do you think? Do you play Lotto? And will you plunk down the extra buck or two for the add-on jackpot?

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