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Fantasy 5 is a game where players pick five
numbers between 1 and 36. The top prize, which
is generally around the $200,000 mark, is won
by the player who correctly gets all five numbers
drawn. Because this game is played daily, prizes
are rolled down rather than rolled over. So,
if there is no player with all five numbers,
the prize will be shared between those with
four out of five numbers. Anyone matching just
two numbers receives a free ticket for the next
draw.
The Florida Lottery has announced that it's
Fantasy 5 jackpot on 16 September was won by
a store manager from Miami, Florida. The manager,
Tomas Santana, is 29 years old and he scooped
the top prize of $271,753.
Santana bought his winning Fantasy 5 ticket
from a nearby grocery store in Miami. As well
as having the kudos that goes with selling the
top prize-winning ticket, the store itself receives
a bonus of $500.
Whilst some lottery winners only find out about
their good fortune a day or two after the event,
Santana enjoyed watching the experience unfold
in real time as he watched the live Saturday
night draw on television.
"I watch the drawings every night,"
Santana said, "because when you play the
Lottery so many years you know you can expect
to win something."
Expect to win, maybe. But when that expectation
is met in full, it still comes as quite a shock.
"I still couldn't believe it at first,"
Santana admits. "I turned on the light
and looked at the ticket again. Then I started
to wonder how much I had won and I found out
I was the only winner."
Santana put the lucky ticket in his wallet
for safekeeping, but continually found himself
checking to make sure it was still there. And
who can blame him? After all, you can do quite
a lot with over $270,000. Santana himself plans
to buy a "little house" and share
this good fortune with family and friends.
26 September 2006
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