Interesting History and Facts About the Florida Lottery

The Florida Lottery benefits all residents of the state, no matter if they are lottery winners who collect million-dollar prizes or students who have been able to pursue their dreams by getting a better education with Lottery dollars. You've come to the right place if you're interested in learning the story of the Florida Lottery.


What you need to know about the Florida Lottery

The Florida Lottery started life in 1986 with two goals as its driving force.

By a two-to-one margin, Florida voters approved a constitutional amendment that would use lottery proceeds to improve public education. Governor Bob Martinez and the Florida Legislature established the Florida Lottery to maximize revenues for education while providing the best lottery games possible for the citizens of Florida. More than 35 years of Florida Lottery history and both of these goals have been maintained.

With tickets to go on sale by January 18, 1988, the Lottery's start-up was a year of dynamic activity. After hiring Rebecca Paul as the Lottery's first permanent secretary, sales of its first game began six days ahead of schedule on January 12, 1988. Millionaire, the Lottery's first game, sold more than $95 million in sales, setting an industry record.

Millions of Floridians regularly talk about what they would do if they won the big jackpot with their friends and family. A billion dollars in Lottery products are purchased each year by millions of people in support of the Lottery.

Some historic moments for the Florida Lottery

Over the years, the lottery has become part of Florida's very fabric, touching the lives of all Floridians and giving them hope that their dreams can become a reality. Here are some interesting moments that helped shape the Florida Lottery's history,

  • Powerball goes on sale. The Florida Lottery joins the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL) and starts to sell Powerball tickets on January 4, 2009. Sales top $1.5 million.

  • A $50 million Florida Lotto jackpot was won on December 24, 2011, making it the 1,000th jackpot-winning ticket in the game's history. Richard McMullen from Tallahassee claimed the ticket and the retailer who made the sale of the winning ticket, Circle K, in Tallahassee, received a $150,000 bonus commission.

  • The Florida Lottery opens sales for the multi-state game and starts selling Mega Millions on May 15, 2013.

  • Shane Missler from Port Richey wins the $451 million Mega Millions jackpot on January 5, 2018. Missler becomes Florida's second Mega Millions jackpot winner and the 4th biggest jackpot winner in entire Mega Millions history

Some historic moments for the Florida Lottery

Who won the first Florida Lotto draw?

The first ever Florida Lotto draw was held in Tallahassee at 11:00 p.m. ET, with an estimated jackpot worth $2 million. However, no one matched all six winning numbers, so the game rolled over for the first time. All good things do come to an end eventually and finally, on May 28, 1988, Josie Moore, from Port Charlotte, won the first Florida Lotto jackpot. Moore received the estimated $14 million jackpot in 20 annual installments.

How high has the Florida Lotto’s jackpot been?

The biggest Florida Lotto jackpot was won by a single winner on May 29, 2000, worth an estimated amount of $81.6 million. This win broke the previous single-winner record that was set by Sheelah Ryan, from Winter Springs, who won $55.16 million on September 3, 1988. The new record-setting ticket at the time was later claimed by Whispering Pines Lottery Trust from New Port Richey.

Make history with the Florida Lottery

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