Tampa Man Wins $1 Million Prize from Florida Lottery Scratch-Off Ticket

Author Coop

October 9th, 2021 12:07 PM

Big winner alert!

61-year-old Demetrios Valaes from Tampa has won $1 million after playing the Florida Lottery Struck By Luck Scratch-Off game. Valaes is the first winner to score the top prize.

According to the Florida Lottery, Valaes bought his ticket from the Rainbow Food Mart located at 3302 South West Shore Boulevard. He told the Florida Lottery that the usual store where he buys scratch-offs was “very busy,” so he decided to purchase a ticket just “down the road.” This life changing decision struck him the gold.

Valaes opted to take the lump sum of $880,000. Rainbow Food Mart will receive a commission check of $2,000 for selling the winning ticket.

10 Ways To Blow A Million Dollars Fast in Tampa

• Hire Pat Maroon for your Adult Hockey League Team

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  Hey why not - he's won THREE Stanley Cups in a row now!? And $1 million would be a raise for him. Not only would you get a ringer who can put the puck in the net, we're pretty sure no one would mess with anyone on your team. An enforcer like that is key!

• Busch Gardens Season Passes

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  You could bring about 5,000 of your closest friends.

• Top Tier Rays Season Tickets For 50 Years

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  Hopefully it won't take 50 years to see the Rays win the World Series, but if it takes that long, you can see it all. Plus you get free parking at Tropicana Field.
• Rent Tom Brady’s First Tampa House For a Couple Years

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  When the G.O.A.T. first joined the Bucs, he needed a nice place to crash so he rented Derek Jeter's South Tampa house. The rent? About $44,000 a month, according to various reports.

• Never Cook Again

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  With $1 million, you could have that Cuban / 1905 Salad combo at Columbia Restaurant in Ybor for every meal for the next 50 years.

• Your Own Private Gasparilla

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  Have your own Gasparilla. Rent a few floats and invite a few hundred friends over. You should have plenty of money left over to cover enough Captain Morgan for everyone.
• Live at The Don CeSar For 5 Years

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  Need some beach time? You could spend the next few years on St. Pete Beach. And you would never have to make your own bed!

• Book Duran Duran for a private beach concert.

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  With a million, you could afford to book the band and a small venue for a private show with your friends on Clearwater Beach!

• You can buy a used 2011 Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano Alonso

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  The perfect accessory to cruise South Tampa... but used? It's still a Ferrari! It would only cost you about a third of your winnings, though your auto insurance may climb a little. The gecko and general might each want that business.
• Buy a private island.

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  There's a 1-acre island off Tarpon Springs that is for sale at the opening of the Anclote River. You can put a house on it, or just leave it the way it is and enjoy some private outdoor time just a boat ride away.

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Author Coop

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