When the Mega Millions Or Power Ball jackpots soar into the triple-digit millions, we’re pinned to our screens waiting to see who wins. It’s not just money that changes a life, this kind of thing affects the local economy and everyone wants to know who it is, which Publix they purchased their tickets from and what they will do next.

But in the meantime, hundreds of Floridians have quietly become millionaires And almost millionaires without all the noise while playing scratch games. Someone bought a ticket at Venice Circle K and demanded a payment of $16 million just this Monday, in fact.

Scratch tickets with million dollar jackpots will cost you more than your Mega Millions ticket, but they could be worth it and the odds are great. significantly better.

(Please note that there is always a good chance that you will never win anything. Always remember this and never spend money on lottery tickets that you cannot afford to lose).

Here’s what you need to know about Florida Lottery scratch-off games.

Playing the odds: How to increase your chances of winning Mega Millions, Powerball or Florida Lotto?

How many scratch off games are there at the Florida Lottery?

As of December 12, there were 81 active scratch-off games at the Florida Lottery.

Twenty other games – including $150,000 A Year For Life, Monopoly Secret Vault, Gold Rush Doubler, Triple Tripler and, unsurprisingly, 2024 – ended on December 5, but winning tickets purchased before then can still be claimed.

How many Florida Lottery scratch-off games have jackpots of $1 million or more?

There are currently 32 active scratch-off games with Florida Lottery jackpots of $1 million or more. Three finished this month and the agency adds more games throughout the year.

The following games offer even bigger jackpots:

What is the biggest jackpot in the Florida Lottery scratch game?

The largest potential jackpot available in a Florida Lottery scratch-off game is $1 million a year for a spectacular life ($50 a piece), assuming you take the lifetime option and live long enough. The only person who won so far was Marquis Anderson of Fort Lauderdale, which chose the lump sum option of $16,000,000. There remains a first prize.

The odds of winning $1 million per year for life in this game are 1 in 21,727,995.

The biggest jackpot of the set is the $25 million you could win 500X the money. A winning ticket from a Circle K in Venice claimed a $16 million win Monday, but the name of the winner has not yet been released.

Which scratchcard games have the best odds?

It depends on what you’re hoping for.

The game with the best chance of winning something, even a simple free ticket, is currently Gold Rush Multiplier with a chance in 2.6. Most scratch games have overall odds ranging from 1.3 to 1.4 and above. Each game has different chances of winning different amounts and some can vary wildly.

THE best chance of winning a million dollars in any Florida lottery game? $1,000,000 per year for a spectacular life.

The odds of winning the top prize are staggering (see above), but the odds of winning a cool million are 1 in 185,709, well below any other game (but still very unlikely). Since March 2023, 158 people won $1 million in this game, including the most recent, a winner from Fort Myers who took home the prize Monday with a ticket from a 7-Eleven in Estero.

The cash payout for this is $640,000, so you wouldn’t be a millionaire, but you’d be well on your way.

Which Florida Lottery game has the worst odds of winning anything?

There is only a 1 in 5.67 chance of winning something in Double your moneythe worst overall rating of all Florida Lottery scratch-off games.

Can you scan Florida scratch tickets? Does the Florida Lottery have an app?

Yes! Simply use the Florida Lottery app (iOS | Android), tap “Check my ticket” in the bottom menu, then SCAN BARCODE. Center the UPC of the ticket in your camera to see if you are a winner.

How to cash scratch tickets in Florida?

• Prizes of $599 or less: Claim them at any authorized Florida Lottery retailer or Florida Lottery district office.

• Prizes from $600 to $1 million: Must be claimed in person at any Florida Lottery district office for games that do not offer an annual payout option.

• Prizes over $1 million and all prizes with an annual payment option: must be claimed at Florida Lottery headquarters, except Mega Millions and Powerball prizes, which can be claimed at any Florida Lottery district office.

You can also claim your winnings by mail if the prize is $250,000 or less. Submit your ticket to the Florida Lottery with the required documents.

How to Gamble Responsibly

Lottery games are games of chance played for fun, but some people may have problems with these types of games. According to the Florida Lottery:

• Don’t treat the lottery as a way to make money

• Only play with money you can afford to lose (the odds are very, very good that you will)

• Set a dollar limit and stick to it

• Know the odds before you play

• Never borrow money to play the lottery

• Don’t play when you’re upset or depressed

This article originally appeared in Treasure Coast Newspapers: Florida Lottery Scratch Off Games That Can Make You a Millionaire