Miami Man Scores $5M Scratch-Off Win at Miami Gardens Raceway

A quick gas stop in Miami Gardens ended with a life-changing payout for 53-year-old Montrez Harris, a Miami man who turned a $20 scratch-off ticket into a $5 million win.

Harris bought the lucky ticket at the Raceway gas station at 3695 N.W. 183rd Street in Miami Gardens. He later claimed the top prize at Florida Lottery headquarters in Tallahassee on Feb. 13 and chose a one-time lump-sum payment of $2,779,400, according to figures provided by state lottery officials and reported by the Tampa Free Press. The winning ticket came from the Florida Lottery's $20 200X THE CASH scratch-off game.

About the ticket

The 200X THE CASH scratch-off is a $20 ticket with a $5 million top prize and overall odds of winning around 1-in-2.96, based on compiled game data. It is part of the Lottery’s X THE CASH family that launched in January and featured bonus-play entries and a large initial prize pool, according to ScratchCheck.

Money for schools and local merchants

The Florida Lottery says its games have paid out more than $106 billion to winners and have contributed over $50 billion to the state’s education system since the agency began operations, figures that help explain why big wins grab attention across Florida. The agency also notes it has helped create thousands of millionaires and that most revenue from games is returned to Florida communities, according to the Florida Lottery.

Financial advisers typically urge anyone who thinks they have landed a major prize to sign the back of the ticket, keep the original in a secure place and consult legal and tax professionals before making big money moves. Lottery payouts are taxable and subject to federal withholding and reporting rules, and winners are encouraged to review guidance from the IRS and get professional help when deciding between a lump-sum payout and an annuity.

Harris’s jackpot joins a steady stream of major scratch-off wins around Florida, and the Miami Gardens Raceway that sold the ticket will almost certainly see a spike in curious customers. For regulars at the gas station, it is a fresh reminder that one small purchase can suddenly become a multimiIlion-dollar turnaround.