TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A couple of soon-to-be parents got a huge boost when they won the $1 million prize from the Florida Lottery’s “500X The Cash” scratch-off game. The Florida Lottery said 46-year-old John Stanhill, of Jacksonville, claimed his prize as a one-time, lump-sum payment of $640,000.
Stanhill, who purchased his winning ticket from an Exxon in Jacksonville Beach, and his partner Victoria Oakley just had their first child, the Lottery said. “This just couldn’t have happened at a better time!” Stanhill said. Victoria and John picked up their winnings with their dog, Maya, just three weeks before the birth of their son.
“We won the lottery – and then we won the lottery again with our beautiful, healthy baby boy!” Oakley said. “All in three weeks’ time!” “Our lottery win has been such a huge relief for us. We’ve been able to fully focus on being new parents by putting our financial worries at ease,” the couple said.
“We were able to start a college fund for our baby and plan on paying off student loans. We are over the moon with everything that’s happened!” The Lottery said the $50 “500X The Cash” game has a top prize of $25 million and offers more than $1.66 billion in total cash prizes.
The game’s overall odds of winning are 1-in-4.23..
