Akil P. Patel, Florida’s luckiest lottery player, has cashed in 358 scratch-off tickets of at least $600 since 2015. To win that often, Patel would need to buy enough tickets to stack from the ground past the top of New York City’s One World Trade Center, nearly 1,800 feet up. That’s more than 1.8 million tickets, said Will Cipolli, an associate professor of mathematics at Colgate University.
Of Patel’s 358 winning tickets, nearly 300 were sold at a small Delray Beach market, owned by Patel’s uncles, according to public records and an interview with one of the owners. Fresh Take Florida, a news service of the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications, found more than a dozen other players like Patel, people who repeatedly beat staggering odds and had personal ties to the stores that sold the winning tickets.
In Hernando, Pasco, and Citrus Counties, residents may wonder if similar winning streaks have occurred locally. While there are no reported cases of individuals with ties to local lottery stores winning repeatedly, the Florida Lottery has seen its fair share of big wins. According to the Florida Lottery’s website, there have been several jackpot winners from the area, including a $1 million winner from Spring Hill and a $350,000 winner from Crystal River.
The Florida Lottery has implemented various measures to prevent fraud and ensure the integrity of the games. “The Florida Lottery has a robust system in place to monitor and detect any potential wrongdoing,” said a spokesperson for the Florida Lottery. “We take the integrity of our games very seriously and work closely with law enforcement to investigate any suspicious activity.”
While the chances of winning the lottery are extremely low, many people continue to play in hopes of beating the odds. For those interested in purchasing lottery tickets, they can visit the Florida Lottery’s website or check out one of the many authorized retailers throughout the state, including those in Hernando, Pasco, and Citrus Counties.
Originally reported by Citrus County Chronicle – Crystal River
