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Orlando Man Claims $3.00 Million Lotto Jackpot After 4.5 Months

NR 11-28-02 ... On Wednesday, Nov 27, a man from Orlando claimed the $3.00 million Lotto jackpot from the Jul 10 drawing at Lottery Headquarters in Tallahassee – about 4.5 months after the drawing. Since the 60-day time period allowed for claiming a single cash payment had expired, Howard Margulis (51) will receive his award in 30 annual installments worth approximately $100,000 each.

"You've got to buy a ticket to find out if you're a winner!" said Howard, who retired last year. "It was a very nice surprise."

Howard indicated that he found out he had won the day after the drawing [Jul 11] when he read his winning numbers in the newspaper. He then passed the news to his attorney, but to no one else - not even family members.

Howard bought his lucky Quick Pick ticket at the 7-Eleven store, located at 2925 Corrine Drive in Orlando. The 7-Eleven Corporation has received a $10,000 retailer bonus for selling the jackpot winning ticket.

When asked why he waited so many weeks to redeem his Lotto ticket, Howard replied, "I'm just a procrastinator. I don't have any other reason."

The winner stated that he intends to use his prize proceeds for retirement purposes. His only immediate plan is to take a holiday trip out of state.

Howard is the 24^th Florida Lotto winner with a ticket from Orange County, the 18^th winner with a ticket from the city of Orlando, and the 727^th overall winner since the game began in 1988.

NR 11-27-02 ... A $70,788 winning ticket from Lake City is the highest Fantasy 5 payout in Columbia County.

NR 11-26-02 ... Seffner is the 227^th Florida location to register a Fantasy 5 jackpot winner.

NR 11-24-02 ... A $123,785 winning ticket from Williston is the highest Fantasy 5 payout in Levy County.

NR 11-09-02 ... Coral Gables is the 226^th Florida location to register a Fantasy 5 jackpot winner.

Apopka Couple Claims $6.00 Million Lotto Jackpot

NR 11-06-02 ... On Tuesday, Nov 5, a couple from Apopka claimed the $6.00 million Lotto jackpot from the Nov 2 drawing at Lottery Headquarters in Tallahassee. Clark (59) and Shelby Rikli (51) chose to collect their award in form of a single cash payment of $3,610,259, instead of receiving 30 annual installments worth approximately $200,000 each.

"We are going to invest it," said Clark. "We're going to set up a trust fund for the grandchildren and invest the rest."

Clark is an engineer at a commercial heating and air conditioning company, and Shelby is an accountant at a car dealership. Both, however, may soon be retiring and enjoying their Lotto proceeds.

"We are going to play it by ear for now," Clark indicated. "My wife will quit work, but I'm going to continue working for a while."

"But not for long!" Shelby quickly added.

Clark bought their lucky Quick Pick ticket at the 7-Eleven store, located at 1439 West Orange Blossom Trail in Apopka. The 7-Eleven Corporation will receive a $10,000 retailer bonus for selling the jackpot winning ticket.

The couple had previously won a smaller prize on two occasions when matching four numbers in Lotto. The award was approximately $80.00 each time.

The Riklis discovered that they were winners on Sunday [Nov 3] afternoon, when Clark suggested that Shelby check their ticket against the winning numbers in the newspaper.

"He said, 'You need to check the Lotto numbers,'" Shelby commented. "So I got the ticket and the newspaper and started comparing them. By the time I got to the sixth number, I had turned as white as a sheet!"

"I told him we won, but he didn't believe me," Shelby remarked. Eventually, they both believed it after confirming their winning numbers on the Florida Lottery's web site.

Afterwards, the Riklis hid their winning ticket in a safe spot at home. Nonetheless, they felt that they wanted to redeem it as soon as possible.

"I was just too nervous with that ticket still in the house," Clark expressed.

The Riklis are the 24^th Florida Lotto winners with a ticket from Orange County, the very first winners with a ticket from the city of Apopka, and the 741^st overall winners since the game began in 1988.

NR 11-06-02 ... In the Nov 5 midterm elections, North Dakota and Tennessee passed ballot measures which authorize the operation of lotteries in both states. The amendment in North Dakota allows the state to participate in a multistate lottery, and supporters there indicated that the Sioux State would most likely join the PowerBall Lottery, which is currently offered in 23 other states plus the District of Columbia. Tennessee, on the other hand, has approved a statewide lottery with proceeds to fund educational programs. These additions bring the total of US states which run lotteries now to 40 plus DC and Puerto Rico.

NR 11-03-02 ... One player with Apopka ticket wins $6 million Lotto jackpot on Nov 2 !!! This is the first ever Lotto winning ticket from Apopka, which thus becomes the 224^th Florida location to report a Lotto jackpot winner.

This is the third Lotto jackpot from Orange County in 2002. [Also: Orlando and Winter Garden].
The $3.00 million Lotto jackpot from Orlando on 07-10-02 has not been claimed yet.
This is the 24^th Lotto jackpot from Orange County since 1988.

Lotto Jackpots By City In Orange County

NR 11-03-02 ... A $249,551 winning ticket from Port Charlotte is the highest Fan 5 payout in Charlotte County.

NR 11-01-02 ... Trenton [Gilchrist County] is the 225^th Florida location to register a Fantasy 5 jackpot winner. Gilchrist County is the 56^th Florida county [out of 67] to report a Fantasy 5 jackpot winner.