A Florida woman wins Monopoly lottery and for many people across the Sunshine State, that headline is more than just news. It’s a reminder that a simple scratch-off ticket bought at a grocery store or gas station can change someone’s life in seconds. These stories keep happening, and they keep capturing people’s attention. Let’s take a close look at the real winners, how the Monopoly lottery works, and what it actually means to hit a million-dollar prize.
Who Are the Florida Women Who Won the Monopoly Lottery?
Several Florida woman wins have made headlines in recent years after winning big on Monopoly themed scratch off tickets. These are real wins, officially announced by the Florida Lottery.
Soignese Youte, Miramar — $1 Million Winner
In September 2024, Soignese Youte, a 54-year-old woman from Miramar, claimed a $1 million top prize from the $5 MONOPOLY DOUBLER Scratch Off game. She purchased the winning ticket from Le Phare Food Market in North Miami Beach. Rather than taking annual payments, she chose a one-time lump sum payout of $798,985. The store that sold her the winning ticket received a $2,000 bonus commission from the Florida Lottery.
St. Augustine Woman — $1 Million Right Before Christmas
In December 2024, a 37-year-old woman from St. Augustine won $1 million from the $5 MONOPOLY SECRET VAULT Scratch-Off. She bought her ticket at a Publix supermarket on Jenkins Street in St. Augustine. Just like the Miramar winner, she chose the lump-sum option and walked away with $576,900 after taxes. The timing made the story even sweete she won just one week before Christmas.
Ellenton Woman — $5 Million Jackpot
A woman from Ellenton in Manatee County turned a $20 scratch-off into a $5 million prize from the $20 MONOPOLY SECRET VAULT game. She chose a lump-sum payment of $2,884,920. It’s one of the largest Monopoly lottery wins in Florida’s recent history.
These women didn’t do anything extraordinary to win. They stopped at a local store, bought a ticket, scratched it and their lives changed.
What Is the Florida Monopoly Lottery?
The Monopoly lottery is not the classic board game. It is an official scratch-off game offered by the Florida Lottery that uses Monopoly branding, symbols, and themes. Think Boardwalk, Park Place, the Monopoly Man, and familiar board spaces all printed on a ticket you can scratch in seconds.
The Florida Lottery partners with the Monopoly brand to create these games, and they’ve become some of the most popular scratch-offs sold in the state. Players love them because they combine the nostalgia of a beloved board game with the instant thrill of a scratch-off ticket.
There are several versions available, each at a different price point:
- $1 and $2 MONOPOLY SECRET VAULT — Entry-level tickets with smaller prize pools
- $5 MONOPOLY SECRET VAULT / DOUBLER — Mid-range tickets with top prizes of $1 million
- $10 MONOPOLY SECRET VAULT — Higher-stakes tickets with top prizes of $2 million
- $20 MONOPOLY SECRET VAULT — Premium tickets with top prizes of $5 million
The overall odds of winning something on the $5 version are around 1-in-3.95. That means for every four tickets you scratch, you can statistically expect to win on at least one of them though that prize may be small. The odds of hitting the $1 million top prize are much harder to beat, but as the stories above prove, it does happen.
How Does the Monopoly Scratch-Off Work?
Playing is simple. You buy a ticket at any authorized Florida Lottery retailer gas stations, grocery stores, convenience stores, supermarkets. You scratch the play area to reveal symbols, numbers, or Monopoly properties. If your revealed symbols match the winning combinations shown on the ticket, you win the corresponding prize.
Some Monopoly-themed games also offer a bonus feature. Non-winning MONOPOLY SECRET VAULT tickets can be entered into the Cash Vault Bonus Play Promotion for a second chance to win cash. This gives even losing tickets some extra value.
Once you win, you claim your prize at a Florida Lottery district office. For prizes of $1 million or more, winners typically visit the main office in Tallahassee. You then choose between an annuity (payments spread over time) or a lump-sum cash payment. Most winners, as we’ve seen, choose the lump sum.
Why Are Monopoly Scratch-Offs So Popular in Florida?
Scratch-off games are a massive part of Florida’s lottery business. They made up roughly 74 percent of all Florida Lottery ticket sales in fiscal year 2023–2024. Among all scratch-offs, Monopoly-themed games stand out for a few key reasons.
First, people already know Monopoly. Almost everyone has played the board game at some point. That familiarity makes the lottery version feel approachable and fun, not just like gambling. Seeing Boardwalk on a ticket triggers a sense of play, not just risk.
Second, the prize pools are large. The $5 MONOPOLY DOUBLER game alone features more than 9.4 million winning tickets and over $132.6 million in cash prizes, including 12 separate top prizes of $1 million. That’s not just one jackpot it’s 12 chances for someone to walk away with a million dollars from a single game.
Third, the price is accessible. Most people can afford a $5 ticket without it affecting their budget. That low barrier to entry keeps the games popular across all income levels.
What Happens After You Win?
Winning a million dollars sounds like the end of the story. In reality, it’s just the beginning. What winners do next matters a great deal.
Taxes come first. Florida does not have a state income tax, which is great news for lottery winners. However, federal taxes still apply. That’s why a $1 million prize becomes roughly $576,900 to $798,985 after taxes, depending on the exact payment chosen. Winners should work with a tax professional right away.
Financial planning matters. Big lottery wins can create new problems if not managed wisely. Financial advisors recommend setting up a budget, creating a trust or investment account, paying off debt, and building a long-term financial plan before spending on anything major.
Privacy is an option — for a while. Florida law allows lottery winners to remain anonymous for 90 days after claiming their prize. After that, names are subject to public record requests. Many winners use this window to get their finances in order before their identities become public.
The store gets rewarded too. Every retailer that sells a winning ticket worth $1 million or more receives a $2,000 bonus commission from the Florida Lottery. That’s a little boost for local businesses that are often small, community-run shops.
How Does the Florida Lottery Benefit the Public?
Many people don’t realize that buying a Florida Lottery ticket does more than give you a chance to win. A significant portion of lottery revenue goes directly to public education.
Since the Florida Lottery began in 1988, scratch-off games alone have generated more than $18.95 billion for the state’s Educational Enhancement Trust Fund. The lottery has also funded the Bright Futures Scholarship Program, which has sent more than 983,000 students to college.
So when a Florida woman wins the Monopoly lottery and more people rush out to buy tickets, the schools benefit too. It’s a system designed so that even people who don’t win contribute to something worthwhile.
Tips for Playing the Florida Monopoly Lottery Responsibly
If these stories have you thinking about buying a Monopoly scratch-off, here are a few practical tips to keep in mind:
Set a budget before you play. Decide how much you’re comfortable spending on lottery tickets in a month and don’t go over that amount. Treat it like entertainment, not an investment.
Check the odds on the ticket. Every scratch-off ticket in Florida has the overall odds of winning printed right on it. The $5 MONOPOLY SECRET VAULT has odds of about 1 in 3.95, which is fairly good for any prize but the top prize odds are far longer.
Don’t chase losses. If you scratch a few tickets and don’t win, resist the urge to keep buying more to try to “win it back.” That’s not how lottery odds work.
Use the second-chance feature. Non-winning tickets for certain Monopoly games can be entered online for bonus drawings. It’s free and takes just a few minutes.
Have fun with it. The best mindset for playing scratch-offs is to treat winning as a bonus, not an expectation. The stories of women winning $1 million from a $5 ticket are real but they’re also rare. Play because it’s fun, not because you’re counting on it.
FAQ: Florida Woman Wins Monopoly Lottery
Is the Florida Monopoly lottery real? Yes. It’s an official scratch-off game offered by the Florida Lottery. It uses licensed Monopoly branding and is sold at authorized retailers across the state.
How much did the Florida woman win playing Monopoly? Multiple Florida women have won. Recent confirmed prizes include $1 million wins by a woman in Miramar in 2024 and a woman in St. Augustine in December 2024, and a $5 million win by a woman from Ellenton in Manatee County.
What is the lump-sum payout for a $1 million Monopoly lottery win in Florida? It varies slightly, but recent winners have received between $576,900 and $798,985 after taxes when choosing the lump-sum option.
Where can I buy a Monopoly scratch-off in Florida? At any authorized Florida Lottery retailer, including supermarkets like Publix, gas stations, and convenience stores throughout the state.
Does Florida tax lottery winnings? Florida has no state income tax, so lottery winnings are not taxed at the state level. However, they are subject to federal income tax.
Can I remain anonymous if I win the Florida lottery? Yes, for 90 days after claiming your prize. After that, your name can become public record under Florida’s public records laws.
What are the odds of winning the $5 Monopoly Secret Vault top prize? The overall odds of winning any prize are about 1-in-3.95. The odds of winning the $1 million top prize specifically are much lower.
Does the store that sells a winning ticket get anything? Yes. Florida Lottery retailers receive a $2,000 bonus commission when they sell a winning ticket worth $1 million or more.
Play responsibly. For help with problem gambling, contact the Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling at 1-888-ADMIT-IT.
