Three Tampa Bay-area women won million-dollar prizes while playing different games from the Florida Lottery.
On Wednesday, the Florida Lottery announced that Krista Hyde, 37, of Clearwater, had won a $1 million prize from the $5,000,000 Crossword Cash Scratch-Off game. She bought the ticket at a Clearwater Circle K and chose to receive her winnings in a lump sum payment.
Then, on Thursday, Florida Lottery officials congratulated Derinda Main, 67, of Brandon, after she claimed a $1 million win from the same $5,000,000 Crossword Cash Scratch-Off game. Main purchased her ticket from Discount Cigarette & Grocery in Seffner and took her winnings in a lump sum payment.
Friday, another area woman struck gold in the $1 million A Year for Life Spectacular Scratch-Off game. Debra Maffett of Dade City claimed the win after purchasing the winning ticket from a Publix in Dade City. She took a one-time lump sum payment for her winnings.
Stores that sell winning tickets or games receive a $2,000 bonus commission per win.
Brides, families fighting for refunds after event venue closes suddenly
“We’ve struggled so hard to scrape the money to be able to do this for her,” Irizarry said. “She’s my only girl and I wanted this so much for her.”
Couples and families who had weddings and events planned at a well-known venue that abruptly closed claim they’re out thousands of dollars and aren’t being given refunds. Annette Irizarry was supposed to hold her 15-year-old daughter’s quinceañera in August at the Clearwater location and said she’s now out the $6,160 she paid. Without that money, Irizarry said she can’t afford to have her daughter’s celebration somewhere else.
