Timeline

Mission Statement: The Florida Lottery was created to allow the people of the state to benefit from significant additional moneys for education while playing the best lottery games available. The mission of the Florida Lottery is to maximize revenues in a manner consistent with the dignity of the state and the welfare of its citizens.

 
  2009
 
   
 
Oct 11
image of Timeline Ball The Florida Lottery begins selling LOTTO™ with XTRA® tickets, allowing players to multiply their non-jackpot cash winnings.
 
Oct 3
image of Timeline Ball First Florida player hits POWERBALL jackpot to win $189 million.

 
Jul 4
image of Timeline Ball The second Firecracker MILLIONAIRE RAFFLE™ drawing takes place, making seven lucky winners new millionaires and awarding 1,020 cash prizes ranging from $500 to $50,000. In addition, the Florida Lottery worked with Travelocity® to offer players the opportunity to instantly win one of 60, 3-night cruises.
 
May 27
image of Timeline Ball The Florida Lottery receives Legislative budgetary authority to lease 1,000 Instant Ticket Vending Machines (ITVMs) to be placed in retail locations across the state.
 
May 20
image of Timeline Ball The Florida Lottery transfers $97,014,000 to the EETF, bringing the Lottery’s total education contributions to exceed the $20 billion mark.
 
Feb 24
image of Timeline Ball The Florida Lottery launches a new $20 Scratch-Off game, BILLION DOLLAR BLOCKBUSTER, which offers an unprecedented $1 billion in prizes, including 10 instant-win top prizes of $10 million. The game has the highest cash payout of any game in the Lottery's 21-year history.
 
Jan 4
image of Timeline Ball The Florida Lottery launches POWERBALL®; first day sales top $1.5 million.
 
   
 
  2008
 
   
 
Dec 31
image of Timeline Ball The third Holiday MILLIONAIRE RAFFLE™ drawing takes place, making 9 lucky winners new millionaires and awarding 10 prizes of $50,000, 12 prizes of $5,000 and 1,000 prizes of $500.
 
Aug 19
image of Timeline Ball The Florida Lottery transfers $96,008,000 to the EETF, bringing the Lottery's total education contributions to exceed the $19 billion mark.
 
   
 
Jul 2
image of Timeline Ball The Florida Lottery announces it will join the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL) and add POWERBALL® to its portfolio of games.
 
Jun 30
image of Timeline Ball The $5 raffle game Summer Cash™ begins. During the eight-week game period, players have the chance to win one of eight $250,000 prizes, 40 gas-for-life prizes, 400 gas-for-a-year prizes and more than 100,000 instant cash prizes of $25.
 
 
 
 
 
May 19
image of Timeline Ball CASH 3™ and PLAY 4™ add midday draws at 1:30 p.m., offering players two daily chances to play and win!
 
   
 
Mar 2
image of Timeline Ball FLORIDA LOTTO™ began offering $2 and $3 LOTTO PLUS™ tickets, which allow players to add millions more to their jackpot!
 
   
 
Jan 21
image of Timeline Ball The Florida Lottery’s first $30 Scratch-Off game, $600 MILLION HIGH ROLLER, debuts. The game includes 20 top prizes of $1 million and offers winners of the $1,000 and $20,000 prizes a chance to win an additional $20 million in a grand prize drawing.
 
   
 
Jan 12
image of Timeline Ball The Florida Lottery celebrates its 20th anniversary! Events are held in district office locations throughout the state for players to join in the celebration.
 
   
 
   
 
  2007
 
   
 
Dec 29
image of Timeline Ball The second Holiday MILLIONAIRE RAFFLE™ drawing takes place, making 12 lucky winners new millionaires and offering 25 prizes of $100,000 and 200 prizes of $10,000.
 
 
 
   
 
Nov 19
image of Timeline Ball The Florida Lottery transfers $96,446,000 to the EETF, bringing the Lottery’s total education contributions to exceed the $18 billion mark.
 
 
 
   
 
Jul 10
image of Timeline Ball The Florida Lottery launches the LIFE family of Scratch-Off games, in which players could win annuity prizes, payable once per year over the life of the winner – whether that’s 20 years, 50 years or more.
 
 
 
   
 
Jul 4
image of Timeline Ball The Firecracker MILLIONAIRE RAFFLE™ drawing takes place, making 12 lucky winners new millionaires and offering 25 prizes of $100,000 and 200 prizes of $10,000 .
 
 
 
   
 
Jun 13
image of Timeline Ball Governor Crist signs Senate Bill 1376, granting the Florida Lottery authority to apply for and hold patents for unique lottery games, play styles, methods and systems that are developed by the Lottery’s product development specialists.
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
Mar 5
image of Timeline Ball The Florida Lottery introduces CARS & CASH, a limited-time promotion offering the opportunity to win a total of six $250,000 cash prizes and 42 Ford vehicles.
 
 
 
   
 
Jan 23
image of Timeline Ball $20 MILLION DOLLAR MONOPOLY Scratch-Off ticket debuts. Just 10 days later, (Feb 2) 90 year old Myrna Fonda claims the first of six $1 million top prizes.
 
 
 
 
 
Jan 19
image of Timeline Ball The Florida Lottery transfers $96,360,000 to the EETF, bringing the Lottery’s total education contributions to exceed the $17 billion mark.
 
 
 
   
 
Jan 2
image of Timeline Ball Governor Charlie Crist appoints Leo DiBenigno as the sixth secretary of the Florida Lottery.
 
   
 
Jan 1
image of Timeline Ball Holiday MILLIONAIRE RAFFLE™ drawing takes place New Year’s Day awarding 130 winners more than $13 million in prizes. Ten lucky players receive one million dollars apiece, the highest number of millionaires in a single drawing in the history of the Florida Lottery. The game, which started Nov. 20, sold out in 11 days.
 
 
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
  2006
 
   
 
Dec 3
image of Timeline Ball CASH 3™ number 7-7-7 produces 18,542 winners and $4,545,275 in prize payouts in a single day. It also marks the third time this year a triplet CASH 3 number is drawn (9-9-9 drawn in July, 3-3-3 drawn in April).
 
 
 
   
 
Jul 3
image of Timeline Ball The Florida Lottery unites with racecar giant International Speedway Corporation to launch its first ever Race for Cash promotion offering players more than $2 million in prizes and travel packages to NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Race events.
 
 
 
   
 
Apr 19
image of Timeline Ball Two FLORIDA LOTTO™ players share the fourth highest jackpot of $87.9 million after 10 rollovers. The advertised jackpot was $82 million, but strong sales push the actual payoff much higher. Both winners use Quick Pick to choose the six winning numbers.
 
   
 
   
 
Mar 20
image of Timeline Ball The Florida Lottery introduces an exciting new playing option called EZmatch™ to enhance FANTASY 5® allowing players to win up to $500 instantly.
 
   
 
   
 
Feb 20
image of Timeline Ball Florida Lottery retailers start receiving increased bonus commission for selling a winning FLORIDA LOTTO™, MEGA MONEY™, or FANTASY 5® top prize ticket.
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
  2005
 
   
 
Nov 21
image of Timeline Ball  The Florida Lottery launches its Cash for the Holidays promotion. An estimated 900,000 players across Florida enter the special Cash for the Holidays New Year’s Eve drawing. One lucky player wins the $1 million jackpot and 10 players win $1,000 each.
 
   
 
Oct 1
image of Timeline Ball Forty players share FANTASY 5® top prize, topping the previous record number of top prizewinners for one FANTASY 5 drawing, which was set in January when 25 prizewinners shared the top prize.
 
 
 
 
 
Feb 3
image of Timeline Ball The Florida Lottery conducts three days of live drawings held in conjunction with Super Bowl XXXIX in Jacksonville, only three days after launch of the new gaming system.
 
 
 
   
 
Jan 31
image of Timeline Ball The Florida Lottery and GTECH Corporation launch the most successful gaming system conversion in lottery history.
 
   
 
Jan 31
image of Timeline Ball The new GROUPER® playstyle is introduced and it produces $1.3 million in sales during the first week of sales.
 
   
 
   
 
  2004
 
   
 
Oct 28
image of Timeline Ball Florida Lottery Secretary Rebecca Dirden Mattingly dedicates a new Florida Lottery Reading Room to participants and families in a Leon County Boys and Girls Club.
 
   
 
Aug 12
 image of Timeline Ball An estimated $15 million FLORIDA LOTTO™ ticket, sold in St. Petersburg, remains unclaimed after the 180-day redemption deadline.
 
 
 
   
 
Jun 30
image of Timeline Ball Tickets sales, for fiscal year 2003-2004, exceed $3 billion for the first time in the history of the Florida Lottery.
 
 
 
   
 
Jun 29
image of Timeline Ball
 GOLD RUSH, the first $20 Scratch-Off game, launches and sales exceed $3.7 million in the first week.
 
   
 
Jan 30
image of Timeline Ball

Changes are made to the Florida Lottery’s newest On-line game MEGA MONEY by increasing the starting jackpot to $500,000 for each drawing and climbing to $2 million, increasing lower tier prize payouts, adding two new prize levels and a free MEGA MONEY ticket for matching only the MEGABALL. The overall odds are improved and the game matrix is changed to (1 out of 44) and (1 out of 22) for the MEGABALL.
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
   
 
  2003
 
   
 
Nov 11
 image of Timeline Ball

The largest unclaimed FLORIDA LOTTO™ ticket, an estimated $53.7 million, ($30.1 million Cash Option) sold in North Bay Village, expires after the 180-day redemption deadline. A special one-time deposit was made into the EETF in the amount of $30.1 million.

 
 
 
 
   
 
Nov 8
image of Timeline Ball The Florida Lottery launches its first Internet second chance promotion, SHOPPING SPREE CASH, for players purchasing $5 worth of non-winning FLORIDA LOTTO™, MEGA MONEY™, or FANTASY 5® tickets.
 
 
 
   
 
Mar 5
image of Timeline Ball Governor Jeb Bush appoints Rebecca Dirden Mattingly the fourth permanent Secretary of the Florida Lottery.
 
 
 
Jan 12
image of Timeline Ball The Florida Lottery celebrates its 15th anniversary with $12.50 billion in transfers to the EETF and $30 billion in gross tickets sales.
 
 
   
 
   
 
  2002
 
   
 
Dec 14
image of Timeline Ball The second highest FLORIDA LOTTO™ jackpot estimated at $104.85 million is shared between four winning tickets.
 
 
 
Sep 7
image of Timeline Ball Seven FLORIDA LOTTO™ players share the third highest jackpot, of $87.81 million, created from a record of 10 rollovers. Each player used personal numbers to select the winning numbers.
 
 
   
 
Jun 25
image of Timeline Ball A transfer of $926 million into the EETF, brings total education contributions to $12 billion. The Florida Lottery reached the $12 billion milestone faster than any other state Lottery. This achievement followed a record year of $2,330,365,000 in net ticket sales.
 
   
 
Mar 10
image of Timeline Ball The PLAY 4™ winning numbers, 0-0-0-0, produce a record 1,182 winners and a record $4,402,500 payout.
   
 
Jan 19
image of Timeline Ball Four winners share $87.63 million, the third-highest jackpot in FLORIDA LOTTO™ history. Each winner used the Quick Pick feature to select the winning numbers. The tickets were purchased in Brooksville, Jacksonville, Miami and Wellington.
   
 
   
 
  2001
 
   
 
Oct 19
image of Timeline Ball An estimated $7 million FLORIDA LOTTO™ ticket sold in Fern Park remains unclaimed after the 180-day redemption deadline.
   
 
Jun 5
image of Timeline Ball The Lottery launches the $2 Scratch-Off game, GOLF & CASH, in partnership with Top Flite®.
 
   
 
May 1
image of Timeline Ball In partnership with Universal Studios the Lottery launches the $1 Scratch-Off game FAME, FORTUNE & ADVENTURE.
 
   
 
Apr 3
image of Timeline Ball

The $2 Scratch-Off game, CRUISE & CASH, launches in partnership with Carnival Cruise Lines®.

 
   
 
Feb 8
image of Timeline Ball The HARLEY-DAVIDSON Scratch-Off game launches offering Harley-Davidson motorcycles as prizes.
   
 
   
 
  2000
 
   
 
May 12
image of Timeline Ball The Florida Lottery becomes the first state lottery to transfer $10 billion (to education) in a 12-year span of operation.
 
   
 
Apr 28
image of Timeline Ball TThe Florida Lottery partners with Universal Studios Orlando to introduce the MEN IN BLACK® Alien Attack® Scratch-Off ticket. The game sells 3.5 million tickets during the first seven weeks after launch.
 
     
 
Mar 29
image of Timeline Ball The largest FLORIDA LOTTO™ jackpot won by a single winner, an estimated $81.6 million, breaks the previous single winner record set by Sheelah Ryan, of Winter Springs, who won $55.16 million on September 3, 1988. The ticket was later claimed by Whispering Pines Lottery Trust of New Port Richey.
 
 
 
   
 
  1999
 
   
 
Jun 17
image of Timeline Ball

Governor Jeb Bush appoints David Griffin as the third Secretary of the Florida Lottery.

 
   
 
Mar 18
image of Timeline Ball The Florida Lottery sets a North American state lottery record for transferring $9 billion to the EETF after only 11 years of operation.
 
   
 
Jan 11
image of Timeline Ball

Governor Jeb Bush appoints Miami attorney Sue M. Cobb as interim Secretary of the Florida Lottery.
 
   
 
   
 
  1998
 
   
 
Nov 9
image of Timeline Ball

The first $5 Scratch-Off game, 12 WAYS TO CELEBRATE, launches.

   
 
Oct 21
image of Timeline Ball

The Florida Lottery offers winners a Cash Option (Lump Sum) for their jackpot winnings.
   
 
Feb 25
image of Timeline Ball

The Florida Lottery introduces MEGA MONEY™.

   
 
Jan 12
image of Timeline Ball The Florida Lottery celebrates its 10th anniversary - with a life-to-date total of more than $21 billion in ticket sales, and $8 billion in transfers to the EETF.
   
   
 
  1997
 
   
 
Nov 29
image of Timeline Ball

The Happy LOTTO Days promotion begins guaranteeing starting jackpots of $40 million for the drawings held in December.

 
 
   
 
Jul 20
image of Timeline Ball Have A Perfect Summer promotion launches offering 40 seven-night Caribbean cruise for two and $1,000 in spending money.
 
 
   
 
May 23
image of Timeline Ball

Governor Lawton Chiles signs the bill that creates the Florida Lottery-funded Bright Futures Scholarship Program.
 
 
   
 
Jan 29
image of Timeline Ball

The Lottery introduces 500 Instant Ticket Vending Machines (ITVM’s) as a pilot program in the Orlando area.

 
 
   
 
   
 
  1996
 
   
 
Feb 28
 image of Timeline Ball

The Florida Lottery awards the first grand prize of $1,000-a-week-for-life in the WIN FOR LIFE Scratch-Off game to Barbara Arens, of Clearwater.

 
 
   
 
   
 
  1995
 
   
 
Oct 13
 image of Timeline Ball

The Lottery’s new weekly TV game show, “Flamingo Fortune,” airs on 11 television stations statewide. The show enjoys a four-year run, ending October 17, 1999.

 
 
   
 
   
 
  1994
 
   
 
May 24
image of Timeline Ball The Lottery launches its first mail-in promotion, The Great LOTTOMOBILE Giveaway, with 50 Ford Mustang GTs as top prizes.
 
 
   
 
   
 
  1993
 
   
 
Sep 27
 image of Timeline Ball

Tickets for the first $2 Scratch-Off game, BINGO, go on sale and offer a top prize of $10,000.

 
   
 
   
 
  1992
 
   
 
Mar 2
 image of Timeline Ball

The “COMBO” play style was added to CASH 3, giving players greater flexibility with their number combinations to win a top prize.

 
   
 
   
 
  1991
 
   
 
Jul 4
image of Timeline Ball Tickets go on sale for the new On-line game, PLAY 4™.
   
 
Jan 8
image of Timeline Ball Governor Lawton Chiles appoints Dr. Marcia Mann the second Secretary of the Florida Lottery.
   
 
   
 
  1990
 
   
 
Sep 15
image of Timeline Ball Six FLORIDA LOTTO™ players split the highest jackpot since start up, an estimated $106.5 million.
 
   
 
Sep 14
image of Timeline Ball The Florida Lottery sets single-day ticket sales record of more than $30 million, as the result of the $100+ million FLORIDA LOTTO™ jackpot.
 
   
 
Apr 3
image of Timeline Ball Quick Pick is introduced for On-line games.
 
   
 
   
 
  1989
 
   
 
Apr 28
image of Timeline Ball

The Florida Lottery launches the third On-line game, FANTASY 5®.

   
 
   
 
  1988
 
   
 
Sep 3
 image of Timeline Ball

Florida Lottery sets a world record for largest jackpot paid to sole winner. Sheelah Ryan, of Winter Springs wins the $55.16 million FLORIDA LOTTO™ jackpot.

   
 
Aug 27
image of Timeline Ball

FLORIDA LOTTO™ rolls over to an estimated $52 million, setting a national and world record for Lotto jackpots.

   
 
May 28
image of Timeline Ball

Josie Moore, of Port Charlotte, wins the first FLORIDA LOTTO™ jackpot. The estimated $14 million jackpot is paid to Moore in 20 annual installments.
   
 
May 7
image of Timeline Ball The first FLORIDA LOTTO™ drawing is held in Tallahassee at 11:00 p.m. ET with an estimated $2 million jackpot. No one selected all six winning numbers, producing the Lottery’s first rollover.
 
 
 
 
Apr 29
image of Timeline Ball

The first two On-line games FLORIDA LOTTO™ and CASH 3™ debut.

 
   
 
Feb 15
image of Timeline Ball

The first transfer of Lottery-generated funds to the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund (EETF) occurs in the amount of $46.26 million.

   
 
Feb 13
image of Timeline Ball

Thomas W. Sawyer becomes the first Florida Lottery millionaire when he wins the Million Dollar Grand Prize Drawing held in Clearwater.

 
 
 
 
Jan 29
image of Timeline Ball

The Lottery repays the $15.5 million startup loan, plus interest, to the General Revenue Fund.

   
 
Jan 12
image of Timeline Ball

Ticket sales begin for the first Scratch-Off game, MILLIONAIRE. Sales for the game exceed $95 million, breaking the national sales record previously held by the California Lottery.

 
 
 
 
   
 
  1987
 
   
 
Jul 16
image of Timeline Ball Governor Martinez appoints Rebecca Paul the first Secretary of the Florida Lottery.
   
 
Jun 4
 image of Timeline Ball Governor Bob Martinez signs the Florida Public Education Lottery Act creating a new state agency.
   
 
   
 
1986
 
 
 
Nov 4
image of Timeline Ball

By a two-to-one margin, Florida voters approve a constitutional amendment authorizing the state to operate a lottery for the purpose of generating additional funds for education.