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FLORIDA - A routine stop at a gas station turned into a million-dollar moment for a Florida woman after an unexpected sign prompted her to purchase a lottery ticket.
Sarah Mallory of Ocklawaha recently claimed a $1 million prize from the Florida Lottery’s $5 MONOPOLY™ Secret Vault scratch-off game.
Her winning ticket was bought at Belleview Food Store, located on East Highway 25 in Belleview, according to lottery officials.
Mallory said she hadn’t originally planned to buy a ticket that day.
But as she and her husband pulled up on their Harley motorcycle, she noticed a shiny dime on the ground—heads up.
She explained that the couple enjoys collecting dimes, and the moment felt like a sign to take a chance.
Inspired by the small silver coin, Mallory went inside the store and bought a $5 scratch-off ticket.
That decision paid off big time. After scratching the ticket, she revealed the game’s top prize: $1 million.
Mallory chose to receive her winnings as a one-time lump-sum payout of $576,900.
The store that sold her the ticket also benefited, earning a $2,000 bonus commission from the Florida Lottery.
The MONOPOLY Secret Vault game was launched by the Florida Lottery in 2023 and offers players a chance to win prizes ranging from a few dollars to $1 million.
With overall odds of winning at about 1 in 3.98, Mallory beat the odds thanks to a little intuition and a dime that seemed to sparkle at just the right moment.