South Florida Local News
Sumter County man wins $1 million prize after hitting top GIANT BUCKS Scratch-Off jackpot with $5 ticket
Sumter County, Florida – A Sumter County man is celebrating a major lottery win after claiming a $1 million prize from the Florida Lottery’s GIANT BUCKS Scratch-Off game.
James Bostick, 37, of Lady Lake, claimed his winning prize at Florida Lottery Headquarters in Tallahassee on August 4, according to the Florida Lottery. Rather than receiving the full prize over time, Bostick chose the one-time lump-sum payment option.
His immediate payout totaled $606,600.00.
Bostick purchased the ticket that delivered the seven-figure prize from BJ’s Wholesale Club at 13585 N.E. 86th Path in Lady Lake. The winning ticket came from the $5 GIANT BUCKS Scratch-Off game, which offers top prizes of up to $1 million.
The game includes several bonus features designed to add different ways for players to reveal potential prizes. Among them is a giant $250 bonus spot.
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For Bostick, one of those $5 tickets turned into a much larger payday.
The Florida Lottery said GIANT BUCKS is part of its lineup of Scratch-Off games, which remain a major part of lottery sales in the state. Scratch-Off tickets accounted for approximately 74 percent of all Florida Lottery ticket sales during the 2024-2025 fiscal year.
The games have also generated significant prize payouts over the years. Since Scratch-Off games were introduced by the Florida Lottery, they have awarded more than $72.2 billion in prizes, according to the agency.
The games have also produced a large number of new millionaires. The Florida Lottery reports that Scratch-Off games have created 2,510 millionaires since their inception.
Beyond prizes paid to players, the games have contributed billions of dollars to Florida’s public education funding. The Florida Lottery said Scratch-Off games have generated more than $21.28 billion for the state’s Educational Enhancement Trust Fund.
GIANT BUCKS is a $5 game that combines a relatively low ticket price with the possibility of winning one of its top prizes. The game features multiple bonus spots and reveal options, including the $250 bonus feature highlighted by the Florida Lottery.
Bostick’s win adds another name to the growing list of Florida Lottery players who have collected major prizes from Scratch-Off games. His winning ticket was purchased locally in Lady Lake before he traveled to Tallahassee to claim the prize.
After choosing the lump-sum option, Bostick walked away with a $606,600 payment from his $1 million GIANT BUCKS prize, turning a $5 lottery ticket into a life-changing win.
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