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5 Shocking Facts About The Publix Miami-Dade Fantasy 5 Winner And The Store's Secret Luck

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The dream of instant wealth is a reality for one lucky shopper in Miami-Dade, as a recent Florida Fantasy 5 ticket worth a staggering six-figure sum was confirmed to have been sold at a local Publix. As of today, December 23, 2025, the identity of the winner remains a mystery, but the details of the winning ticket—including the exact store location and the significant jackpot amount—have been released by the Florida Lottery. This latest win solidifies Publix's reputation as a surprisingly consistent hot spot for major lottery prizes across South Florida, turning a routine grocery run into a life-changing event.

The Fantasy 5 game, known for its twice-daily drawings and favorable odds compared to Mega Millions or Powerball, continues to produce numerous jackpot winners across the state. The buzz around this particular Miami-Dade win is amplified by the sheer frequency with which Publix locations, affectionately nicknamed "Pub Subs and Paydays," seem to be the source of these life-altering checks. Below is a detailed breakdown of the winning event and why this specific Miami-Dade Publix store is now on the map as one of the luckiest spots in the Sunshine State.

The $118,145.65 Winning Event: A Store's 'Biography'

Since the specific winner's name is often withheld until they claim the prize, the focus shifts to the location that facilitated the monumental win. The store itself becomes the central character in this lottery tale, earning a bonus commission and attracting a new wave of hopeful players.

  • Winning Lottery Game: Florida Fantasy 5 (Evening Drawing)
  • Exact Prize Amount: $118,145.65
  • Date of Drawing: A recent Friday evening (Specific date is not named in the most recent reports, ensuring the information is current and focused on the event).
  • Retailer Location: Publix Super Market
  • Store Address: 7805 SW 40th St., Miami, FL 33155
  • Shopping Plaza: Tropicaire Shopping Plaza
  • Winning Ticket Type: Not explicitly stated, but often a Quick Pick is the source of major jackpots.
  • Retailer Bonus: The Publix store will receive a bonus commission for selling the winning ticket, typically a small percentage of the jackpot, further incentivizing lottery sales.

This massive single-ticket jackpot was a result of the unique Fantasy 5 prize structure, which often sees the prize pool grow rapidly. The Tropicaire Shopping Plaza Publix now joins a growing list of Miami-Dade locations that have recently produced significant Fantasy 5 winners, including a Miami Gardens Publix that sold a winning midday ticket and a Brickell player who recently won a $56,243.76 prize.

How Fantasy 5 Works: Odds, Rolldown, and Daily Drawings

The Florida Fantasy 5 game is one of the most popular draw games in the state, largely due to its superior odds and unique prize distribution mechanism. Understanding the mechanics is key to appreciating the magnitude of the $118,145.65 win.

The Favorable Odds and Mechanics

Unlike the astronomical odds of games like Powerball or Mega Millions, Fantasy 5 provides a genuinely attainable jackpot. Players select five numbers from a field of 1 to 36. The overall odds of matching all five winning numbers to hit the jackpot are 1 in 376,992, which is significantly better than the 1 in 292 million odds for Powerball.

The game features two drawings every day, known as the Midday and Evening draws, giving players two chances to win every 24 hours. Each play costs $1.00 per drawing.

Fantasy 5 Prize Tiers and Estimated Payouts:

  • Match 5 (Jackpot): Varies daily, often between $50,000 and $200,000. (Odds: 1 in 376,992)
  • Match 4: Pays an average of $100–$120. (Odds: 1 in 2,432.21)
  • Match 3: Pays approximately $10.50. (Odds: 1 in 81.07)
  • Match 2: Wins a free ticket for a future drawing. (Odds: 1 in 8.39)

The Rolldown Feature: Why the Jackpot Was So High

The most compelling feature of the Fantasy 5 game is the "Rolldown" provision. If there is no winner who matches all five numbers (Match 5), the jackpot prize pool does not simply roll over to the next drawing like in other games. Instead, the money "rolls down" and is divided among the winners in the next prize tier (Match 4, Match 3, and so on).

This is likely the reason the recent Miami-Dade Publix jackpot reached $118,145.65. When a rolldown occurs, the Match 5 prize is often significantly higher than the typical average, creating a massive payout for a single winner or split among a few. This feature is a key driver of the game's popularity and is what can turn a modest daily jackpot into a six-figure payday.

The 'Publix Phenomenon': Why Grocery Stores Are Lottery Hotspots

The recent Miami-Dade Fantasy 5 win is not an isolated incident; it is part of a broader "Publix Phenomenon" that sees the grocery chain consistently selling major winning lottery tickets across Florida. Publix, along with other high-traffic retailers like 7-Eleven and Circle K, serves as a primary point of sale for the Florida Lottery.

High Traffic, High Luck

The simple explanation for Publix’s success as a "lucky store" is the sheer volume of transactions. With millions of customers passing through their doors weekly, purchasing groceries, deli items, and the famous Pub Sub, the number of lottery tickets sold is exponentially higher than at smaller retailers. More tickets sold equals a higher probability of a winner.

However, the narrative of a "lucky store" is a powerful marketing tool for the Florida Lottery. The news of a major win at a specific location, such as the Tropicaire Shopping Plaza Publix, creates a surge of new players flocking to that store, hoping to catch a streak of good fortune. This cycle perpetuates the idea that certain locations hold a secret to winning.

Other Notable Publix Wins in Florida

The Miami-Dade Fantasy 5 winner is just one example of the chain's lottery track record. Publix stores have been the site of major wins for various Florida Lottery games:

  • A Boynton Beach Publix sold two Fantasy 5 jackpot-winning tickets within a two-month period.
  • A Lynn Haven Publix sold a $1 million winning ticket in another Florida Lottery game.
  • Publix stores have sold jackpot-winning tickets for high-stakes games like Powerball and Mega Millions, cementing their reputation as a state-wide lottery powerhouse.

For the Tropicaire Shopping Plaza Publix, the $118,145.65 Fantasy 5 prize is a badge of honor, ensuring that for the foreseeable future, this particular location will be a magnet for anyone hoping their next grocery trip will end with a life-changing Quick Pick ticket.

What Happens Next for the Miami-Dade Winner?

The path from a winning ticket to a claimed prize involves several crucial steps, especially for a six-figure jackpot like the one recently won in Miami-Dade.

The winner has 180 days from the date of the drawing to claim their prize at a Florida Lottery District Office. For a substantial amount like $118,145.65, the winner must claim the prize in person at the Miami District Office or the Tallahassee Headquarters.

The winner will have to decide whether to take the prize as a lump-sum cash payment. Importantly, all Florida Lottery prizes are subject to federal withholding taxes. For a prize over $5,000, the Florida Lottery is required to withhold 24% for federal income tax purposes. This means the actual take-home amount will be significantly less than the announced jackpot, a key consideration for the new millionaire (or near-millionaire).

The secrecy surrounding the winner's identity is often by choice. While Florida law allows for the public release of a winner's name, city of residence, and the game won, many winners choose to form a trust or limited liability company (LLC) to claim the prize, adding a layer of privacy and financial protection. As of the time of this report, the winner of the Tropicaire Shopping Plaza Fantasy 5 jackpot has not yet been publicly identified, leaving the South Florida community eager to know who turned their ordinary day into an extraordinary windfall.

5 Shocking Facts About the Publix Miami-Dade Fantasy 5 Winner and the Store's Secret Luck
publix miami-dade fantasy 5 winner
publix miami-dade fantasy 5 winner

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