By Todd Northrop
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A woman from Alabama was the holder of a winning lottery ticket from last week's $48 million jackpot drawing of the Florida Lotto game.
Carolyn Bell, 64, of Montgomery, Alabama, claimed what turned out to be the largest Florida Lotto jackpot of 2014, opting to receive her winnings as a one-time, lump-sum payment of $32,609,501.60.
The numbers drawn for the November 19, 2014, Lotto drawing were 13, 16, 17, 26, 39, and 41, with Xtra number 3.
Bell is a loyal Florida Lotto player and plays her lucky numbers every time she visits Florida. Bell said, "I play with the hopes of winning, but never think it is actually going to happen. All I could say was 'Wow!' when I realized my numbers were finally chosen."
Carolyn and her husband have decided to officially retire, but have no plans of changing their current lifestyle.
Bell purchased her jackpot-winning ticket at Stateline Liquors, located at 1065 Highway 179 A in Westville. The retailer received a bonus commission of $210,000 for selling the ticket.
Maulik Joshi works in the store and was unaware of the commission. He said Monday it will first be spent to pay bills and then possibly for store additions.
The Florida Lottery announced that the total ticket sales for the jackpot generated more than $46 million for Florida's students and schools.
The next Florida drawing will be Wednesday, November 26, at 11:15 p.m. Eastern Time, with a $3 million jackpot.
Winning numbers are published on Lottery Post's Florida Lottery Results page soon after each drawing.
Congratulations to Carolyn and her husband. I wish you a happy retirement and a long healthy life!
Very lucky. She would of never played in Florida if Alabama had lotto.
Lots of folks even play two states if they're close enough.
I know I would if the nearest state was less than a 2-hr drive.
A Texan woman only recently snagged a PB jackpot from Missouri and now an Alabama woman has snagged this jackpot from Floridians. Ladies are on the move. Congratulations Ms Bell
Congrats to you Carolyn.....Hope you truly enjoy your newly acquired wealth and have a Merry Christmas
Congrats to the winner.
Meanwhile,
Unknown LP poster:
"How come it's always Florida?"
Unknown Florida player:
"How come it's always someone from out of state?"
etc... ad nauseam
Very nice! Congrats to Carolyn on her win.
I love that a non-Florida resident won the Florida lottery. Go Carolyn from Alabama!
Congratulations Carolyn!
I wonder if Carolyn will have to pay the difference in the two states' Income Taxes -- to Alabama IRS -- before the end of this year?!?
Congrats to a fellow Alabamian ... There's still hope for me!
The only taxes she will be paying is the federal taxes to Alabama. Which people who have won would like to see chance. We believe that the state that you win in such get all the taxes. Why such Alabama get any part of the taxes, they don't approve of gambling here it illegal.