Powerball players in Florida are being urged to check their tickets after one lucky winner in Spring Hill is sitting on a $1 million prize. The ticket was purchased at a Publix store about 50 miles north of Tampa.
The winner matched five numbers from the February 1 draw, defying odds of approximately 1 in 11.6 million. Unfortunately, they missed out on the jackpot, which has since rolled over to a $100 million prize with a cash value of around $45.3 million.
The Florida win was the largest Powerball prize on Saturday night, as no one else matched five numbers with the Power Play option. The lucky player has 180 days to claim their prize, according to Florida Lottery rules.
Since the prize exceeds $5,000, the winner will be required to pay 24% in federal taxes. However, they will not face any state taxes, as Florida does not tax lottery winnings. This tax-free benefit also applies to players in California and Texas. In contrast, states like New York and New Jersey impose heavy taxes on lottery prizes, with New York charging a 10.9% tax and New Jersey imposing rates of 5% to 8%, depending on the prize amount.
In 2025, only one Powerball winner has been recorded so far: a gambler in Oregon who claimed a $328.5 million jackpot. The winner has the option to take a lump sum of $146.4 million, but will face a hefty tax bill, including Oregon’s 8% state tax, in addition to federal deductions.
