Lucky lottery store in Sanford draws big business ahead of $1 billion Christmas Eve jackpot

SANFORD, Fla. - People in hope of striking it rich on Christmas Eve filled a popular liquor store to buy Mega Millions tickets in Seminole County.

Tuesday night’s estimated jackpot was $1 billion, or $448.8 million if you choose the cash lump sum. With prior winning tickets taped all around the business, Rhonda Waddle said it pays off to play your odds at her store.

"We do sell a lot of winning tickets," Waddle said. "And it’s not always about the great big ones."

According to Waddle, the business is actually named ‘The Liquor Store’ but became known as ‘Lucky Lottery Store’ after so many winning tickets were sold. 

"Everyone wants to be in on it," Waddle said. "You’re a fool if you’re not, let’s put it that way!"

Now, Waddle’s customers are fantasizing about how they would spend the jackpot.

"[I’d] probably [buy] a Bentley," said Stoner Gray. "That would be my first thing there. I know the color and everything!"

According to Gray, it’s a baby blue Bentley convertible! Others, like John Pagan, aren’t sold on a fancy ride.

"A car’s a car… who needs a Ferrari? I’m too old for that," Pagan said with a laugh.

Pagan said his first move would be to hire a bodyguard. According to Pagan, he usually chooses his numbers.

"I have the 13, the 11, the 27, the 21st – my wife’s birthday," said Pagan.

This time he switched things up.

"Because I haven’t been very lucky with those numbers," he said with a laugh. "I never win anything… but I try anyway, because you’ve got to be in it to win it!"

It’s only the seventh time in the game’s 28-year history the jackpot has crossed the one-billion-dollar mark.

According to Mega Millions, the largest Mega Millions jackpot was in August 2023. The $1.6 billion single-winning ticket was sold in Neptune Beach, FL, just east of Jacksonville.