A Northern Kentucky preschool teacher won over $178,000 after playing a Kentucky Lottery Instant Play game online.
McKenzie Florence of Fort Thomas downloaded the Kentucky Lottery app and played online for the first time on Aug. 13.
“I had just downloaded the app because I saw an advertisement,” Florence told lottery officials.
Just two weeks later, on Aug. 26, Florence instantly won the $178,919.05 jackpot after wagering $10 on the Bankroll Jackpot Instant Play game.
“I hit the button and played, and it popped up,” she said. “I didn’t think much about it. I’m like, ‘I’ll wait until I get home to look at it. It didn’t seem real.’”
Later that day, Florence received an email from the Kentucky Lottery informing her of her big win.
Florence then called her mom to tell her the surprising news.
“I was at work, and she called. She never calls me at work unless there’s something wrong,” Florence’s mother told lottery officials. “So, I immediately was like, ‘What is wrong?”
“I made her call the lottery twice this week just to make sure it was real,” her mom said. “Until we were sitting here with you [lottery official], we 100% didn’t believe it.”
Florence made the drive to lottery headquarters with her parents on Aug. 30 where after taxes, she walked away with a check for $128,821.72.
She told officials her winnings would allow her to buy a car and help pay for her college tuition.
