A Collier County man’s pockets are a little fuller Friday after winning $1 million in a scratch-off lottery game.
The $10 ticket paid off for Robert Benker, 82, who chose a one-time, lump-sum payment of $700,000, according to the Florida Lottery, which announced the win.
Attempts to reach Benker for comment were unsuccessful. A Florida Lottery spokeswoman said the family preferred not to speak with the media.
Benker, who purchased the winning ticket at an East Naples Publix, 7101 Radio Road, told Lottery officials he was a frequent scratch-off player but this was his biggest win.
The timing was fortuitous for Benker’s family.
“My nephew, David, whom I am very close to, discovered he had cancer two years ago,” Benker said in a statement released by the Lottery on Friday. “So this prize is going to help us pay for some of the many treatments he is undergoing and it will make life more comfortable for both of us.”
Benker’s nephew was with him to receive the prize.
The odds of winning a prize in the Million Dollar Holiday game that Benker bought are 1 in 3.26, according to the Lottery.
Since last November, there have been four big-ticket lottery wins in Naples and Estero.
Most recently, a patron of Super Star Food Mart in East Naples won about $132,000 in the Fantasy 5 lottery in March.
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Comments » 23
keekee writes:
Congratulations, Mr. Benker! How wonderful. I hope you enjoy every penny.
SandnSurf writes:
That is awesome! I hope he has a blast spending it!!
Iggy writes:
Enjoy Mr Benker!!! I agree BobbyD... some good news for a change! :^)
Max_Headroom writes:
Too bad, he'll end up with under $200K after Obama makes him 'share the wealth'
BonitaBuoy writes:
Awesome! Congrats Mr. Benker!!!
Gifted1 writes:
Make that $ 700,000.00 K. The same amount he would have gotten under mr. personality gdub
leneggs writes:
The sun is out today...thank you President Obama!!!
rasputin writes:
Thanks to Obama, there is no loger a lifetime maximum on his health insurance policy - so he should have more of the $700k to spend on something other than dr's and drugs. You closet homorepublicans really don't get it.
npsobsvr writes:
That's awesome!! Congratulations :)
mattandjess239 writes:
That is awesome. Good luck to both of you!
wonderful (Inactive) writes:
Seems like a nice guy! Hope he doesn't plan to renounce his AAmerican citizenship to avoid taxes like many of the libby dims.
Even better news!:
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/publi...
It's over and AAmerica is going to get better!
Hurry November!
CaptKidd writes:
Congratulations.
ravenhawk writes:
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ravenhawk writes:
Everytime I read about good things like this happening to deserving people I get a warm feeling inside. Very nice thing indeed!
tampacoco writes:
Wow thats great ..Enjoy
JunkYardDog_1 (Inactive) writes:
I hope I win the lottery and as healthy as Robert Benker when I'm in my 80's. Kudos to you Mr. Benker. Now check the bucket list and enjoy yourself!
Captian_Cataracts writes:
Good for you!
I'm happy for you really.
Enjoy it.
miamia writes:
Hi KeeKee, I knew I'd cross your path saying something positive and nice. My congrats also to Mr. Benker...and I'm going out to buy a lottery ticket; how about you?
milo writes:
HIDE FROM YOUR FAMILY, AND ENJOY YOUR WINDFALL
Max_Headroom writes:
Special one, since you probably haven't had a considerable amount of cash before here is what he did, he took the lump sum payment of $700K, which is BEFORE TAXES. And Mr. Obama will now come and take his half, and give it to your friends, who are ALSO on the short bus with you.
Now you better go down stairs, the bus is almost there.
naples_rocket writes:
hey, nephew, shoot me a message! :)
Becksperado writes:
Congratulations! How exciting! :-)
wrightconnection writes:
KARMA! Good things happen to good people. Congatulations on your good fortune. Good luck to your nephew on his recovery. It's nice to hear good news for a change. ENJOY!
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