For lottery enthusiasts and casual players alike, the notion of a lucky store is the stuff of dreams. On Sunday, March 22, 2026, that dream seemed to come alive for three Fantasy 5 players at a Publix grocery store in Palm Harbor, Florida. In a twist that has locals buzzing, three winning tickets, each worth $33,333.33, were sold at the very same location—Publix store #1340 at 35439 US 19 North, according to reporting from Florida Lottery and USA TODAY Network.
It’s not every day that a single store witnesses such a lottery windfall, let alone in the third month of the year, with each ticket securing a third of the $100,000 midday Fantasy 5 jackpot. The winning numbers for the midday draw—5, 13, 18, 21, and 22—have now been etched into local lore, leaving residents to wonder if a stroke of serendipity or a statistical quirk was at play. The Florida Lottery has not revealed whether the three tickets belonged to the same person or three different winners, keeping the town’s curiosity piqued.
For those unfamiliar, Palm Harbor sits in Pinellas County, about 20 miles from the bustling hubs of St. Petersburg and Tampa. The Publix in question is no ordinary grocery store—it’s part of a Florida-based supermarket giant with deep roots in the Sunshine State. Publix, headquartered in Lakeland, Florida, operates nearly 900 stores across the state as of March 2026 and employs more than 260,000 people across the southeastern U.S.
But this isn’t the first time Publix has been associated with lottery luck. As USA TODAY Network notes, Publix has previously sold tickets for some of the largest jackpots in history. Back in January 2016, a Publix in Melbourne Beach was one of three locations nationwide to sell a winning ticket for the record-breaking $1.586 billion Powerball jackpot. More recently, a Neptune Beach Publix sold the single winning ticket for the $1.58 billion Mega Millions jackpot in August 2023, netting the store a $100,000 bonus. Even a $980 million Mega Millions ticket was sold at a Publix in Newnan, Georgia, underscoring the chain’s uncanny knack for lottery fortune.
Returning to the March 22 Fantasy 5 midday draw, the odds of matching all five numbers and winning the jackpot are a staggering 1 in 376,992, according to Florida Lottery. With an overall 1 in 7.58 chance to win any prize, most players walk away empty-handed or with modest sums. Yet, for those three ticket holders, fate had other plans. Each walked away with $33,333.33—a tidy sum for a $1 ticket. The Fantasy 5 game, which costs just a dollar to play, offers daily draws at 1:05 p.m. and 11:15 p.m. ET, including holidays. Players can select their own five numbers between 1 and 36 or opt for a Quick Pick, letting the machine choose at random.
And the luck didn’t carry over into the evening. That night’s Fantasy 5 numbers—7, 10, 15, 19, and 32—failed to produce any winners, resulting in a “rolldown” where the prize money cascades to lower-tier winners. It’s a reminder that fortune’s favor is fleeting and unpredictable, even at a store that just delivered a trio of winners earlier that day.
For those hoping to cash in on their own bit of luck, the process is straightforward but comes with a ticking clock. Florida Lottery prizes must be claimed within 180 days (six months) from the date of the drawing. If a winner wants the lump-sum cash option, they must claim it within the first 60 days after the draw. And while many dream of anonymity, Florida law doesn’t make it easy. The Florida Lottery is required to provide records—including the winner’s name, city of residence, game won, date, and amount—to anyone who asks. However, for prizes of $250,000 or more, winners can enjoy a brief reprieve from the spotlight: their names are exempt from public disclosure for 90 days after claiming—unless they choose to waive that protection.
So, what about your odds of joining the ranks of Florida’s lottery winners? For Fantasy 5, the chances are slim, but the excitement is real. The game offers a range of prizes, from $1 up to the $100,000 jackpot, and features add-ons like Advance Play and EZmatch for those who want to boost their odds or play the same numbers for multiple draws. Advance Play allows players to use the same numbers for up to 30 consecutive days, or 60 consecutive drawings if they choose both midday and evening options. EZmatch, for an extra dollar, gives players a shot at instant winnings if any of their numbers match the EZmatch numbers.
Buying lottery tickets in Florida is easier than ever, with most gas stations, grocery stores, and even some Walmart locations offering tickets. Publix is a favorite among many, not just for groceries but for its reputation as a lucky spot for lottery hopefuls. And if you’re ever wondering where to buy, the Florida Lottery’s website features a handy “Where to Play” tool to locate the nearest ticket vendor.
While some might dismiss lottery wins as pure chance, there’s no denying the excitement that sweeps through a community when a local store delivers a windfall. As USA TODAY Network playfully observed, “Seven is universally known as a lucky number, but in one Florida Lottery game − it was all about the 3s.” Indeed, with three tickets, three winners, and a prize of $33,333.33 each—sold in the third month of the year—the number three took center stage in Palm Harbor’s lottery lore.
For those still chasing their own winning moment, the next Fantasy 5 draw is just around the corner, with numbers drawn daily at 1:05 p.m. and 11:15 p.m. ET. And who knows? Maybe the next lucky ticket will come from your neighborhood store—or even the same charmed Publix in Palm Harbor. Until then, good luck, good luck, good luck!