Florida lottery offers free gas for life

TALLAHASSEE, Fl. (WJRT) -- (07/10/08) -- In a sign of the times, the Florida Lottery is giving free gas as a prize. In a new game, five people will win free gas for life or $52,000 in cash if they prefer.

Fifty people will get free gas for a year in the form of gas cards worth $2,600.

A consolation prize in this Florida lottery game may not be cash, but for those struggling to fill up their gas tanks, it could be just as good.

The lottery held its first Summer Cash drawing on Wednesday and the grand prize winner will get a quarter of a million dollars. But the prizes don't stop there.

"We thought that gas would be something that would be a value to our players with the prices these days. It was validated by a survey that we did, an online survey and some additional research. We've gotten really great feedback from players. Our players have really embraced it," said state spokeswoman Jackie Barreiros.

The game works like a raffle.  Each ticket costs $5, and drawings will be held weekly through the end of next month.

Each week, five winners will get free gas for the rest of their lives or $52,000 in cash if they prefer.

There will also be 50 third-place prizes of gas cards good for a year's worth of free fill-ups.

The lottery announced its new game late last month, just as the average price of regular gas hit $4, and it will run for eight weeks.

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