A big lottery win has been a long time coming for  Joseph Williams James III, and he could have taken $1,000 for life. But instead, he'll take the quick loot.

  James, of Fort Lauderdale, claimed the top prize in the $1,000 A Week for Life Scratch-off Game Monday at Florida Lottery headquarters in Tallahassee.

       According to James, he has played the lottery for nearly 25 years but never played Scratch-Off games.

“I was at the store last week and decided to buy some Scratch-Off tickets because I had an extra $10 on me. I chose the $1,000 A Week for Life game that was in the same number bin as my birthday. I bought five of them, which my wife helped me scratch, and the big winner was in there,” James explained to lottery officials.

James (pictured with his wife) chose to receive the winnings in a one-time, lump-sum payment  of $846,715.12. He purchased his winning Scratch-Off ticket at Winn Dixie, located at 680 N. Federal Highway in Fort Lauderdale.

            The $2 game launched on Feb. 5. There are six $1,000 A Week for Life top prizes remaining in the game.