httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9luhsKhOYc
A Chestertown man became Maryland’s newest millionaire today when he claimed a $1 million instant prize won playing the Lottery’s Platinum Rewards game. Until today, there were still two $1 million prizes remaining with more than 80% of the game sold.
Walter “Joey” Vansant knew that few tickets were still in stores and that many top prizes were still available as he’s a frequent visitor to the Lottery’s webpage, mdlottery.com. “I’ve been buying Platinum Rewards for months,” he explained. “I eventually bought-out the stock of my neighborhood store.” On Friday, Joey, a vegetable farm owner, located a supply of the hard-to-find game and bought a few to give as Christmas gifts. His family celebrated over the weekend, the only time they could all be together this holiday season. The next day Joey and his wife, Joanne, saw that they had two extra tickets.
Joanne scratched hers upstairs while he played his downstairs. Joanne told us, “I called down to ask how he did. The only response was a thud, a gasp and very deep breathing. I thought I was going to need to call an ambulance.”
The first target of the Vasant’s reinforced checkbook will be the mortgage on the farm and other bills. “The relief of being free of debt will be about as good a feeling as any tropical vacation could give us.”
The winning ticket was sold at Country Liquors, located at 208 Sassafras St. in Millington. The Platinum Rewards scratch-off still has one $1 million instant prize remaining, along with two $50,000 second-tier prizes.