Says it feels ‘like an enormous weight has been lifted from my shoulders’
There are three things he does every day, a Washington, D.C. resident told Lottery officials this week. He drives a taxi, he drives for a ride-hailing service and he plays scratch-offs. All three paid off for him last week, although his $50,000 second-tier $1 Million Royale win topped the list.
“I buy tickets when I stop for gas,” the hard-working driver explained. “I stay pretty busy, but when I do get a quiet moment or two, they help me pass the time.”
This was the case last week when our lucky winner pulled into Colesville Road Exxon for a fill-up. He purchased two instant tickets, winning with both. Deciding to splurge with the unexpected surplus of cash, the driver picked out a $20 $1 Million Royale instant ticket. “I don’t usually play $20 games, but if felt like a good time to try one.”
He immediately ran his scratch-off through the store prize check scanner and was met with a sight he’d never before encountered. “I often see $5 or $50 wins on the scanner, but there were suddenly so many zeros.” Realizing that his excitement was about to get the better of him, the loyal player quickly made himself calm down. “$50,000! I was breathing so fast I felt like I was about to pass out, and I had a fare to pick up!”
Our winner described the relief he experienced when the enormity of his win became clear. “There’s a debt that I’ve paid on and paid on, but never seems to get smaller. It has been a constant worry for me, every day and every minute.” It seems that his $50,000 prize will free him of this obligation, a fact that he described as a “life-changer.”
Debuting in July of last year, $1 Million Royale still has four $1 million top prizes and two more $50,000 second-tier winners to offer, as well as 36 $10,000 unclaimed prizes. Our happy driver’s favorite gas station can be found at 8384 Colesville Road in Silver Spring.
