A Howard County man who said he could hear the winning ticket call to him is $250,000 richer after winning a top prize on the Money Bags scratch-off game.
On Aug. 4, the auto mechanic was on his way home from work when he stopped at the Weis grocery store in Woodstock. He planned to buy a Powerball ticket, but was drawn to the $10 Money Bags scratch-off game. He purchased both the Powerball and scratch-off tickets out of the Lottery vending machine.
“I buy whatever calls to me,” said the winner. “And that feeling led me to buying the Money Bags game.”
The Howard County resident scratched the ticket when he got to his car. He revealed the “win” symbol and was shocked to see the prize underneath.
“I thought $10, maybe $20 bucks, but then I saw all of them zeroes,” he said Aug. 8 he claimed the prize at Lottery headquarters in Baltimore. There were four zeroes, plus a 2 and a 5, as he had revealed a $250,000 top prize. Before he could gather his thoughts, he drove home to share the news with his wife.
“He comes in, looking weird and shaking,” said the wife, who accompanied her husband to claim the prize. “He said, ‘I did a thing,’ and showed me the scratch-off.”
The wife, in disbelief, scratched the barcode and scanned the ticket, confirming the $250,000 win. After sharing the news with their grown children, the couple basked in the glow of the impressive win.
“We would look at each other and just break out into laughter,” said the winner’s wife.
When claiming the prize, the couple said they will use the money for home improvements and a new car. They plan to save the rest.
Money Bags, that launched in February 2025, still has two $250,000 top prizes remaining and one $50,000 prize. In addition, there are hundreds of thousands of prizes ranging from $10 to $10,000 still waiting to be found.
Celebrating along side the winning Howard County couple is the Weis Market at 10825 Birmingham Way in Woodstock, which receives a $1,000 bonus.
