A Maryland Lottery player has finally scratched her way to a top prize after 30 years of playing. The Montgomery County woman stopped by Lottery headquarters Sept. 5 with her daughter to claim her prize and celebrate her win on the $10 Lucky 7s Multiplier scratch-off game.
She bought the ticket at her go-to retailer, Brighton Beer & Wine at 225 Muddy Branch Road in Gaithersburg. She said the game’s “bright, bold colors” caught her eye, but emphasized that she enjoys playing all Lottery games.
“It’s the joy of playing and the hope to win money to change my family’s fortune that keeps me playing,” she said.
After buying tickets, she rushed home to scratch them in her usual spot. When she revealed her prize, she thought she was seeing things. Excited, she immediately called her daughter to confirm.
“My daughter looked at it and said, ‘Mom, I think you really did win!’ I asked her to check it on the app to be sure and sure enough, I had a winner!” the winner recounted.
Overcome with emotion, she said, “I began to cry. I’ve been playing all these years and I’ve never won a top prize. I felt so happy and thankful.”
When asked about her plans, she didn’t hesitate. She intends to pay off her house and save the rest for her family’s future. And while this win is life-changing, she isn’t done playing yet. She joked that the next prize she’s aiming for is the $1.8 billion Powerball estimated annuity jackpot. The next Powerball drawing is Sept. 6, and the estimated cash option is $826.4 million.
The win wasn’t just exciting for her family. Brighton Beer & Wine will also receive a $777.77 bonus for selling the lucky top-prize ticket.
