A longtime Maryland Lottery player from Anne Arundel County is celebrating a $50,000 Pick 5 win that came after decades of playing.
The winner stopped by Maryland Lottery headquarters Sept. 30 to share his story and claim his money, calling the prize his first “brag-worthy” win since the 1990s.
For more than 40 years, he has enjoyed playing Lottery games, winning smaller prizes along the way. But this time, his lucky numbers were based on a variation of his ex-wife’s birthday, 26212, and it delivered a top-tier Pick 5 prize on a $1 ticket.
“I’ve had some wins over the years, but nothing worth bragging about until now,” the player said. “It feels like it’s about time I won something like this.”
The Anne Arundel County resident said he only shared the exciting news with his children so far, promising them a “very good Christmas” this year. He also said he frequently alternates between numbers tied to his kids’ birthdays and his ex-wife’s birthday when choosing his tickets.
He bought the winning ticket at Park’s Drive-In Liquors at 454 East Bay Front Road in Deale. The store receives a $500 bonus for selling a $50,000 winning Pick 5 ticket.
