Many Lottery players win playing Pick 5 using special numbers derived from things like license plates and birthdays, but, for a Prince George’s County man, a news story delivered his winning digits.
The casual Lottery player happened to be watching the news recently when he saw a series of numbers related to one of the news stories. He saw 29000 and at that moment, he felt he should play Pick 5 with those exact numbers.
“I don’t even watch the news,” said the young man. “But when I saw those numbers, a feeling came over me and I played them in Pick 5.”
Coincidentally, a woman from Washington, D.C., was similarly inspired, in part by the news, to play 29000 on the same evening. She bought five tickets and ended up with $250,000.
The Prince George’s player purchased his $1 straight bet Pick 5 ticket at Gem Liquors in Lanham, put it in his wallet and headed back home. He realized he won a couple of days later when he remembered he had the ticket and looked up the numbers on the Lottery’s website. His combination, 29000, was an exact match, meaning he won $50,000!
“I couldn’t believe at first,” said the salesman. “I let it sink in and then let my mother and grandmother confirm it because they are the Lottery players, not me.”
“I was so shocked and surprised to see that he actually won,” said the winner’s mother who accompanied him to claim the prize on Oct. 23. “I’m really happy for him.”
The Glenarden resident said he plans to save most of the winnings and will maybe pay off his car.
Gem Liquors at 9443 Annapolis Road in Lanham is also celebrating the win. For selling the winning ticket, the Prince George’s County retailer receives a $500 bonus.
