Baltimore Player Takes Home $142,159 Progressive Prize

Wins top prize playing the FAST PLAY Payday game

A Baltimore man can thank a cashier at the Soda Pop Shop in Catonsville for his $142,159 FAST PLAY win last week. At the recommendation of the store clerk, the 57-year-old began playing FAST PLAY Payday games several weeks ago and just won one of the game’s progressive top prizes.

Our “Payday Winner,” as he nicknamed himself for Lottery publicity, said he enjoys Lottery games, especially Pick 3 and Pick 4. However, “Payday Winner” was open to a suggestion to try the new $5 FAST PLAY game that joined the Lottery’s lineup in June.

“I was running some errands, so I was in a hurry,” said the winner. “The cashier reminded me about the Fast Play games, so I bought five of them after getting my regular numbers.”

Players know instantly if they win with a FAST PLAY game. “Payday Winner” said he didn’t have time to look at his tickets until later. The father was sitting in his car when he finally gazed at his tickets and could not believe what he saw. One lucky ticket revealed that he was the winner of a $142,159 progressive prize. “Payday Winner” was in shock!

“I kept talking myself out of the win,” he said. “I thought, ‘This is not a winner. It can’t be.’”

To verify his big prize, “Payday Winner” went back to the Soda Pop Shop to scan the ticket. The excited and nervous player wasted no time getting out of the store after confirming his Lottery luck. “I went straight home and locked myself in the house,” he said, chuckling.

The transportation specialist is extremely grateful about his good fortune and shared the news only with his children. He then made an appointment to visit Lottery headquarters to claim his prize. Our happy winner plans to use some of the windfall for his children. He will also pay some bills and invest the rest.

The Payday game has progressive top prizes that grow each time a ticket is sold until a player buys a progressive top prize-winning ticket. Each progressive top prize starts at $40,000 and resets to the minimum prize amount when a player wins the top prize. Up-to-the-minute progressive top prize amounts are printed on the tickets. This game has 16 progressive top prizes remaining.

The Soda Pop Shop located at 1026 Ingleside Avenue is a winner, too. For selling the lucky ticket, the store will receive a $1,000 bonus from the Maryland Lottery.