Michael Campos of Beltsville became the first person to claim a $50,000 top prize on the Gold Bar Bingo game. |
Claims Gold Bar Bingo game’s top prize
Michael Campos of Beltsville has enjoyed playing bingo-themed Maryland Lottery scratch-offs for nearly a decade. On Jan. 22, he found another 50,000 reasons to like one specific bingo-style game.
That red-letter date is the day he arrived at Lottery headquarters to claim the $50,000 top prize on a Gold Bar Bingo scratch-off. The Prince George’s County man picked up his lucky $5 instant ticket at Riverdale Plaza Liquors, 5729 Riverdale Road in Riverdale Park.
“I’m definitely happy,” said the 27-year-old. He prefers bingo-themed scratch-offs for two reasons. “I can take my time if I want to enjoy it, or, if I’ve got to run, I can scan it,” he said. Michael added that his social life also involves bingo because his girlfriend is an avid bingo player. “I go to the bingo hall with her.”
In his years of playing bingo-themed scratch-offs, the occasional winner has picked up prizes of $100 to $400. “Nothing like this before,” he said.
Michael plans to use his windfall to pay off a few bills and probably buy a car so he doesn’t have to keep borrowing his mother’s vehicle. In addition, he wants to take his family out for a celebration dinner — he’s a big seafood fan!
For selling a top-prize winning scratch-off, Riverdale Plaza Liquors shares in Michael’s good fortune. The Prince George’s County retailer earns a bonus of $500 from the Lottery. The bonus is equal to 1 percent of the prize.
Gold Bar Bingo went on sale the day after Christmas and Michael claimed the game’s first top prize. Six more $50,000 winning scratch-offs remain, in addition to nearly 8,000 unclaimed prizes of $100 to $10,000 and over a million smaller prizes.