Big Spin Winners from District Heights, Baltimore Win $150K and $125K

“Jefe,” of District Heights, who was introduced to Maryland Lottery games by her boyfriend, won $150,000 on Aug. 21 on THE BIG SPIN $5 scratch-off.

“The Milkman,” a lifelong resident of Baltimore, is on a lucky streak. Earlier this year he won a $10,000 scratch-off prize then won $125,000 on August 21 on THE BIG SPIN ticket.

Lottery’s game-within-a-game scratch-off ticket delivers fifth and sixth wheel spins

Scratch-off players from District Heights and Baltimore had Maryland Lottery headquarters spinning with activity on Aug. 21 when THE BIG SPIN game delivered prizes of $150,000 and $125,000.

Unique in the Maryland Lottery’s repertoire of scratch-off games, THE BIG SPIN offers a game within a game. Like all scratch-offs, players scratch away the ticket’s coating to reveal prizes. Unlike other scratch-offs, the top prizes on THE BIG SPIN involve visiting the Lottery office to spin a 6-foot-tall brightly colored and lighted prize wheel, where prizes range from a minimum of $50,000 to a maximum of $250,000.

When the $5 game launched on April 22, there were eight wheel spin prizes, and after the two BIG SPIN winners on Aug. 21, just two more of those remain unclaimed. The game also has one more remaining $50,000 instant prize and thousands of additional instant-win prizes ranging from $5 to $5,000.

First up was an anonymous Baltimore resident who chose the nickname “The Milkman,” in honor of one of his grandchildren. After serving in the Army, he went to work for the State of Maryland and retired after 30 years of state service.

His wheel spin resulted in a $125,000 prize, and lately The Milkman has been on a hot streak. Earlier this year, he won a $10,000 prize on another scratch-off ticket. His preference is for scratch-offs because, he said, “I’m impatient. I want my money now!”

The majority of that $10,000 win went to help one of his children purchase a house, and some of his BIG SPIN winnings will be spent on similar efforts.

The Milkman added that he also plans to enjoy his prize by putting a man cave in his house for his Ravens memorabilia.

Asked if he’ll keep on playing, he said, “Oh, you know it.”

The Milkman purchased his winning BIG SPIN ticket at the Check Cash Depot located at 8 16th Avenue in Brooklyn Park. The Anne Arundel County retailer receives a bonus of $1,000.

The day’s second BIG SPIN winner goes by the Spanish nickname “Jefe” because she’s the boss, according to her boyfriend who accompanied her to Lottery headquarters.

“She only plays because I play,” he said after she spun the wheel and won $150,000. Both were electric with laughter, calling relatives and telling them about the wheel spin experience between laughs.

To date, the boyfriend’s biggest wins have been in the $500 range, but Jefe said her previous personal best was more like $20.

The winner said her first instinct after checking the winning ticket was to have her boyfriend re-check it. He did and recalls the clerk at the shop where they bought it was very excited: “He kept saying, ‘This is the one!’”

Jefe says her winnings will come in handy for expanding her catering business. Meanwhile, her Lottery enthusiast boyfriend commented, “I really don’t want to play anymore.” This prompted the winner to say, “I bet he’s going to stop and get a ticket on the way home.”

His reply: “I’ve never played in Baltimore before, so I probably will!”

Jefe bought her winning ticket at Galaxy Food Market at 4917 Suitland Road in Suitland. The Prince George’s County store receives a bonus of $1,000.