A longtime Maryland Lottery player from Baltimore’s Brooklyn neighborhood is celebrating a six-digit win after claiming a $100,000 top prize on the Double Your Money scratch-off.
When he claimed his prize at Lottery headquarters in Baltimore on Oct. 17, the winner said that he’s always enjoyed the excitement that comes with scratching a ticket. He has been playing the Lottery since he turned 18, more than 25 years ago.
“I’ve played almost every game over the years,” he said. “Scratch offs are my favorite because you never know what you might reveal.”
On the day of his big win, he was visiting the Walmart at 407 George Clauss Boulevard in Severn with his family. As usual, he made a quick stop at the Lottery vending machine.
“I saw the Double Your Money ticket and bought one right away,” he said. “I was planning to grab a few more, but someone was rushing behind me, so I hurried.”
He scratched the barcode and scanned the ticket immediately. He couldn’t believe his eyes.
“The screen read, ‘Winner, $100,000!’” he recalled. “I screamed, ‘I just won $100,000!’ and ran out of the store.” Once in his car, he scratched the rest of the ticket and scanned it again on his phone to confirm the win. When the message read ‘Take to Lottery,’ he knew it was real.
As a seasoned player, he said he’d never seen that message before but instantly knew the ticket was a winner. The player already has plans for his prize. He hopes to buy a new car and a camper so he and his brother can enjoy camping and taking road trips together.
When asked about his plans for future Lottery play, the winner smiled and said, “I play for the thrill and the love of the game. Hopefully, my next win will be an even bigger one.”
Double Your Money is a $10 ticket that debuted in July. The game still has 10 prizes at the $100,000 top-tier level, and two $50,000 second-tier prizes that remain unclaimed.
The Walmart receives a $1,000 bonus for selling the top prize winner.
