Crystal Butterworth of Baltimore is $10,000 richer, thanks to a Triple Green Crossword scratch-off. |
Finds lucky prize playing Triple Green Crossword game
A Baltimore mom who plays Maryland Lottery scratch-offs just about every day found the key to winning in a crossword game. Crystal Butterworth told Lottery officials that her Triple Green Crossword ticket surprised her three times, with the last time being the realization that she’d won more than ever before – $10,000.
“I’d been out with friends the night before, played a few games and didn’t win anything,” she said. “I had this nagging feeling all night that I was supposed to win, and it just didn’t happen.”
That feeling stayed with her when Crystal, awoke the next day. The 61-year-old decided to try one more instant ticket. She visited Lottery retailer Patapsco Village Liquors at 3434 Annapolis Road in Baltimore.
“I picked out the same game – Triple Green Crossword – and scratched it in the car. Right away, I saw what looked like five words – a $20 win. I figured that that was it, that I’d found my win, and I put the ticket in my purse.”
When she glanced at the $5 game later at home in Baltimore’s Cherry Hill neighborhood, the loyal player realized there were more spaces to scratch on the instant ticket. “I found three more words, making my prize $1,000,” she said. “I called my sister and we celebrated over the phone.”
Just when she was about to return her lucky ticket to her purse, she realized her scratch-off was even luckier. “I realized that I’d miscounted, that I had 10 words.” Checking the prize list to determine what she’d won, Crystal could not believe her eyes.
“$10,000? Oh my goodness, I could not believe it.” The news produced a similar reaction from her sister. “When I called her that second time, all she said was, ‘I’m on my way.’ ”
Crystal plans to take care of several bills and then save the remainder of her winnings for a rainy day. “I’m due for a vacation,” she said. “It’s been a long time.”