“Ju’sta” from Clinton celebrates her $50,000 top prize in the March 5 Bonus Match 5 drawing. |
Temple Hills retailer sells lucky ticket in March 6 drawing
A longtime Maryland Lottery enthusiast from Clinton gave her husband a big surprise on March 6, courtesy of a top-prize-winning Bonus Match 5 ticket. The lucky winner, who dubbed herself “Ju’sta,” has won several prizes over the years. Her largest previous win was $1,200, so when she told her husband that her Bonus Match 5 ticket was a $50,000 winner, he thought it was a joke.
“I thought she was playing,” he said when the couple arrived at Maryland Lottery headquarters in Baltimore to claim the top prize from the March 6 drawing. After she showed him the ticket, he was surprised because he thought she had won $10,000.
“Keep looking!” she said. After a closer inspection, the scope of his surprise increased five-fold. The big win came because of a chance purchase. Ju’sta, 55, was in a hurry so she asked for a $1 quick pick ticket, even though usually she plays family dates of birth. The change of pace paid off handsomely, as her ticket matched all five of the winning numbers in the March 6 drawing: 8, 19, 29, 32 and 33.
Ju’sta regularly enjoys playing Bonus Match 5 as well as Pick 4, and when the jackpots are high she also plays Mega Millions and Powerball. Her husband, meanwhile, generally plays only when the Mega Millions and Powerball jackpots are large.
Meanwhile, the Maryland Lottery retailer where Ju’sta buys most of her tickets – including the lucky Bonus Match 5 ticket – has reason to celebrate as well. S&W Liquors at 7072 Allentown Road in Temple Hills receives a bonus of $500, equal to 1 percent of the prize total.
“It’s not too far from our house,” Ju’sta said, adding that she and her husband have no big plans for their prize money. The couple will pay off some bills and have a celebratory dinner at a nice restaurant.