Lucky Jonathan Exantus of Columbia found a $1 million win on the Monopoly™ game. |
Finds top prize on lucky Monopoly™ instant ticket
Playing $20 Maryland Lottery scratch-offs is a profitable pastime for lucky Jonathan Exantus of Columbia, who picks a game and keeps playing until he lands a win.
“I always play these $20 tickets,” said the stay-at-home father of two. “I knew eventually I would win big. I’ve won $500 about seven or eight times.”
While accustomed to winning, the 28-year-old was rocked by the $1 million prize that appeared on a Monopoly™ scratch-off bought at 103 Wine & Spirits in Elkridge. The loyal player scratched the winning ticket off in the store and there was no hiding his excitement.
“I was jumping up and down like a little kid,” he said. “I even bought a bottle of champagne!”
The Howard County resident hurried home to alert his family about his good fortune. It was early in the evening, about 9 p.m., when he gave his mother the great news. Still excited by the win and knowing he couldn’t claim his prize until Lottery headquarters opened the next day, Jonathan and a friend went to Horseshoe Casino Baltimore. Lucky Jonathan won another $1,500 there!
He finally went to sleep around 4 or 5 a.m. and hid the lucky ticket in his bed. “I couldn’t even sleep,” he told Lottery officials after claiming his prize. “I still couldn’t believe it. I believe it now!”
He plans to invest the prize from his life-changing win and may send his school-age son to private school. For selling the top-prize ticket in the game, the Lottery will give 103 Wine & Spirits located at 6010 Meadowridge Center Drive a bonus of $1,000. There are still plenty of winning tickets remaining in the $20 game, including two $1 million top-prize winners, four $50,000 and eight $10,000 prize-winning tickets.