Crossword Scratch-off Fans Find Big Win Hiding in Puzzles

Cecil County couple claims $50,000 prize

The scratch-off game is named $500,000 Crossword, and while they didn’t win the top prize, a Cecil County Lottery team is plenty happy with the $50,000 that the $20 instant ticket inserted into their lives.

The engaged couple were big fans of crossword-style instant games even before this lucky win. Now that their game of choice has delivered their biggest-ever Lottery prize, they can’t stop singing its praises.

“We pick them together, scratch them together, and, hopefully, win together,” the Elkton woman said. She and her fiancé found the lucky instant ticket when they stopped at Appleton BP, located at 1005 Elk Mill Road in Elkton, to pick up a few scratch-offs. They made sure to include crossword games among their choices.

The retired delivery service specialist told Lottery officials that she was confused when, soon after returning home, her fiancé went back out. “When he came home a short while later, I could tell by his face that something was up.”

It turns out that he had scratched off the $500,000 Crossword game and, to his joy and then disbelief, discovered what he thought was a $50,000 win. “He wanted to make sure before telling me, so he went back to the store to check it.”

The Cecil County residents are in the market to buy their first house together and said the $50,000 prize will be a big help in financing their purchase.

The $500,000 Crossword game debuted in September 2019 and still has three of its original eight top prizes available. Players can also search for one unclaimed $50,000 prize and six $10,000 prizes.