Wins $50,000 Deluxe Crossword scratch-off prize
A retired county employee who has played Maryland Lottery games since instant tickets first went on sale in the state never lost faith that his day in the Winner’s Circle would come – if not today, then some day. Well, some day arrived this week!
The 68-year-old has played every game the Lottery offered over the years. He’s come close to a big win countless times and watched friend after friend hit it big. Enjoying every minute of it – except those times he was one digit away from a big win – the grandfather finally found a $50,000 top prize hiding in a Deluxe Crossword scratch-off.
The Germantown man told Lottery officials that a delivery for his part-time job took him off his regular route earlier this week and near Lottery retailer Germantown Liberty. “I hadn’t planned to get a ticket just then, but I saw the store, so I pulled in,” he said.
With no thought as to what game to play, our Montgomery County winner found his inspiration in an unlikely place. “I noticed several Deluxe Crossword tickets in the store’s trash can, right there on top. I figured that maybe the game was due for a win.” The $5 game, which had not been a lucky one for the customer just before him, proved itself the answer to his long-held wish.
“I was very calm,” he reported. “I looked at it and I looked at it again, and then once more. Every time, it was a $50,000 winner.”
The lucky player and his wife will use their prize to end the worry that several debts have generated for years. They’ll also travel sooner than they’d expected. “Our finances had dictated a vacation departure date about three years from now,” he said. “That’s now been revised!”
The $5 Deluxe Crossword debuted in March. Its seven original $50,000 top prizes are now down to one but thousands of prizes ranging from $5 to $10,000 remain.
Players can try their luck at the lucky Lottery retailer that is also a winner for selling a top-prize scratch-off in the Deluxe Crossword game. Germantown Liberty located at 13411 Kingsview Village Avenue in Germantown earns a $500 bonus from the Lottery.