Christina and James Allen are Maryland’s newest millionaires. |
“Now it’s official,” said 31-year-old James Allen, Maryland’s newest millionaire. James arrived with his wife, Christina, by his side to claim his $1 million win — the latest in a string of Player’s Club prizes.
“I have won $500 on this ticket four times,” said James. It was this luck and the fact that he noticed on the Lottery’s website that there were top prizes still available that prompted James to buy his lucky Player’s Club scratch-off. The cleaning services contractor bought the winning ticket from the store’s Instant Ticket Vending Machine (ITVM). “I notice people sometimes neglect those machines and go straight to a cashier,” said James. “I had a feeling about that machine.”
After buying the ticket, James and Christina went about their day and didn’t play the scratch-off until later that night. “I couldn’t believe I had $1 million in my back pocket all day and didn’t know it,” said the winner. “Neither one of us got much sleep last night,” said Christina, a day care provider.
The couple, who have an 11-year-old and a 14-month-old, is looking to purchase a home with their winnings. They also plan to take a vacation and to expand both of their businesses. The winning ticket was purchased at the Royal Farms store located at 7701F German Hill Road in Dundalk.