Winner finds lucky ticket at Talbot County retailer

An Easton resident who doesn’t play a lot of Maryland Lottery scratch-offs picked the right day and the right time to play a few instant games. After three tries, the truck driver hauled off a $10,000 prize on the Royal Gems ticket.

The avid Pick 3 and Pick 4 player said he has never previously won any big prizes. He decided to try his luck with the $20 Royal Gems ticket on a Friday afternoon and purchased one game at the Easton Sunoco located at 8359 Ocean Gateway in Easton. The 45-year-old scratched the ticket off in the store and revealed a $50 prize! He then bought a second ticket, which lacked a drop of luck, before buying a third Royal Gems ticket packed with the largest Lottery prize of his life.

“I saw the first $5,000 and I thought that was it,” he said. “But then I saw the other $5,000. I was very happy!”

The lucky man left the Easton Sunoco and went home to share the good news with his wife and daughter. The Talbot County resident said he doesn’t have any special plans for his prize other than sharing his good fortune with family and friends.

The Royal Gems ticket went on sale in September. Two of its $1 million top prizes are still waiting to be found at Lottery retailers across the state. There are also three remaining $50,000 prizes, 11 more $10,000 prizes and thousands of other prizes from $20 to $5,000.