Free Ticket Delivers Big Win to Prince George’s County Woman

Claims $50,000 FAST PLAY prize, thanks to Lottery promotion

When she pulled into Marlboro Pike Shell last week, all she was looking for was a tank of gas, a Clinton resident told Lottery officials on Thursday. That led to the purchase of a Pick 3 ticket after she noticed that the station was a Lottery retailer. What that ticket led to is the stuff of dreams.

“I play once or twice a week,” the retired federal employee said. “It had been a few days so I decided to play my numbers while I was there.” It turns out that, unhappily, the ticket she bought was not a winner. However, the second, free ticket she was given turned into the biggest Lottery win in her life.

“When the guy handed me the FAST PLAY ticket, I thought he’d made a mistake.” The cashier explained that the free ticket was part of a (now-ended) Let it Snow promotion that awarded players at random a free FAST PLAY ticket in December after Pick 3/4/5 purchases. The FAST PLAY game she earned was Merry Money Match, a $5 game that went on sale in early November with 10 $50,000 top prizes. A few minutes later, Merry Money Match would feature one fewer top prize.

“When I scanned it, I thought the guy had made another mistake. There were just too many zeros. He must have given me a messed-up ticket.” Her friend took a look, staring at the ticket and then at her. “We both realized that it was real at the same time. It was tough, but we held it together until we got back in the car.”

Management at Marlboro Pike Shell, located at 5921 Silver Hill Road in Silver Spring, will receive a $500 bonus for providing the $50,000 top-prize winning ticket.

Although the promotion is over, there are still plenty of prizes remaining in the Merry Money Match game. Players can try their luck finding prizes ranging from $5 to $50,000.