“Golden Lady” of Washington, D.C. claims the very first $100,000 top prize on the popular Willy Wonka Golden Ticket™ scratch-off game. |
Washington, D.C. player takes home $100,000 prize
A 61-year-old Maryland Lottery fan who listened to her inner voice and played the WILLY WONKA GOLDEN TICKET™ won the game’s first $100,000 top prize!
Wonka magic appeared after her morning Zumba class.
The Washington, D.C. resident, calling herself “Golden Lady,” said she routinely plays Pick 4 after her exercise class. If the feeling hits, she’ll play scratch-offs, too. The loyal player really liked the $10 WILLY WONKA GOLDEN TICKET™ game even before she found her big win.
“I didn’t win anything on the first one I bought, but I had $20 and something said take a chance, buy another one,” she said, smiling.
The retired federal government employee took that chance! She bought one more of the instant tickets at the White Oak Convenience Store in Silver Spring, scratching it off in the store. She knew right away that she won after revealing the first matching number and, beneath it, the $100,000 prize. To verify her big win, “Golden Lady” scanned the instant ticket on the store ticket checker and then had the cashier confirm her luck.
“She said, ‘OMG, you really won $100,000,’ ” recalled the winner. “Golden Lady,” shaking and nervous, called her husband to tell him about her magical experience.
“He told me to calm down and go home,” she said. “I was hyperventilating and driving in circles.”
The mother of two adult children made it home and tried to relax. Her husband left work immediately to help calm his wife and take her to Lottery headquarters in Baltimore to claim the prize. “I didn’t even get out of the car,” said her husband. “She was ready to go when I pulled up!”
“Golden Lady” plans to pay off some bills with her prize and help family members financially.
“I feel that when you are blessed, you should be a blessing to others,” she said.
This is one of eight $100,000 WILLY WONKA GOLDEN TICKET™ top prizes. Players can also enter their non-winning scratch-offs from this game in a second-chance promotion and try to win up to $1 billion and a trip to Las Vegas! Visit www.mdlottery.com/goldenticket for details.
The lucky retailer, White Oak Convenience Store in Montgomery County, is also feeling the game’s magic. For selling the $100,000 winning ticket, the store located at 11407 Lockwood Drive in Silver Spring will receive a $1,000 bonus from the Maryland Lottery.