As the temperature outside turned cold on Nov. 13, things heated up for a lucky Maryland Lottery scratch-off player from Severn. The 62-year-old, whose game of choice is Hot Riches, put down his $5 at the Cigar and Smoke Shop in Arundel Mills Mall, scratched his instant ticket and hit for a smoking hot 10,000-fold reward.
Stopping by Maryland Lottery headquarters in Baltimore the following day to claim his $50,000 prize, the “Hot Times” player hadn’t had much of a chance to ponder plans for his proceeds. A traveling companion, however, did have some thoughts.
“That’s my wife. She’s got some kind of plans,” he said.
On cue, his wife outlined her ideas. “A nice dinner and drink,” she said, adding, “We’ll put the rest away for hard times.”
Well, maybe not all of the rest of the prize! Their granddaughter’s birthday was on the day they claimed their prize and they let her pick out a computer accessory gift. Will the granddaughter get to know about the Lottery win?
The secretive husband and wife replied in unison: “No!”
The “Hot Times” player prefers the $5 Hot Riches game, although in warmer months he also tries his luck with the $5 Home Run Riches game. His wife had not yet joined him in his scratch-off fun. “But I’m going to start,” she exclaims.
Also enjoying some spin-off riches is Cigar and Smoke Shop at 7000 Arundel Mills Boulevard in Hanover. The Lottery retailer earns a $500 bonus, equal to 1 percent of the prize, for selling a top-prize scratch-off in the game. Another three of eight $50,000 top prizes remain unclaimed in Hot Riches.