During his lunch break last week, a hunch led a Columbia man to purchase a scratch-off. The occasional Lottery player stopped by Newsmart in Baltimore City and bought just one $100,000 Jackpot ticket, which produced a $100,000 top prize.
“I don’t know, but something said go in and get a scratch-off ,” said the City of Baltimore government employee. “I saw a $5 and a $10 game, both with the same top prize, so I picked the $5 ticket.”
The 69-year-old winner scratched the chosen ticket while in the store. He told Lottery officials that he scratched the left side of the ticket first, then the right side, and finally the middle. The matching number was in the middle, showing a $100,000 prize.
The big winner showed the ticket to the cashier who scanned it and confirmed what he already knew. She also informed him how to claim the prize.
“I was rather calm, considering,” he said. “I just went back to work to tell my boss what happened.”
He shared with Lottery Officials that his boss was very excited for him and told him, ‘you better go get your money’.
“I believed I was going to be blessed,” smiled the happy winner, who is very active in his church.
When asked what he might do this good fortune, he shared that he would give to his church and go on a vacation with his “lady friend” who’s birthday is next month. He said he may also go on a little shopping spree.
Newsmart, located at 100 S. Charles St. in Baltimore, is also a winner. The store will earn a $1,000 bonus for selling a $100,000 top prize.
The $100,000 Jackpot still has big prizes available. The game has four additional $100,000 top-prizes left and thousands of prizes ranging from $5 to $5,000.