Purchase of scratch-offs brings unexpected fortune
A birthday gathering at a Perry Hall watering hole led to an unexpected Lottery windfall for a Kingsville couple.
The pair, who have chosen to remain anonymous, were with friends at DeSantis Pizza Grill and Bar in Perry Hall at a birthday event when the husband purchased Lottery scratch-offs. Their visit came after the $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot was won in the Nov. 7 drawing.
“I figured there would be no line because the Powerball excitement was over,” he said. He got five instant tickets in all. Together, the husband and wife scratched and checked the games for prizes. The first game was a non-winner. The second scratch-off was worth $10. On the third game, they became confused about how to play the scratch-off.
“I was looking at the bonus part and didn’t focus on the instructions at the bottom,” the wife said. They scanned the instant ticket using their Lottery mobile app but didn’t get a good reading. The final two instant tickets they scanned were non-winners. They set all five scratch-offs aside on the bar and continued socializing.
A short time later, the bartender happened by and noticed the instant tickets. She realized straight away the one on top, a $5 Holiday Ca$h instant ticket, was a big winner.
“She said, ‘Where did you get this ticket?’” the husband recalled. The bartender explained, “You just won $50,000. Turn it over right away and sign that ticket!”
Although the two have no plans for the extra money, their win has inspired them to continue playing Maryland Lottery scratch-offs. “We’ve already bought more,” the husband said.
Sharing in their good fortune is DeSantis Pizza Grill and Bar at 9638 Belair Road in Perry Hall. The Baltimore County business receives a bonus of $500 from the Lottery for selling a $50,000 top-prize winning scratch-off. The bonus is equal to 1% of the prize.
The Holiday Ca$h game debuted on Oct. 17 with the Lottery’s four other Holiday scratch-offs and is part of the Holiday Cash Second-Chance Promotion. Get extra chances to win! Enter your non-winning Holiday scratch-offs into My Lottery Rewards and try your luck with 12 weeks of second-chance drawings. Five players will win $2,500 each per drawing for 11 drawings, with the week 12 drawing creating five winners of $2,500 each and five winners of $25,000 each. The promotion runs now through Jan. 10, 2023.
