Baltimore woman claims top prize on $100,000 Crossword game
A loyal Maryland Lottery player can thank her lack of intuition for a $100,000 top-prize win on a $100,000 Crossword scratch-off.
The state employee picks up a Lottery ticket or two just about every day on the way to work, she told officials after claiming her prize. The Baltimore resident often gets feelings about certain Pick 3 or Bonus Match 5 number combinations from time to time and plays those numbers. When her intuition keeps mum, however, she settles for a scratch-off.
Having received no “guidance” on the day of her lucky purchase, the 55-year-old picked out a $100,000 Crossword scratch-off. “I’ve played the game a few times in the last couple of weeks, and I think I’ve won on each of them,” she said. The Lottery fan had no such luck with her first two purchases from the One Stop Food Store at 23 North Howard Street in Baltimore.
“The first one wasn’t a winner so I got one more,” she said. “That one was no good, either, so I decided that one more was all I’d get.” That third $100,000 Crossword instant ticket did the trick.
“My heart started beating so fast,” the winner said. “I had to steady myself on the counter when I saw the $100,000.”
Unsure of whether or not she was seeing things, the player asked the store’s owner to confirm her good fortune. “He ran it through the machine, looked up at me and nodded his head, smiling.” After the owner reminded her to sign her winning ticket, the child services specialist did so and headed to the office.
“I told my best friend at the office, but no one else,” she said. “We had a quick hug to celebrate.”
The winner plans to address an ongoing family situation that has worried her mother with proceeds of her $100,000 prize. “I’m so happy to be able to help settle this thing, to take the stress from my mother.”
Her lucky Lottery retailer can also celebrate. The Baltimore business earns a $1,000 bonus from the Lottery for selling a $100,000 top-prize winning scratch-off. There are plenty of other big prizes remaining in this game, including five more $100,000 top prizes and 17 $10,000 prizes.