Laurel resident Ramiro Polanco Mendez plans to open a business after winning $50,000 playing the Mega Bucks scratch-off.
A Howard County man is ready for a new start after scratching his way to a $50,000 win on a Mega Bucks scratch-off. Ramiro Polanco Mendez was out for his daily walk when good fortune came his way.
Ramiro enjoys long walks and playing scratch-offs. These two came together in an amazing way earlier this month. While out for his walk, Ramiro stopped at the Exxon at 801 Washington Boulevard in Laurel to purchase some tickets, including two $10 Mega Bucks tickets. The first one he scratched was not a winner, but the second ticket had him in a state of shock.
“I couldn’t believe what I was seeing,” the big winner said. “I had to scan it to be sure.”
The scanner revealed a $50,000-winning congratulatory message. Not the $100,000 top prize on the game, but good enough to make some major changes in his life.
After he digested the big win, he played a few more games and headed home. He reached out to a few family members and then claimed the $50,000 prize on June 17. Ramiro, accompanied by a family member while claiming the prize, said he plans to use his winnings to invest in a small business.
Mega Bucks is a $10 scratch-off that debuted in November 2024. Six of the ticket’s nine $100,000 top prizes are still available and after Ramiro’s win, there are four of the $50,000 second-tier prizes remaining. Also, still up for grabs are 15 $10,000 prizes and thousands of prizes ranging from $10 to $1,000.
