A Laurel man was getting ready to travel overseas to visit family, but ended up having to delay his trip so he could claim a Maryland Lottery Grand Progressive FAST PLAY prize worth $184,769.
Judging by his enthusiasm and passion for having his sister take photos on her cell phone Aug. 12 at Lottery headquarters after claiming his prize, his excitement about the win has proven hard to contain.
The player is a Lottery regular, typically enjoying scratch-off games and the occasional Mega Millions ticket. Previously his best win came when he and a co-worker doubled up to buy a ticket that won $500. They split the winnings.
His sister also offered an anecdote about when she and he visited a casino: “I gave him $1 and he won $100 with it!”
On the eve of his planned departure, and after feeling inspired by his late mother, he headed out to a nearby gas station. He bought a $10 ticket and won $10 back. Then he headed to another gas station, the Exxon at 801 Washington Boulevard in Laurel. A gregarious man, he is on very friendly terms with a clerk at the gas station. He made one purchase, which proved to be a non-winner. Then he played again, thinking of his mom, and wishing for a little something extra to bring home to his family.
He purchased a $10 Grand Progressive FAST PLAY ticket, which has a progressive jackpot that starts at $100,000 and grows with the sale of each ticket. He studied the ticket’s winning numbers. All the way on the last row, in the last column, he matched a 38 to his numbers. And under the 38 were the words “Progressive Jackpot”.
“Oh my God!” he said, recounting the story.
He asked the clerk to double check it. The clerk told him to be sure to sign the ticket, put it in a safe place and not tell anyone.
They ended up postponing his planned flight for a week to give him time to claim the prize.
After claiming, he said he had not told any of his overseas family about the windfall.
“It will be a big surprise for them,” his sister said, noting that her brother plans to use the winnings to assist his family.
Also getting a little assist is the Exxon station that sold the winning ticket, which receives a bonus of $1,000.
