Laurel resident “Book Worm” strikes a pose after claiming the first of two $2 million top prizes on the Diamonds & Gold scratch-off.
What started as a routine Maryland Lottery stop turned into the biggest chapter yet for an avid reader from Laurel who now has a $2 million story to tell.
The winner, who chose to remain anonymous under the alias “Book Worm,” claimed the first of two $2 million top prizes on the Diamonds & Gold scratch-off on July 20.
A Washington, D.C., native who has called Laurel home for the past five years, “Book Worm” enjoys spending time with her sister at book club events and playing Maryland Lottery games. She regularly buys scratch-offs along with Pick 3 and Pick 4 tickets, making weekly visits to the 7-Eleven at 14001 Baltimore Avenue in Laurel.
Her life-changing win came on June 30 during what seemed like an ordinary Lottery run. After purchasing several scratch-offs, she decided to play them in the store. The first few tickets were non-winners, but the Diamonds & Gold ticket proved to be a different story.
“I knew then it was a winner. I didn’t know how much,” she said after scanning the ticket’s prize check code.
She took the ticket to the clerk, who confirmed it was worth $2 million.
Overcome with emotion, “Book Worm” walked out of the store and into her car, where she realized she was too shaken to drive. Instead, she immediately called the person she knew would share the moment with her, her sister.
The sisters, who are less than 18 months apart, have always been close.
“Are you sure?” her sister recalled asking, still struggling to believe the news. She accompanied “Book Worm” to Lottery headquarters to claim the prize.
The winner spent almost a month waiting to claim her prize, leading to plenty of sleepless nights and even more time to think about her future.
Rather than dreaming aimlessly, “Book Worm” got organized. She created a budget, plans to pay off bills, and, after many years working at a local grocery store, says she can finally retire.
“Paris has always been on my bucket list,” said the winner, who plans to spend several weeks vacationing in Europe.
The Laurel 7-Eleven that sold the winning ticket will receive a $2,000 bonus from the Maryland Lottery for selling a top-prize winning scratch-off.
This win is the first $2 million top prize claimed on Diamonds & Gold scratch-off since its launch in April, which leaves one top prize unclaimed. There are three $50,000 second-tier prizes remaining.
