Down payment aided by $10,000 Monopoly scratch-off prize
A car salesman who spends his work days helping others find a new set of wheels can start his own car-shopping adventure. The Laurel man just won $10,000 playing the Maryland Lottery’s Monopoly scratch-off.
The 30-year-old visited Lottery headquarters to claim his prize on the $10 game bought more than three weeks ago and then forgotten. An occasional player, he didn’t intend to buy a scratch-off on that fateful September evening.
“I was picking up a friend at his parent’s store, a 7-Eleven in Baltimore,” the winner told Lottery officials. “While I was waiting, I picked out a Lottery ticket. I chose Monopoly because I used to love playing the game as a kid.”
The Prince George’s County resident set the instant ticket aside in the car and the two friends went on their way. Three days later, he noticed the scratch-off.
“When I finally scratched it, I just sat there stunned,” he said. “When the initial shock wore off, I drove to my friend’s house – he’s a big Lottery player and I wanted him to tell me I wasn’t seeing things.”
The next time the winner picks up his friend at the Baltimore 7-Eleven, located at 3204 Hollins Ferry Road, his plans will include car shopping. “I’ve been in the market for a new car and this will really help with the down payment,” he said.
Players have found two of the $10 Monopoly game’s six $100,000 prizes since its debut in June. Players can look for seven more unclaimed $10,000 prizes as well as thousands of prizes ranging from $10 to $1,000.