‘Lucky Grandma’ from Columbia Nabs $30,000 Scratch-off Payday

A new car and summer theme park fun for her grandkids are in the picture now that “Lucky Grandma” of Columbia won $30,000 playing BOARDGAME BONUS®.

Loyal player eyeing theme park trip and a new car

A Maryland Lottery enthusiast from Columbia picked up the first top-tier prize, $30,000, on July 6 in the new $3 BOARDGAME BONUS® scratch-off game.

“It’s the most I’ve ever won in my life!” said the player, who goes by the nickname “Lucky Grandma.” She’s a regular player who also participates in the Lottery’s second-chance program, My Lottery Rewards, and picks up two- and three-digit wins often. Her previous top score was a $5,000 prize.

“I play for the excitement… and the wins, of course!” she said. On her way to Lottery headquarters to claim her $30,000 scratch-off prize, “Lucky Grandma” played a round of Racetrax and won $72. “I still got a little luck going on,” she observed.

Playing according to her usual routine, the 51-year-old professional caregiver purchased $60 in instant tickets out of the Lottery vending machine at Giant #300 in Columbia. The group included the big winner. She scratched all of the games off in the store and double-checked them using the prize-check scanner on the Lottery vending machine.

The machine’s message was to take the $3 BOARDGAME BONUS® scratch-off to Lottery headquarters, so “Lucky Grandma” asked the clerk at Giant to verify her big win.

“She said, ‘Oh my God, you just won $30,000! I just put those tickets in two days ago’,” recounts “Lucky Grandma.”

With part of her winnings, she plans to help send her five grandchildren on a summer theme park adventure and will buy a new car. In addition, she is setting up a caregiver agency and the extra money will come in handy.

Also picking up extra cash is the retailer. Giant #300 at 8805 Centre Park Drive scores a bonus of $300, equal to 1 percent of the prize, for selling a top-tier winning scratch-off. The BOARDGAME BONUS® instant ticket features scratch-off versions of games like Battleship,™ Connect 4™ and Yahtzee.™ It went on sale June 21 and five of the six $30,000 top prizes are unclaimed.