 Happy birthday, Buddy Ardis of Salisbury! The auto mechanic won $30,000, thanks to his grandfather’s birthday gift of a winning Rainbow Blackout Bingo scratch-off. |
Claims $30,000 top prize on Rainbow Blackout Bingo game
Many can only dream of receiving $30,000 as a birthday gift. For Buddy Ardis of Salisbury, that dream came true when he “unwrapped” his gift of a Maryland Lottery Rainbow Blackout Bingo scratch-off and found a pot of gold.
Buddy’s grandfather always gives him scratch-offs as birthday gifts, the lucky winner said, and this November birthday was no different. Grandpa picked up the tickets at Wawa #585-E in North East. What was different was what happened when the 32-year-old auto mechanic scratched his birthday tickets at work during his lunch break. At first, he thought he won $1,000. His manager, who was nearby, told Buddy he’d better take a second look at the $2 ticket. He did and that’s when Buddy realized he’d missed part of the ticket that paid out another $29,000!
The newlywed said he’s only won small amounts on scratch-offs in the past. “This is crazy and unbelievable,” he said, smiling, with his wife by his side. “We were destined for some kind of luck,” she said.
Finding the best spot to hide the ticket until they could claim their prize at Lottery headquarters was tricky. Buddy thought he had properly secured the winning scratch-off when he hid it above the fireplace. His wife, however, nixed the idea of keeping a paper item that close to fire. The couple ultimately settled on an alternative, top-secret location!
They plan to pay off bills with the $30,000 top prize, including the financing for a Jet Ski and a trip they had booked to Disney World with their two sons.
The retailer also won a prize for selling the winning ticket. The Wawa at 2031 Pulaski Highway in Cecil County will receive a $300 bonus from the Maryland Lottery. The Rainbow Blackout Bingo game still has five top-prize tickets awaiting discovery at Maryland retailers.