Florida transplant had no idea how to play; wins top prize on Big Money ticket
A former Florida resident decided to play a Maryland scratch-off for the first time and was in shock when he won a $50,000 Big Money scratch-off top prize.
“I didn’t think it was real. I didn’t think it was real until I came here,” said one of Baltimore City’s newest residents while claiming his prize at Lottery headquarters.
The big winner said he was at Towson Town Center and saw a little store inside the mall that sold Lottery games. He decided to purchase the $5 scratch-off on his second day of residency in Maryland but had no idea how to play.
According to the Maryland newcomer, he started playing scratch-offs in Florida when he turned 18, but wasn’t familiar with the Maryland Lottery scratch-off format. He scanned the ticket and saw “$50,000” pop up. He thought the $50,000 was a marketing sign stating that the top prize was $50,000. When the restaurant worker took the ticket to a Lottery retailer, it was confirmed he won the $50,000 top prize.
“The clerk scanned it and lost her mind when she saw it was a $50,000 winner,” he said.
The avid golfer plans to place his prize in the bank.
Daily Deals, located at 825 Dulaney Valley Road on the first floor of Towson Town Center, sold the winning scratch-off. The Baltimore County store will receive a 1 percent bonus of $500 for the sale.
The Big Money scratch-off went on sale on Feb. 10 and this is our second top-prize winner. An Upper Marlboro woman won the first $50,000 prize in late February, but five top prizes are still unclaimed, along with prizes ranging from $5 to $5,000.
