Silver Spring resident “Winning Kumar” had a hunch that led to the first $250,000 top prize on the Quarter Million Large scratch-off game. |
Beltsville retailer sells first top-prize winner on the Quarter Million Large scratch-off game
A Silver Spring man can thank a lucky hunch after he claimed the first top prize on the new Quarter Million Large scratch-off game. The lucky player, originally from India, believes big wins can be found in scratch-offs that are new and in this instance, he was right. Quarter Million Large launched on Feb. 26.
The 38-year-old married father, who dubbed himself “Winning Kumar,” bought his lucky ticket at Route 1 Liquors located at 10500 Baltimore Avenue in Beltsville.
“I’ve won a little here and there on the Quarter Million Large ticket,” Winning Kumar said. “So, I had a feeling I would win some more.”
After playing a few scratch-off tickets and winning about $100 dollars, he used the winnings to purchase more tickets and continued to scratch the games there in the store. And he was left speechless when he scratched that $250,000-winning ticket.
“When I saw that gold bar symbol and the $250,000 prize underneath, I was shocked,” he said.
Winning Kumar immediately called his cousin to share his good news. The cousin, who accompanied the winner to the Lottery to claim the prize, told Lottery Officials that the winner was in disbelief.
“He couldn’t get the words out,” Winning Kumar’s cousin said with a laugh. “I told him to put the ticket away and to go straight home.” He heeded his cousin’s advice and did just that.
Once home, he confirmed the good fortune with his wife. A skeptic, she was not convinced until she scanned the ticket herself and saw that the winning amount was indeed $250,000.
Winning Kumar plans to use some of the winnings to send his wife and daughter to India to visit family. He also plans to purchase a new home.
The Prince George’s County retailer is a winner as well. Route 1 Liquors will receive a $1,000 bonus from the Lottery for selling the winning ticket.
The Quarter Million Large scratch-off game still has four more $250,000 top prizes, 14 remaining $10,000 prizes and thousands of additional prizes ranging from $10 to $1,000.