New Yorker $50,000 Richer After Maryland Visit

Claims top prize scratching off $50,000 Cash game

Driving south to celebrate a family birthday, a New York woman found herself in a Silver Spring 7-Eleven. She’d gone in to get a drink for her daughter, but she came out with much more than a carton of milk. The lucky visitor is the latest to win the top prize playing the popular $50,000 Cash scratch-off.

“My mom came in the store with me,” the 26-year-old soon-to-be mother of two told Lottery officials. “She was the one who suggested I try a ticket.” She sometimes buys a Lottery ticket at home, the resident of Hampton Bays on Long Island explained, but her mother plays daily. “Mom always says, ‘You never know,’ and, man, was she right.”

Perusing the scratch-off selection at 7-Eleven #23666, our winner decided to splurge on a $20 ticket. “My boyfriend and I never play tickets that cost more than $10, but I decided to do it, just this once.”

Outside in her car, the lucky lady scratched off her instant ticket. Her heart began to race and she had to choke back tears. “I saw right away that I’d won $50,000, it was crazy. I showed my boyfriend and he agreed. I was stunned.” The couple’s subdued celebration changed abruptly when her mother got in the car. “My mom couldn’t speak at first. Then she started screaming, ‘I told you, I told you. You never know!’”

The New York couple will use their winnings to ready their home for the upcoming arrival of their second child. Their lucky Lottery retailer, 7-Eleven at 9254 New Hampshire Avenue in Silver Spring, shares in the fun. The Montgomery County retailer will earn a $500 bonus from the Lottery for selling the top-prize winning scratch-off.

The $50,000 Cash game debuted in December with 160 top prizes. This win marks the 37th time a Maryland player has uncovered a $50,000 win. There are still 135 of the game’s $5,000 second-tier prizes still in circulation, as well.