Claims $50,000 prize on $2,000,000 Gold Rush scratch-off
A 29-year-old plumber from Parsonsburg unclogged the pipeline to a big scratch-off win over the weekend. The occasional player, who won $50,000 playing the $2,000,000 Gold Rush instant ticket, attributes his lucky win in part to a cashier who works in the store where he bought the $30 game.
“He’s my good luck charm,” said the winner. “I only buy scratch-offs when he’s there.”
The cashier from Parsonsburg Quick Stop, located at 7181 Parsonsburg Road in Parsonsburg, was at work the morning the Wicomico County resident stopped in to buy a carbonated energy-boosting beverage. Two weeks ago, the cashier bought him a $2,000,000 Gold Rush game as a thank you for being a loyal customer, the winner said. He has since won several small prizes here and there. Inspired by the sight of his “good luck charm,” the player bought another $2,000,000 Gold Rush scratch-off that day.
The Eastern Shore man returned home before work and played the game. As he scratched off the instant ticket, another lucky charm – his younger brother – arrived on the scene.
“Just as I scratched the prize under the number I had matched, he walked through the door,” said the winner, smiling. “As he walked back out, I was revealing a $50,000 prize.”
The happy player jumped up with excitement, startling everyone in his house including his younger brother who ran back into the room. He told Lottery officials that he wasn’t sure what to do next and just sat still for about an hour to calm down. He then tried to redeem the instant ticket at Ocean Downs Casino. Cashiers’ windows at Maryland casinos can redeem winning Lottery tickets up to and including $25,000 but prizes above that level must be redeemed at Lottery headquarters in Baltimore.
“I didn’t know what to do after that,” said the winner. “I called my mother and she helped me through the process and made an appointment for me.”
When he arrived to claim the prize, the big winner was still in disbelief. He plans to use the $50,000 prize to help his family, to get his own place to live and to boost his savings account.
The $2,000,000 Gold Rush game went on sale Feb. 21 and still has lots of prizes remaining. Players can try their luck finding the four remaining $2 million top prizes, six $50,000 prizes, seven $5,000 prizes and others ranging from $30 to $500.
