Winner mostly mum on lucky score
A dedicated Bonus Match 5 player said the drawing on Feb. 7 was the first one where he hit for an amount of money worth talking about. The amount: a $50,000 top prize in the daily game!
Even though the prize was certainly worth talking about, the 80-year-old Montgomery County resident kept quiet. He did share that he has enjoyed playing the game daily for years.
“Why not take a chance?” he said on Feb. 10 while claiming his prize at Maryland Lottery headquarters in Baltimore. The Silver Spring man plans to settle some bills with his winnings.
Sharing in the player’s luck is Colesville Road Exxon at 8384 Colesville Road in Silver Spring, where he bought his $6 quick-pick ticket. The gas station receives a bonus of $500 from the Lottery for selling a top-prize winning ticket in the game.
Like pick 5 style games in other states, players win the top prize in Bonus Match 5 when they match the first five numbers drawn. The bonus comes into play because a sixth ball is drawn. Players who match the first two balls plus the Bonus Ball win. Those who match three or four of the first balls plus the Bonus Ball win more than they would by just matching three or four.
Our winner is the second to claim a top prize in a 2020 Bonus Match 5 drawing. In the past six months, 16 players — including our Feb. 7 winner — from across Maryland won the $50,000 top prize. In addition to Silver Spring, the home of other winning tickets were Annapolis, Baltimore, Bowie, Columbia, Elkton, Glen Burnie, Hagerstown, Landover Hills, Pasadena, Severna Park, Temple Hills, Upper Marlboro, Waldorf and Woodlawn.