Quick-pick Ticket Gives $50,000 Surprise to Bonus Match 5 Player

South Baltimore retiree will spend winnings on home repairs, upcoming bills

A U.S. Marine Corps veteran turned up at Lottery headquarters in Baltimore this week with a big smile after winning a prize in one of his favorite games. The South Baltimore retiree won a $50,000 top prize in the March 22 Bonus Match 5 drawing.

The longtime Lottery player said he regularly plays a variety of games, including Multi-Match, Bonus Match 5, Mega Millions and Pick 5. The retired shipping company employee visits various Lottery retailers, and he purchased his lucky ticket at Patapsco Village Liquors in Baltimore.

He bought a $6 ticket quick-pick ticket with nine lines of numbers for the March 22 Bonus Match 5 drawing and immediately spotted a line starting with 15 that he suspected had no hope of winning. But that was the line that won the game’s top prize!

“I didn’t realize it at first,” he said, after checking the winning numbers using his phone. “It said $50,000. I was only hoping to get $15.”

The happy winner plans to make repairs to his home with the prize and set funds aside to pay for future bills. He is the 10th top-prize winner in the Bonus Match 5 game this year.

His lucky retailer also shares in the fun. For selling a top-prize winning Bonus Match 5 ticket, the store located at 3434 Annapolis Road in Baltimore earns a $500 bonus from the Lottery.