Takes home $1 million top prize playing Money Explosion scratch-off
A 60-year-old player from Dundalk who only plays Lottery jackpot games and Bonus Match 5 can thank a scratch-off for his new millionaire status. On a whim, he played the $20 Money Explosion instant ticket and won $1 million!
The Baltimore County school bus driver was taking care of business through Western Union at Weis Market in Essex when Lottery luck arrived. “While I was waiting for my transaction, I kept gazing at the display of scratch-offs,” he said. “Then, I just got the feeling that I should buy one.”
The fortunate player used change from his transaction to purchase a Money Explosion instant ticket and scratched it off in the store. “I saw the money stack and that $1 million prize,” he said. “I really couldn’t believe it. I had to look at it closer with my bifocals.”
The married father of five grown children and grandfather of eight then handed the instant ticket to the cashier to confirm his amazing prize. The new millionaire immediately called and shared the news with his wife and other family members.
“She didn’t believe me,” he said. “She kept telling me to ‘Stop messing around.’”
The lucky player took the winning instant ticket home and went on the Maryland Lottery’s website to see what to do next. After setting up an appointment, he claimed the $1 million prize and celebrated in the Winner’s Circle. He told Lottery officials that he plans to use some of the winnings to pay off his home mortgage, will share the prize with his wife and give some funds to his children as holiday gifts.
Weis Markets #86, located at 165 Orville Road in Baltimore, also benefits. For selling the top-prize winning scratch-off in the Money Explosion game, the store will receive a $1,000 bonus from the Lottery.
The big winner found the second $1 million top prize of seven in the game, which went on sale in July. Still unclaimed are six $50,000 prizes, 89 $10,000 prizes plus more than 860,000 others ranging from $20 to $5,000.
