Father of two returns to Lottery office seven years after big Powerball win

It took seven years for a Severna Park dance teacher to make a return trip to Maryland Lottery headquarters in Baltimore to claim a big prize and the wait was worth it. The 47-year-old waltzed home with a $10,000 prize from an Ultimate Riches scratch-off.

In 2010, not long after Powerball made its debut in Maryland, the lucky Lottery enthusiast came to Baltimore to claim a $10,000 prize on the national jackpot game. This time, an instant ticket did the trick. He purchased the $20 game on May 6 at Safeway #1351 located at 540 Benfield Road in Severna Park and discovered the prize when he scratched off the ticket in his car.

“I saw it and my eyes popped,” said the father of two. “I went home and told my wife, ‘I have to go to Montgomery Park again.’ ”

The Anne Arundel County resident and his wife still have a few years before their children head off to college, but he said the prize money will go into their college fund. And, he’s hoping that it won’t be another seven years before he returns to the Lottery Winner’s Circle.

“I like to play Multi-Match,” he said. “I haven’t had any luck yet, but I hope to. This is a good place to visit.”

Ultimate Riches launched in April, and all seven of its $1 million top prizes remain unclaimed, along with all 13 of the game’s $50,000 prizes, 56 more $10,000 prizes, and thousands of additional prizes ranging from $20 to $5,000.