Silver Spring Man Wins $50,000 Pick 5 Prize by Following Instincts

Last-minute digit swap brings big win in Montgomery County

A Maryland Lottery enthusiast from Silver Spring has a few sets of lucky numbers he likes to play in the Pick 3, 4 and 5 games, and one of those sets hit for $50,000 in the Nov. 12 midday Pick 5 drawing.

The 56-year-old played a straight bet for $1 on the digits 83779 for the win after having a slight change of heart. Typically, he plays it as 38779 but, for this drawing, he transposed the first two digits.

“I listen to my instinct,” he said of the change. In this case, his instinct was spot on. The Montgomery County resident says he will continue playing, always picking his own numbers and taking gut feelings and instincts into account.

“I need a big win!” he said on Nov. 29 while claiming his prize at Maryland Lottery headquarters in Baltimore.

With his prize, he plans to pay off his car loan and settle some bills. A celebration also is in the offing, but nothing is planned yet.

Sharing in his good fortune is 7-Eleven #20096 at 14430 Layhill Road in Silver Spring. The store receives a bonus of $500 from the Lottery, equal to 1% of the prize, for selling a $50,000-winning ticket in the game.