A Montgomery County woman who won $100,000 on the popular 50X The Cash scratch-off credits a different game for her top-prize win. It was Mega Millions, she told puzzled Maryland Lottery officials, that made her close encounter with Lottery luck possible.
“I almost never play,” said the 44-year-old mom, “maybe twice a month, maybe three times. It just never occurs to me to get a ticket.”
What inspired her to stop at the Giant grocery’s Lottery vending machine when she visited the Wheaton store and buy a scratch-off? “I was about to walk right by it when all of the billion-dollar Mega Millions excitement that’s been going on suddenly popped in my head. That’s all it took.” A $10 bill in her purse focused her attention on the $10 options in the machine. The 50X The Cash game was the first one she saw.
“I scratched the ticket at a restaurant an hour or two later,” she said. “I was having lunch with a friend.” Not noticing the $100,000 match right away, the Silver Spring housekeeper showed the ticket to her companion. “He pointed it out and showed me the prize. I started crying right there in the restaurant.”
The lucky winner has no immediate plans for her windfall. “I’m still too shocked by all of this to even think about it.” The 50X The Cash debuted in January last year and, after this scratch win — delivered by Giant #336 at 2900 University Boulevard West — one $100,000 top prize remains unclaimed.
Her lucky retailer is also enjoying her win. For selling a $100,000 top-prize scratch-off, Giant earns a $1,000 bonus from the Lottery.