Excitement grew as the Maryland Lottery’s Multi-Match jackpot grew to $1.8 million for the June 30 drawing. For two players, that excitement was magnified when it became clear two winning tickets were sold and the jackpot would be equally divided between them.
One of those winners was from Montgomery County and claimed her half on July 16 at Lottery headquarters. A huge fan of Multi-Match, the Montgomery County winner said she is fond of the game because it doesn’t feed into national jackpot games and is only for the state of Maryland.
Back on June 30, she stopped at the Giant Food Store at 13781 Connecticut Avenue in Silver Spring to play her favorite game. She normally picks her own numbers to play, but on this day, she switched it up and let the computer quick pick her numbers. The next morning, when she checked her games, she was in for a huge surprise.
“My heart was racing as I looked at my ticket and back at the screen to see my numbers matching,” she said when she claimed the prize this week. “I was going through the motions, laughing and crying.”
The player matched all six numbers, becoming one of two winners of the $1.8 million jackpot, with a $980,000 cash option. The Silver Spring player chose the cash option and after taxes took home $490,000.
The retired retail and travel industry employee shared with Lottery officials that she plans to add the majority of her winnings to her retirement fund and will likely also take a trip.
The Montgomery County Giant Food store retailer receives a $900 bonus.
The other winning ticket was sold in Ocean City and a quartet of siblings claimed that prize on July 7.
