A Takoma Park man walked into a convenience store as a regular customer and walked out feeling like a celebrity after winning a $100,000 top prize on a $100,000 Crossword scratch-off.
The player, who enjoys playing scratch-offs a few times a week, often purchases his tickets at 7-Eleven. While he typically plays in-store with friends, a recent late-night visit had him flying solo as he picked up several games, including the winning ticket.
After coming up empty on his first game, he moved on to the $100,000 Crossword ticket, a $10 game, and quickly realized something was different.
“I looked at it and was like, ‘Hold up!’” he said April 9 after claiming his windfall at Lottery headquarters in Baltimore, parents at his side.
He scanned the ticket using the Maryland Lottery app, which confirmed he had won a top prize.
“I jumped like a monkey,” he recalled. He immediately called his parents and wife to share the news.
The father of four said he wasn’t in a rush to claim his prize. Instead, he spent two weeks getting his affairs in order while continuing his regular visits to the store, where the retailer eagerly checked in on whether he had claimed his winnings.
He plans to use the winnings to purchase a home in his wife’s native country, Guatemala, and to support friends and family who have helped him over the years.
“I want to give some money to say thank you,” he said.
He also plans to continue playing the Lottery at his favorite retailer. The 7-Eleven at 9151 Riggs Road in Adelphi, which sold the winning ticket, will receive a $1,000 bonus.
The $100,000 Crossword scratch-off launched in August 2025 with nine $100,000 top prizes, two of which remain unclaimed.
