Claims $50,000 top prize on holiday-themed scratch-off
He may live across the border, a Washington, D.C. man told Maryland Lottery officials, but his Lottery loyalty is to Maryland. The 69-year-old is a big fan of all Maryland Lottery games – especially Keno and Racetrax.
And yet, it was the grandfather’s spur-of-the-moment purchase of a Holiday Riches scratch-off that delivered his $50,000 top-prize win.
“I live and work in Washington but I spend a lot of my free time in Maryland, meeting my buddies,” the telecommunications company employee said. They were hanging out together at Marlow Winghouse & Sports Grill in Temple Hills last month when his Lottery luck arrived.
“We were playing Racetrax together when I noticed all of the winning Lottery tickets the owner had hung up on the wall. A lot of them near me were Holiday Riches,” he said. On his next visit to the counter, the winner asked for two of the recently released $5 holiday-themed instant games.
“One of the tickets was a winner so I bought another,” he said. “I couldn’t believe my eyes when I scanned that third one.” The player studied the scratch-off carefully before turning to his friends to announce he won $50,000! After a few moments of shock and disbelief, the celebration began.
“A few minutes later, one of my Racetrax tickets hit for $200,” he said. “I passed the cash around to my friends, telling them to find a winner of their own.”
The D.C. resident will take care of some bills with his Holiday Riches winnings and save the rest – for now. “My granddaughter starts college next year,” he said. “I’m thinking that I may be able to help out with some of the costs.”
The winner’s lucky retailer can also celebrate. For selling the top-prize scratch-off in the game, Marlow Winghouse & Sports Grill located at 4147 Branch Avenue earns a $500 bonus from the Lottery.
There are plenty of big prizes remaining on this scratch-off. Players can try to win one of three $50,000 top prizes, eight $5,000 prizes and thousands of others ranging from $5 to $1,000.
As one of five holiday-themed scratch-offs, Holiday Riches tickets are eligible for entry into the Holiday Cash & Dash second-chance promotion running through Jan. 16. Enter any non-winning holiday scratch-off into the promotion through My Lottery Rewards. Get a chance to win great prizes like a trip for two to a Chicago warehouse to load a shopping cart with as many items as possible in 90 seconds. Players can also win cash prizes and books of scratch-offs. Find out more at mdlottery.com/holiday.