Wheaton Resident has Uncle to Thank for $50,000 Scratch-off Prize

Finds top prize on Extreme Green game

A Wheaton man who said he rarely plays scratch-off games was hanging out at home with his family when his uncle offered him one to play. The 21-year-old picked up a penny and began scratching off the Extreme Green game.

“My mom and uncle had bought a couple and I just got bored,” he said, adding that the Extreme Green scratch-off purchased at Long Branch Beer & Wine in Silver Spring is only the fifth instant ticket he has ever played. The second-to-last block in the last row on the ticket gave him a big surprise. He revealed a money bag symbol instead of a number and then saw the prize beneath was $50,000.

“I handed it to my uncle,” the Montgomery County resident said, “and he had the (Lottery) app on his phone and scanned it.” The low-key winner said his family — including his uncle — were happy about his Lottery luck. The construction worker plans to spend some of the prize on a vacation cruise or trip.

The $5 Extreme Green game has one $50,000 top prize remaining unclaimed and thousands of other prizes ranging from $5 to $5,000. The lucky Lottery retailer that sold the scratch-off can also celebrate. The Montgomery County business will receive a $500 bonus from the Lottery for selling a $50,000 top-prize winning scratch-off.