National

Lottery player’s ‘smart move’ helps him score big Maryland win. ‘I didn’t believe it’

A Maryland man didn’t think his ticket was a winning one, but scanned it out of habit and learned he won a big prize, lottery officials said.
A Maryland man didn’t think his ticket was a winning one, but scanned it out of habit and learned he won a big prize, lottery officials said. Getty Images/iStockphoto

A Maryland man has a habit when checking his lottery tickets — a habit that led to a six-figure prize.

Using a penny, the Montgomery County man scratched his $5,000,000 CASH ticket, Maryland Lottery officials said in a May 24 news release.

He thought it wasn’t a winning ticket.

But out of habit the man scanned his $50 instant ticket at the Silver Spring liquor store just to be sure, a “smart move” as it would turn out, lottery officials said.

The man was in shock — the scanner showed his ticket was a winner.

“I had goosebumps,” the man told lottery officials. “I didn’t believe it.”

The man overlooked that he had matched the winning number 13 at the bottom of his ticket, lottery officials said.

It came with a $100,000 prize.

“It is just a blessing,” the man told lottery officials. “I never dreamt I would win that type of money.”

The man told lottery officials he plans to spend his winnings on bills and may look into home renovation.

Silver Spring is about a 35-mile drive southwest from Baltimore.

Many people can gamble or play games of chance without harm. However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.

If you or a loved one shows signs of gambling addiction, you can seek help by calling the national gambling hotline at 1-800-522-4700 or visiting the National Council on Problem Gambling website.

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This story was originally published May 27, 2024 at 1:38 PM with the headline "Lottery player’s ‘smart move’ helps him score big Maryland win. ‘I didn’t believe it’."

Daniella Segura
McClatchy DC
Daniella Segura is a national real-time reporter with McClatchy. Previously, she’s worked as a multimedia journalist for weekly and daily newspapers in the Los Angeles area. Her work has been recognized by the California News Publishers Association. She is also an alumnus of the University of Southern California and UC Berkeley.
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