MOUNT RAINIER, Md. – A longtime Maryland Lottery player nicknamed “Rich” just became richer by winning $50,000 playing Keno, his favorite game. The government employee, who has played Lottery games for more than 30 years, recently visited Lottery headquarters in Baltimore to share the story of his lucky win and claim his prize.
The College Park resident first found good fortune with Keno years ago. He won $10,000, which he described as a “brag-worthy windfall,” and that sparked his continued interest in the game. Over the years, the Prince George’s County resident has dabbled in other games like Racetrax and scratch-offs, but he says Keno is the game that brings him the most prizes.
“Rich” visited Eastern Avenue BP at 4501 Eastern Avenue in Mt. Rainier to buy the lucky Keno ticket, placing an 8-spot bet for three drawings on 4, 14, 24, 34, 44, 54, 64 and 74. He added the Super Bonus multiplier to the ticket and went on his way.
On the day he realized he won $50,000, “Rich” was in the middle of a conversation at a local store. When he checked his tickets and saw a message congratulating him about the prize, the loyal player quickly left the store and rushed to his car to confirm his win. Hours later, he returned to the Lottery retailer to verify his ticket’s status. To his delight, his suspicions were correct – he was indeed a big winner!
“I was overjoyed and shocked when I realized I won,” said “Rich.” “It almost didn’t seem real. I honestly think I was in the right place at the right time.”
Since winning, “Rich” has kept a low profile, sharing the news only with his sister. When asked about his plans for the windfall, he expressed a desire to help his family, ensure his loved ones have a great holiday, buy a small car and save a significant portion of his winnings for a “rainy day.”
“Rich” isn’t alone in winning. Eastern Avenue BP in Prince George’s County will receive a Lottery bonus of $500 for selling a winning Keno ticket of $10,000 or more. The bonus is equal to 1% of the prize.
