BOWIE, Md. – A Maryland mechanic who loves playing scratch-offs parlayed a $65 win on two instant tickets into a $250,000 Lottery payday last week.
The Bowie resident, who was driving to work early in the morning, stopped at a Lottery retailer to buy four different $10 scratch-offs. He won $50 on one game and $15 on another. Rather than cash in the winning instant tickets, the loyal player put his car in gear. “I drove another mile,” he recalled, but decided to try his luck a second time. The Prince George’s County man pulled into the Liberty gas station at 1298 East Gude Drive in Rockville.
He scanned his two winning games into a vending machine at the business and reallocated the $65 in prizes into the purchase of seven games: three $10 Jumbo Cash scratch-offs, one $20 instant ticket and three $5 scratch-offs. After adding a cup of coffee to his morning, the married father of two returned to his car to see if Lottery luck would again brighten his day. It sure did! The very last instant ticket he scratched was one of the Jumbo Cash games. It delivered a $250,000 top-prize win.
He suddenly didn’t want his coffee anymore. “I was filled up,” said the winner. “I was sweating. I was wondering if the prize was real.”
The lucky player texted his wife about his good fortune and went on to work, where he hid the winning scratch-off under his seat before starting his shift. “I visited the car four times that day while at work,” he said, “to be sure the scratch-off was still there.”
The couple plan to keep the big win a secret and use the prize for home remodeling projects and to pay down a college student loan. The Lottery retailer can also celebrate. For selling a $250,000 top-prize winning scratch-off, the Liberty gas station management will receive a $1,000 bonus from the Lottery.
Meanwhile, players will find plenty of prizes remaining in this game, which went on sale on April 22. There are still three $250,000 top prizes available along with two unclaimed $50,000 prizes, 15 $10,000 prizes and 30 $1,000 prizes. Others range from $10 to $500.
