CALIFORNIA, Md. – The next time the grandkids visit Pop Pop, he may be smiling from ear to ear because of his Maryland Lottery secret. The Calvert County resident, who won $50,000 playing a Jumbo Cash scratch-off, plans to keep mum about his win even while sharing some of the funds with his grandkids and paying off bills.
The federal government employee found his lucky win playing a different scratch-off from his regular choice. The father of four adult children said he typically plays the $10 50X The Cash scratch-off, which has delivered him prizes of $100 to $500. “I’ve been lucky, from time to time,” he said.
Pop Pop was visiting Jughead Liquor at 16036 Three Notch Road in California when he spotted the $10 Jumbo Cash game and decided, on a whim, to buy two Jumbo Cash instant tickets. He usually scratches off games while still at the Lottery retailer and did so that day. The first scratch-off was a non-winner. The second one was a different story. “That one was, ‘Woo!’ I couldn’t believe it,” the winner recalled. “I said, ‘This must be $50.’”
However, a scan of the scratch-off’s prize check area showed a $50,000 win. The startled player made a beeline for the door. “I didn’t even tell the clerk,” he said. “I walked out.”
Pop Pop remained in a state of shock as he drove away in his vehicle. “I was amazed,” he said. “I’ve never won this much money. I was driving down the highway and I wondered, ‘Am I dreaming?’”
Hoping the answer was “No,” he pulled into a 7-Eleven and scanned the instant ticket again. He saw the same $50,000 winner message! Pop Pop rushed home and hid the scratch-off “where no one would find it” until he could claim his prize at Lottery headquarters in Baltimore.
The Jumbo Cash game went on sale in April with five $250,000 top prizes and four $50,000 second-tier prizes. Three top prizes remain along with three $50,000 prizes and others ranging from $10 to $10,000.
