WALDORF, Md. — A Charles County truck driver who rarely plays draw games walked away with a $50,000 Maryland Lottery prize after taking a suggestion from his father during a recent stop at a local convenience store.
The Waldorf resident, who typically only buys scratch-off tickets, was accompanying his father on an errand when they stopped at Foods In, a Lottery retailer on Mattawoman Drive. As he prepared to enter the store, his father encouraged him to try something different — a Pick 5 ticket using the numbers from his own license plate.
“I had no interest in Pick 5, but he said he had a good feeling about the five numbers in his license plate,” the winner told Lottery officials.
Later that evening, using his father’s Lottery app, the man scanned the ticket and saw the winning message. The numbers had matched, earning him the game’s $50,000 top prize.
“The adrenaline really started pumping. I was so excited. One heck of a happy moment,” he said.
Retailer rewarded for sale
The winner said he plans to use the unexpected windfall to pay off outstanding debt. The retailer that sold the winning ticket, Foods In at 12549 Mattawoman Drive, will receive a $500 bonus for selling the top-prize ticket.
Lottery officials confirmed the win was the result of a single straight bet on the five-digit number.
A rare lottery player hit a $50,000 jackpot in Waldorf after taking a chance on his dad’s lucky license plate digits.