BOWIE, Md. – A Washington, D.C. man who works in Maryland hit it big after buying the last remaining King of Diamonds scratch-off ticket at a 7-Eleven in Bowie — and walked away with a $100,000 top prize. The HVAC technician, nearing retirement after more than 20 years on the job, claimed his winnings Jan. 13 at Maryland Lottery headquarters in Baltimore.
The lucky purchase happened at the 7-Eleven located at 3570 Crain Highway. The man said he noticed only one King of Diamonds ticket left in the dispenser and decided to take a chance on it. Later that day, at home, he began scratching and initially thought he’d won $2,000. A closer look — and a confirmation from a friend who’s a regular Lottery player — revealed the X50 multiplier printed in the top right corner, turning that $2,000 into a $100,000 win.
The winner said disbelief quickly gave way to excitement as he started calling friends and family to share the news. While he hasn’t made big plans for the money yet, he said paying off a few small debts is at the top of his list.
The 7-Eleven where he purchased the ticket will receive a $1,000 bonus from the Maryland Lottery.
Launched in September, the King of Diamonds game offers seven top prizes of $100,000. The D.C. man’s win marks only the second top-tier prize claimed, leaving five still in play along with thousands of smaller prizes statewide.