Holiday Raffle win stuns Middle River woman with $100K prize from last-minute ticket
MIDDLE RIVER, MD – A Middle River woman welcomed 2026 with an unexpected windfall after purchasing a Maryland Lottery Holiday Raffle ticket on New Year’s Day—the very last day tickets were available—and later discovering it was one of just 10 selected for a $100,000 top-tier prize.
The winning ticket was bought at Baker’s Tavern, located at 2233 Old Eastern Avenue. The woman, who usually plays bingo and occasional scratch-offs, decided to try her luck with the $20 raffle ticket while out on the holiday. Days later, she was in bed scrolling through social media when she noticed one of the winning tickets had been sold at that same tavern.
Although her husband wasn’t home at the time, she called him, suspecting it was her ticket. The ticket was still in her car, and despite freezing temperatures, she raced outside to retrieve it. Upon checking the number, she confirmed the shock—her ticket was worth $100,000.
She claimed the prize on January 12 at Maryland Lottery headquarters in Baltimore. Though still absorbing the win, the couple said they plan to invest the prize money toward retirement. A celebratory dinner is also in the works.
The Maryland Lottery Holiday Raffle ran from November 3 through January 1, with the drawing held on January 2. Out of 237,206 sequentially numbered tickets sold, the raffle awarded one $1 million prize, ten $100,000 prizes, three $50,000 prizes, and 10,000 additional prizes ranging from $50 to $500.
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Key Points
- Middle River woman won $100,000 on Maryland Lottery Holiday Raffle ticket bought on New Year’s Day
- She recognized the location of the winning ticket online and confirmed the number herself
- Plans include saving the prize money for retirement after claiming it January 12