Harford county man wins $50,000 on scratch-off after routine stop in havre de grace
Scratch off lottery tickets

Harford County man wins $50,000 on scratch-off after routine stop in Havre de Grace

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1 min read
March 31, 2026

A routine soda stop turned into a $50,000 surprise for a retired Army veteran.

Havre de Grace, MD – A retired U.S. Army veteran from Harford County is still processing a $50,000 Maryland Lottery win after a routine stop for a drink led to an unexpected payout from a scratch-off ticket. The man, who regularly plays instant games, said the moment he scanned the ticket left him in disbelief.

The winning ticket came from the $5,000,000 Fortune scratch-off game, which the man purchased during a stop at EZ Quick Food on Revolution Street. What began as a typical purchase quickly turned into a life-changing moment when the scanner revealed the prize.

“I just stared at the scanner,” the veteran said. “I didn’t believe it, didn’t believe what I was seeing. Still don’t.”

Routine habit leads to unexpected win

The Harford County resident told Maryland Lottery officials he plays a few times each month, favoring scratch-offs for their immediate results. “Maybe a Powerball or Mega ticket when the jackpot gets really big, but usually just scratch-offs,” he said. “I feel like I win with them a lot, and I can scan them right away.”


Key Points

  • Harford County man won $50,000 from a $5,000,000 Fortune scratch-off ticket
  • Ticket was purchased at EZ Quick Food in Havre de Grace during a routine stop
  • Winner said he “didn’t believe” the result when scanning the ticket

The man said he typically buys higher-priced scratch-offs, such as $30 or $50 tickets, about once a month. His decision to purchase the $50 ticket that day was part of that routine, though the circumstances leading to the purchase were coincidental.

“I was thirsty that day and stopped at the first store I saw to get a soda,” he said. “I never would have found this ticket if I hadn’t really wanted that Coke.”

Top prizes still available in game

The $5,000,000 Fortune game launched in February 2025 and originally featured three top prizes. According to Maryland Lottery officials, one of those top prizes remains unclaimed, along with several other high-tier winnings, including four $100,000 prizes and four additional $50,000 prizes.

Lottery officials confirmed that the winning ticket in this case was one of the remaining $50,000 prizes still in circulation.

Phil Stilton

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

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