BALTIMORE, MD— A Baltimore warehouse worker, affectionately known as “Winky,” has struck it rich with a $50,000 win on the Money Drop scratch-off ticket. His dedicated approach to playing the Maryland Lottery paid off when he scored the second-tier prize on his favorite $10 scratch-off game.
“Winky,” who prefers to remain anonymous, has a unique strategy when it comes to scratch-offs. He focuses on one game at a time, often purchasing tickets on his way to work. Last week, he bought two Money Drop tickets from Brooklyn Grocery at 3570 Hanover Street. The tickets, numbered 18 and 19, didn’t bring him luck initially. However, when he noticed that ticket number 20 was still available a few days later, he couldn’t resist trying his luck again.
“I said, ‘I need that ticket,’” recalled “Winky,” who was drawn to the unpurchased ticket that had been waiting for him over the weekend.
After purchasing the ticket, “Winky” followed his usual routine of scratching off the numbers without immediately checking the prize amounts. Although none of his numbers matched the winning ones, he noticed the “autowin” symbol, which guarantees a prize. To his amazement, the prize beneath the symbol revealed a $50,000 win.
“When I saw that $50,000, I didn’t believe it. I still don’t believe it,” he said, smiling broadly.
A die-hard Ravens fan, “Winky” plans to use his winnings to move and buy a new car. Unlike most players who use a coin or scratcher, “Winky” attributes his lottery success to using the pencil provided at the store.
Brooklyn Grocery, the retailer where “Winky” purchased his winning ticket, is likely to see more traffic as hopeful players try to replicate his success.
