One Maryland Lottery player’s routine Scratch-Off purchase turned into a much bigger surprise after a store scanner revealed his prize was ten times larger than he first believed.
BALTIMORE, Md. — A Montgomery County car salesman thought he had won $5,000 on a Maryland Lottery Scratch-Off ticket until a retailer scanned it and revealed the actual prize was $50,000.
The Silver Spring resident claimed the prize July 9, just months before his 50th birthday in October.
A regular Lottery player, he purchased several 50X the Cash Scratch-Off tickets at State Line Market, 7817 Eastern Ave. in Silver Spring.
After scratching through several losing tickets, he reached the last ticket in the stack and believed he had won $5,000.
Wanting to verify the amount, he asked the store clerk to scan the ticket.
Instead of paying the prize, the cashier informed him the ticket would have to be claimed through the Maryland Lottery. The validation receipt showed the ticket was actually worth $50,000.
The winner said he has kept the news private.
“I’m a private person,” he told Maryland Lottery officials.
He plans to use part of the winnings to pay bills and hopes to celebrate his upcoming 50th birthday in a memorable way.
State Line Market will receive a $500 bonus for selling the winning ticket.
The 50X the Cash Scratch-Off launched in January with nine top prizes of $100,000, two of which remain unclaimed. Four of the game’s 10 second-tier prizes of $50,000 also remain available.
Key Points
- A Silver Spring man discovered his Scratch-Off ticket was worth $50,000 after first believing it was a $5,000 winner.
- The winning ticket was purchased at State Line Market in Silver Spring.
- The winner plans to pay bills and celebrate his upcoming 50th birthday.
