DUNDALK, MARYLAND – Calling himself “Blessed and Highly Favored,” a Maryland Lottery enthusiast from Dundalk won $25,000 after matching all five digits on a 50-cent straight bet in the new Pick 5 game.
The winner is celebrating his biggest Lottery score to date. A U.S. Department of Defense employee, his highest previous prize was $2,500. The 52-year-old has also won a few prizes worth several hundred dollars.
The Baltimore County resident was on his way home on Feb. 16 when he stopped at 7-Eleven #35757 in Dundalk to buy 10 quick-pick tickets with a 50-cent straight bet on each. That night, “Blessed and Highly Favored” was watching the Olympics on WBAL-TV when the Lottery’s evening drawing came on.
“I hit on the last of the 10 quick-picks!” he said.
A world traveler whose most recent trip (pre-COVID-19) was an excursion to the Arabian Peninsula, the winner said he has no special plans for his prize other than sharing some of the funds with friends.
Also sharing in the winner’s good fortune is 7-Eleven #35757. The Baltimore County store located at 4000 North Point Boulevard will receive a bonus of $250 from the Lottery for selling the $25,000 winning ticket.
Building on the long-running success of its Pick 3 and Pick 4 games, the Maryland Lottery added twice-daily drawings of Pick 5 to its lineup beginning Feb. 7. As of Feb. 21, the Lottery had 11 $25,000 winners on the 50-cent straight bet and five $50,000 winners on a $1 straight bet.
Players can pick five-digit combinations or have them randomly selected by the Lottery’s computer system. The game offers 13 different bet types with tickets available for as little as 50 cents. Prizes start at $25 and range up to $50,000 for hitting all five numbers on a $1 straight bet.
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