June 24, 2026

Frederick couple’s nightly lottery ritual ends with a big surprise

A Maryland woman thought she had won $57 before her husband took a second look and discovered the ticket was actually worth $57K.

FREDERICK, Md. — A Frederick County couple’s favorite way to relax after dinner turned into a life-changing moment when a scratch-off ticket they nearly overlooked revealed a $57,777 top prize.

The Frederick woman and her husband visited Maryland Lottery headquarters on Monday to claim the top prize on the Triple Red 7s Tripler scratch-off game.

The couple told lottery officials that playing scratch-offs has long been part of their nightly routine. After dinner and the evening news, they sit together and scratch their tickets as a way to unwind.

Recently, the woman’s husband purchased $20 worth of scratch-offs, including one of the Maryland Lottery’s newest games.

As they went through the tickets, every one appeared to be a non-winner except for one.

The woman initially believed she had won just $57.

“I asked my husband to take a second look,” she told lottery officials.

His reaction quickly changed everything.

“Look at this, the golden ticket!” he shouted after realizing the ticket was actually worth the game’s $57,777 top prize.

The couple said they still feel “on top of the world” after the unexpected windfall.

They plan to use the money to pay off bills and take a vacation.

The winning ticket was purchased at the Sheetz store at 20723 National Highway in Boonsboro.

The store will receive a $577.77 bonus for selling the top-prize ticket.

The Triple Red 7s family of games debuted on May 15. According to the Maryland Lottery, four top prizes of $57,777 remain unclaimed in the Triple Red 7s Tripler game, along with thousands of other prizes ranging from $5 to $5,000.


Key Points

  • A Frederick County woman won a $57,777 top prize playing the Triple Red 7s Tripler scratch-off.
  • She initially thought the ticket was worth just $57 before her husband spotted the real prize.
  • The couple plans to pay bills and take a vacation with their winnings.