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.”
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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.
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