Out-of-stock ticket leads to $1 million win for Maryland man
UPPER MARLBORO, Md. — A routine lottery stop turned into a life-changing moment for a Prince George’s County man who walked away with a $1 million prize — after settling for a ticket he didn’t even want.
The Upper Marlboro resident said he typically buys his lottery tickets every Monday, but decided to switch things up and purchase early on Sunday while returning from an appointment.
That spontaneous decision paid off in a big way.
“It wasn’t even the ticket I wanted,” the man told Maryland Lottery officials, explaining he had originally been looking for a $30 scratch-off game that had brought him luck before. When the store ran out, he opted instead for two $20 “100X the Cash” tickets.
The first ticket was a dud — but the second delivered a shocking surprise.
“When I saw the $1 million, I thought there’s no way this can be right,” he said.
Trying to stay calm, the man went back inside the store and scanned the ticket himself. What he saw left him stunned.
“I saw a bunch of zeroes so I had to count them carefully. I was so excited I kept losing track. It took me three times, but then I was pretty sure it was true.”
Still in disbelief, he asked the store clerk to confirm the win — sparking a celebration.
“High fives and handshakes,” he said.
The winning ticket was purchased at the 301 Travel Plaza on Crain Highway in Upper Marlboro. The retailer will receive a $1,000 bonus for selling the top-prize ticket.
The “100X the Cash” scratch-off game launched earlier this year with seven $1 million prizes. With this latest win, four top prizes remain unclaimed, along with two $50,000 prizes still up for grabs.
Key Points
- Maryland man won $1 million after buying a different ticket than planned
- The winning scratch-off was purchased in Upper Marlboro
- Several top prizes in the game still remain unclaimed