NORTH POTOMAC, MD — A Montgomery County resident is heading to the Caribbean after winning $8,888 in the Maryland Lottery’s Back to the Future second-chance promotion.
Paul Cohen of North Potomac claimed the top prize in the final drawing held July 16. The retired driver said the winnings will fully cover the cost of a cruise he had already planned to take this summer through the Bahamas and Caribbean.
This prize was part of a themed lottery promotion tied to key numbers from the classic 1985 film. The number 88, used in the prize amount, represents the speed required for time travel in the movie. Other prize amounts included $2,025, marking the film’s 40th anniversary, $2,015 referencing the future year visited in the movie, and $1,955, representing the year traveled to in the original storyline.
Cohen said he had watched the movie many times but didn’t immediately make the connection between the prize and the film. He later realized the significance of the number.
The $2 scratch-off ticket for Back to the Future went on sale March 24. Three top prizes of $10,000 remain available, along with other instant-win amounts ranging from $2 to $5,000.
The Maryland Lottery’s My Lottery Rewards program offers additional opportunities for players to win using previously entered tickets.