ODENTON, Md. — An Anne Arundel County grandmother’s creative approach to playing the Maryland Lottery’s Pick 5 game has paid off in a big way, netting her a $50,000 prize last week.
The retired woman, a loyal Pick 5 player since the game began in 2022, employs a unique strategy: purchasing a Quick Pick ticket, rearranging the numbers, and playing them as a $1 straight ticket. After years of smaller wins, her method finally hit the jackpot.
Last week, while grocery shopping at the Giant store on Annapolis Road in Odenton, she used her system to create the number 82524 and played it for two drawings. Later that evening, she discovered her numbers matched the evening drawing in exact order. “I checked three or four times to be certain,” she shared, adding that the confirmation from the Lottery app’s confetti-filled congratulations screen was unforgettable.
In a twist, she kept the win a secret from her husband to surprise him for his birthday, revealing the prize while discussing home improvement plans. “She actually hid it from me until the night before my birthday,” her husband said with a laugh.
The lucky winner plans to use the prize for home renovations and holiday shopping. The ticket was purchased at the Giant store at 1155 Annapolis Road, which will receive a $500 retailer bonus.