BALTIMORE, MD – A Wicomico County man’s family luck struck again just before Christmas, as Pittsville resident Steven Serio claimed a $50,000 Maryland Lottery Bonus Match 5 prize — eight years after his mother won $150,000 playing the same game.
Serio collected his prize December 23 at Lottery headquarters in Baltimore, accompanied by his mother, Diane, whose own win in 2017 made local headlines. The pair have been playing the same set of numbers for years, but Serio said his winning combination came about by accident after he mistakenly marked the wrong numbers on a play slip several years ago.
“I was filling out the play slip without my glasses and penciled in the wrong numbers,” Serio said. “When I saw the mistake, I just decided to keep playing them.” That “lucky mistake” led to his $50,000 windfall from the December 21 drawing.
Serio said he realized he’d won while watching the Baltimore Ravens game at home. “I know the numbers by heart, so I knew right away that I won,” he said. “At that point, I didn’t care about the game.”
Diane recalled the emotional moment when her son shared the news. “He came to me crying,” she said. “He was so calm telling me how blessed we are.”
Serio plans to use the winnings to pay off debts and do some shopping. The Pittsville Mart at 34430 Old Ocean City Road, which sold the winning ticket, will receive a $500 retailer bonus.