Waldorf man scores $50K Holiday Raffle prize after spotting lucky number at local store
Waldorf, MD – A retired government worker from Waldorf hit the jackpot just days before New Year’s after realizing his Maryland Lottery Holiday Raffle ticket matched a $50,000 Early Bird prize — and he only checked after a chance conversation at his go-to store.
The winner, who chose to stay anonymous under the alias “Foods In Winner,” purchased his raffle ticket on December 17 at Foods In, a convenience store on Mattawoman Drive. While visiting the same store after the December 22 Early Bird drawing, he overheard buzz that a winning $50,000 ticket had been sold there. A fellow customer even showed the winning number — 166251 — on his phone.
“It looked very familiar to me,” the man recalled, prompting him to call his wife and ask her to check their ticket at home. Later, he scanned the ticket using the Maryland Lottery app and confirmed the match.
The Waldorf resident, a regular Lottery player, said he often plays numbers close to 612 — and while the Holiday Raffle tickets are pre-numbered and sequential, his randomly assigned ticket of 166251 was close enough to his lucky digits to give him a good feeling.
He hasn’t yet decided how he’ll spend the $50,000 prize but said he’s still eyeing the final Holiday Raffle drawing coming up on January 2, where over 10,000 prizes — including a $1 million top prize — will be awarded.
Holiday Raffle tickets, which launched on November 3, are sold for $20 each at Maryland Lottery retailers. A total of 325,000 tickets are available, with sales ending January 1 unless sold out earlier.
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Key Points
- Waldorf man wins $50,000 Holiday Raffle Early Bird prize after recognizing the winning number at a local store
- The winning ticket was purchased at Foods In on Mattawoman Drive on December 17
- Final Holiday Raffle drawing takes place January 2, offering more than 10,000 prizes including a $1 million top prize
