UPPER MARLBORO, Md. — A mother and her adult son claimed a $50,000 Maryland Lottery prize Wednesday after a first-time $30 scratch-off purchase turned into an unexpected windfall in Prince George’s County.
The pair bought the winning “Ace of Spades” ticket at a Wawa on South East Crain Highway, where the son said he felt drawn to the lottery kiosk before the win, according to the Maryland Lottery.
First-time purchase delivers unexpected payout
The mother, who typically sticks to $10 tickets or less, said this marked her first time buying a $30 scratch-off. The decision came while the two were together at the convenience store, with the son encouraging the purchase.
“The machine was calling my name,” the son said after the pair claimed the prize April 22 at Maryland Lottery headquarters in Baltimore.
As they scratched the ticket, smaller wins—$30, $40, and $50—began to add up. The son initially calculated a $500 total before realizing one key element remained uncovered.
Multiplier turns $500 into $50,000
After revealing a 100X multiplier on the ticket, the total prize jumped dramatically from hundreds to $50,000.
“My math wasn’t working. All of those little figures went out the window,” the son said, describing the moment the full value became clear.
The pair said they remained cautious even after discovering the win, choosing not to celebrate until the prize was officially claimed.
“We really didn’t believe it. We didn’t want to get too excited until we made our claim,” the mother said.
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Key Points
• Upper Marlboro pair won $50,000 on a Maryland Lottery scratch-off ticket
• Winning ticket purchased at Wawa on Crain Highway in Prince George’s County
• 100X multiplier boosted initial $500 win to full prize amount
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Game still holds larger prizes
The “Ace of Spades” scratch-off game launched in September 2025 with three top prizes of $2 million. As of this latest win, two of those top prizes remain unclaimed.
Lottery officials said the Upper Marlboro winners are the second to claim a $50,000 second-tier prize, leaving one remaining at that level.
Additional prizes ranging from $30 to $5,000 are still available in the game.
What comes next for winners
The mother and son said they have not yet decided how they will use the winnings and are still processing the unexpected outcome.
Their win highlights the odds-defying nature of scratch-off games, where a single multiplier can significantly increase a payout.
The Maryland Lottery did not release the names of the winners, and no timeline was given for how the prize will be distributed.
As of now, the $50,000 prize has been officially claimed, and the winners remain undecided on their next steps.
Maryland Lottery, Prince George’s County, lottery winners