Woman wins $50k after ignoring bad scratch-off advice

Woman wins $50K after ignoring bad scratch-off advice

Worcester County woman wins $50K on $5 scratch-off after ignoring bad advice

BERLIN, MD — A Worcester County woman is celebrating a $50,000 lottery win after buying a $5 Festive Fortune scratch-off ticket—just moments after another store customer advised her to avoid the lower-priced games.

The winning ticket was purchased Sunday morning at Your Store, located at 10137 Old Ocean City Boulevard in Berlin. The woman, a social media influencer, said she ignored a fellow patron’s warning that $5 tickets “don’t pay out,” and bought two anyway. The second one she scratched revealed a symbol that signified the game’s top prize.

She scratched and scanned both tickets at the store. The first was a non-winner. The second, however, displayed an ice-skate symbol, the sign of a top-tier prize in the Festive Fortune game. After seeing a message on the terminal that read “See Lottery,” she realized she had just won $50,000.

The woman and her husband, a construction worker, plan to use the money to launch separate businesses—she aims to start a cleaning company, while he intends to open a contracting business. The couple, who have two daughters, also enjoy spending time together on the beach.

The Festive Fortune game launched in October with eight $50,000 top prizes. With this win, six top prizes remain unclaimed. The $5 game also features many lower-tier prizes and can be entered into the My Lottery Rewards Holiday Cash and Dash second-chance promotion, where players can win cash or a shopping spree.

As the retailer who sold the winning ticket, Your Store will receive a $500 bonus.

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Key Points

  • A Worcester County woman won $50,000 on a Festive Fortune scratch-off purchased in Berlin
  • The $5 ticket revealed a top-prize symbol, contradicting a bystander’s advice to avoid lower-priced games
  • The couple plans to use the prize money to start separate businesses in cleaning and construction
Chris Quigley

Chris Quigley is a Staff Writer and Community News Correspondent for Shore News Network, where she covers local government, public safety, community affairs, politics, and issues impacting residents throughout New Jersey. Her reporting focuses on delivering timely, accurate, and relevant news that helps readers stay informed about the communities in which they live and work.

As a member of the Shore News Network editorial team, Quigley works closely with public officials, community leaders, first responders, and local organizations to provide factual coverage of breaking news, municipal government, public policy, and events affecting New Jersey residents. Her work highlights both major developments and the local stories that shape communities across the state.

Quigley is committed to responsible journalism, emphasizing accuracy, source verification, and transparency in every story she reports. She strives to present information in a clear and accessible manner, helping readers better understand the issues, decisions, and events that impact their daily lives.

Through her work at Shore News Network, Chris Quigley contributes to the organization's mission of providing trusted local news coverage, accountability reporting, and community-focused journalism throughout New Jersey.

Chris Quigley is a graduate of Stockton State University and began her career at IN Jersey, the online news and media branch of the Asbury Park Press. She also worked at Monmouth Internet, the Ocean Signal Newspaper, and JTOWN Magazine during her career in both content management and operations.

Degrees: Business B.A. - Stockton University

Experience and interests: Criminal Justice, Business, Animal Care, Entertainment, Lottery News, Local News