Frustrated lottery player tries different game — and the ticket left him ‘dumbfounded’
An avid lottery player from Baltimore has a routine when he buys his scratch-off tickets.
“When the new tickets come out, I usually play them,” he told officials, according to a May 18 Maryland Lottery news release.
He usually buys his tickets from the same self-serve machine at a Royal Farms convenience store, but he recently went to buy tickets only to find his preferred machine was in use.
“I was frustrated,” he said.
Despite the obstacles, the retired manufacturing worker randomly picked two In the Money tickets, according to officials. His choice ended up paying off big time.
After eating a jelly doughnut when he got home, the lottery player scratched his two tickets. That’s when he saw his $100,000 top prize, officials said.
Immediately, the lucky winner began calling family members, but his children and wife were in a church service, he told officials. The winner was able to get in touch with his son-in-law who confirmed the winning ticket.
The man’s son-in-law took a picture of the winner with his ticket and began sending it to family, officials said.
When church ended, the man’s daughter “urged her mom to check” her texts, so she could see the big win.
“I got scared, I thought something was wrong,” the winner’s wife told officials.
After seeing the prize, though, her emotions quickly changed, officials said.
“We were all dumbfounded,” the winner said.
The big prize will serve as “a nice cushion” for the retired couple, the winner’s wife said. They plan to share some of their winnings among their children and grandchildren.
This story was originally published May 19, 2023 at 10:00 AM with the headline "Frustrated lottery player tries different game — and the ticket left him ‘dumbfounded’."
