Longtime lottery player had never won over $50. But recent prize had her ‘shaking’

The 61-year-old Maryland woman was a dedicated lottery player, but she had never won more than $50, she told lottery officials.

She broke that record when she won $50,000 from a scratch-off ticket, officials said in a release on Aug. 24.

“I started shaking because I was so happy,” the Pasadena resident said.

She revealed to lottery officials she hadn’t told anyone but her daughter about her big win.

For the 50th anniversary of the Maryland Lottery, the organization released $50 scratch-off tickets in a game called 50 Years! with a top prize of $5 million.

The woman is a “regular scratch-off enthusiast,” according to lottery officials. She bought four tickets, and one of them revealed a $50,000 prize, the release said.

She has worked as a caterer for the last 20 years, she told lottery officials. She added that she plans to use the prize money for home improvements and to help out some family members.

The 50-year anniversary scratch-off game launched in February. Two $5 million top prizes and two $50,000 prizes remain, according to the release.

This story was originally published August 24, 2023 at 4:33 PM with the headline "Longtime lottery player had never won over $50. But recent prize had her ‘shaking’."