Series of ‘coincidences’ leads dad to winning Powerball ticket at convenience store
A series of “coincidences” led a man to buy a Powerball ticket worth thousands in Maryland.
The dad claimed his prize Feb. 6, the Maryland Lottery said in a news release.
He went out to get gas at a specific gas station where his parents-in-law had a discount for $1 off a gallon, he told lottery officials.
But when he got to the store, the “system was inoperable,” and the clerk needed about five minutes to restart it.
So he popped into the Wine Rack in Fruitland and bought an $8 Powerball ticket. He added Double Play to it.
His wife later scanned the ticket after the Feb. 1 drawing date, and a message appeared on her phone saying “Take to Retailer,” lottery officials said.
The couple scanned the ticket over and over hoping for more answers until his wife looked up the winning numbers on her phone.
Their ticket matched four of the black balls plus the Powerball in the game’s Double Play drawing, which takes place after the main Powerball game to give players a second chance at winning with the same ticket.
They had won $50,000, but she thought it was a prank.
The man confirmed the big prize, and his wife started crying, lottery officials said.
Now, the pair has plans to use their winnings to pay bills, renovate their home and take a family vacation.
This story was originally published February 7, 2025 at 8:40 AM with the headline "Series of ‘coincidences’ leads dad to winning Powerball ticket at convenience store."
