Matthew Robinson of Delmar, right, encouraged by his best friend Brian Brown bought a scratch-off that won $50,000.
Lottery regular encourages buddy to buy an instant ticket, resulting in big win
Best friends from the Eastern Shore who were already planning to start their own fiberglass repair and fabrication business got a boost when one of them scored $50,000 on a Maryland Lottery scratch-off.
“We were already looking at a work van,” said winner Matthew Robinson, adding, “This came at the perfect time!”
Ultimately, the plan is to use the money “to feed our families,” he said.
Interestingly, Matthew has long been an infrequent Lottery player. His best friend and workmate, Brian Brown, is a Lottery regular who has won four-digit prizes playing everything from Racetrax to scratch-offs.
On a recent day out, Brian was getting ready to buy a few instant tickets during a stop at the Exxon station at 8600 Ocean Highway in Delmar. Matthew decided he wanted to play, too.
“He put in some money,” Brian explained. Later, at home, they scratched their respective instant tickets and Matthew’s $5 Gold Bar Bingo 5th Edition ticket proved to be a top-prize winner worth $50,000.
“I never expected this to happen,” Matthew said.
The men are eager to move forward with their planned business, and Matthew has a new outlook on playing Lottery games. Brian said that Matthew “changed my whole perspective.” Matthew added, “If not for him, I would not be here!”
The Delmar Exxon station that sold the lucky scratch-off shares in the pair’s good fortune. The Wicomico County business picks up a $500 Lottery bonus for selling the top-prize winning instant ticket.
This game went on sale in July and still has five of its eight top prizes remaining. Also unclaimed are six $10,000 prizes and others ranging from $5 to $5,000.
