Oxon Hill resident scratches off a top prize surprise
A football fanatic from Oxon Hill visited Lottery headquarters this week to share his “touchdown” story, which involved scoring a $50,000 top prize on a Holiday Cash scratch-off. His excitement was still evident as he shared the tale of his Lottery luck.
The anonymous player, who selected the nickname “Pete,” said he has played Lottery games off and on for years. After winning a top prize of $50,000 in 2017, he said, “I’ve been on a mission to win $100,000.”
“Pete” often plays — and wins — playing games like Pick 5, Keno and the newest scratch-offs. When asked about his strategy, he said, “It’s mostly luck and playing a lot. I buy five tickets at a time when I play and it must be paying off because this is my second top prize.”
A football fan, Pete was watching his team play on a Sunday and decided to scratch off the instant tickets he purchased the night before at National Harbor Exxon in Fort Washington. The first few games had small prizes. He remembers his team was on the wrong side of a turnover when he scratched his final instant ticket and found the $50,000 top prize. “Scratching that ticket felt like a touchdown to me,” he said.
“Pete” plans to put his fortune to good use. A few months ago, he was diagnosed with cancer and he wants to donate some of the prize to cancer research and to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. He also plans to help his family and friends, saying, “I’ve been blessed with a great support system. I want to bless them.”
The owners of National Harbor Exxon can also share in the win. The Prince George’s County store located at 8005 Indian Head Highway in Fort Washington will receive a $500 bonus from the Lottery for selling a $50,000 top-prize winning instant ticket.
The Holiday Cash scratch-off joined the Lottery’s lineup of instant games in October 2023 with eight top prizes. Three $50,000 top-prize winning scratch-offs are still in circulation, along with three $5,000 second-tier winners.
