Lifelong player claims top prize on $100,000 Crossword game
Lottery officials hear many stories of why a player chooses a particular scratch-off to play. Some say they like the game’s playstyle. Others find the instant ticket’s design appealing or say the game’s name caught their attention. A Baltimore woman who was playing crossword-themed scratch-offs to remind her of her youth just won a $100,000 top prize on a $100,000 Crossword 7th Edition game.
The anonymous player, who chose the nickname “Jane” to share the story of her lucky purchase, visited Lottery headquarters in Baltimore this week to claim her prize. “Jane” has played Lottery games for more than 30 years. She enjoys scratch-offs because the thrill and excitement of playing them reminds her of her youth. “Jane” says scratch-offs like PAC-MAN, MONOPOLY-themed games, bingo- and crossword-themed instant tickets tend to be her go-to games.
On the day “Jane” purchased her lucky $100,000 Crossword instant ticket, she went to Stadium Amoco in Baltimore to get some gas and her weekly scratch-off games. She purchased two $10 scratch-offs. While in the store, she scratched off both of her instant tickets and saw that the first instant ticket was not a winner. She scanned the prize check area of the second one and, to her surprise, saw a message that she won $100,000. “Jane” recalls standing still, frozen with confusion and disbelief.
“You play to win but as long as I’ve been playing, I never thought I would win this much money or at all,” she said.
The loyal player quickly rushed to her car and drove home as fast as she could to share the news with her husband. When she showed him the instant ticket, he didn’t believe her so she made him scan it using the Lottery’s mobile app. They celebrated after getting a second confirmation that she won. “Jane” kept her lucky instant ticket in a safe until she could deliver it to Lottery headquarters.
Asked how she plans to spend her windfall, “Jane” said, “I have no idea what I’ll do with the money or how I’ll spend it but I plan on being smart with it. Who knows if I’ll ever be in this position again.”
Playing Lottery scratch-offs is definitely in her future. “I’ve always played,” she said. “I will probably always play. I even played before I came in today (to headquarters.) Playing the Lottery is just something I enjoy doing. The icing on the cake is winning! I really hope I can win again.”
Celebrating with her is Lottery retailer Stadium Amoco. The business, located at 500 East 33rd Street in Baltimore, will receive a $1,000 bonus from the Lottery for selling a $100,000 top-prize winning scratch-off.
The 7th edition of the $100,000 Crossword game went on sale in August 2023. The winner claimed the seventh $100,000 top prize on the game, leaving one remaining. Also still up for grabs are six $10,000 prizes, five $1,000 prizes and many more ranging from $10 to $500.
