New scratch-off player latest to win popular game’s top prize
A Wicomico County woman made the long trip across the Eastern Shore and Bay Bridge to Baltimore this week, carrying with her a $50,000 Cash scratch-off game that she and her husband really hoped was something special. Their efforts were not wasted and the drive was not in vain. She joins 76 other lucky players who have taken home the game’s $50,000 top prize.
“We started buying scratch-off tickets a couple of months ago,” the registered nurse told Lottery officials. “My husband and I decided that we’d buy them once a week, and only $20 and $30 games.”
The first ticket the couple bought back in September was a $500 winner, courtesy of the $50,000 Cash scratch-off. “He picks the store and I picked the game,” she continued. “So, when I saw that the store had our lucky game, I had to buy it.”
They found the lucky instant ticket at North Salisbury Exxon in Salisbury. Scratching their three instant tickets at home, the two were stunned to see what appeared to be a top-prize winner.
“We looked at it for a minute and I was pretty convinced but he just wouldn’t believe,” the wife said. In fact, it wasn’t until the couple were well through the claiming process at Lottery headquarters that they fully accepted that they’d won. “It’s super exciting, but still so difficult to believe.”
The $20 $50,000 Cash game appeared on Lottery retailers’ shelves in December 2022 with 160 top prizes, an unusually high number for scratch-offs. Those top prizes have not gone unnoticed by players and have delivered a similar surprise to many Maryland Lottery players. This win leaves 84 top prizes still unclaimed along with 96 $5,000 second-tier prizes.
Our Eastern Shore winners plan to dedicate their $50,000 win to paying bills and continuing their education. Meanwhile, North Salisbury Exxon at 2403 North Salisbury Boulevard will receive a $500 bonus from the Lottery for selling the top-prize winning scratch-off.
