FAST PLAY prize goes to Prince George’s County man
He was walking out of Foods In, a convenience store in Waldorf, when he discovered the extra cash in his back pocket, said the Prince George’s County resident. A quick 180-degree turn brought him back to the store’s Lottery vending machine and, three minutes later, delivered his biggest-ever win — more than $45,000.
“I stuck my hand in my pocket and there was $4,” explained the information technology specialist and long-time Lottery player. “I had already bought my tickets for the week, but because I was right there at the store, I figured I’d get a couple more.”
Selecting a favorite $2 FAST PLAY game, 7-11-21®, he bought two tickets and was about to scan them when he noticed something peculiar. “The tickets looked different, somehow.”
A moment later he realized what he was seeing and his heart started racing. “The first ticket showed a jackpot of $45,166. The second ticket showed $1,500.” The 7-11-21 game has a progressive jackpot that climbs with each ticket purchased until a jackpot-winning ticket is sold. At that point, the jackpot drops back to its $1,500 starting point.
“I told myself that the jackpots were different because my first ticket had won and the lower jackpot listed on the second ticket meant that it had dropped back down to its base amount. That had to be it.”
Still, though, he didn’t fully believe it. With a trembling hand, he passed the first ticket over the scanning device on the vending machine. “I usually see ‘No winner’ or the amount I won. This time it was different.” Almost sure now that he had won the jackpot, the player asked the cashier to confirm his luck. “When I saw the guy’s face light up, I knew it was real.”
Management at Foods In, a Charles County business located at 12549 Mattawoman Drive in Waldorf, will receive a $451.66 bonus from the Lottery for selling the 7-11-21 jackpot-winning ticket. The happy computer whiz will share his winnings with his family and use some of the funds to erase some debt.
