Montgomery County resident finds lucky win in Oct. 9 drawing
A Maryland grandma is now a millionaire after winning a second-tier prize in the multistate Cash4Life game.
She won big in the Oct. 9 drawing and had the option of a $1,000-a-week-for-life annuity paid in annual installments of $52,000 a year, or a one-time payment of $1 million (before taxes). The winner took the cash option.
The Olney resident learned she won while sitting on the couch at home, checking the winning numbers using her phone. The drawing took place at 9 p.m. and she pulled up the results at 9:15 p.m. She couldn’t believe her eyes.
“I had the ticket in one hand and my phone with the numbers in the other hand. I said ‘Am I seeing double?’” the winner recalls thinking.
The Montgomery County woman’s quick-pick ticket had a Cash Ball of 1 but she did see double for the rest of the numbers, which led to the $1,000-a-Week-for-Life prize. The Lottery player said she is undecided on how she will enjoy her prize and plans to meet with a financial adviser.
Her big win was such a surprise because she is not a regular Cash4Life player. Also, she purchased her ticket at a new-to-her retail location, the Olney 7-Eleven. She went to the store at 18120 Georgia Avenue because she was driving on the same side of the road as the convenience store and traffic was bad that day.
The lucky lady was filling out a Pick 3/4/5 playslip in the store and saw she had $2 left to spend. Deciding to play one other game, she settled on Cash4Life and bought the one $2 quick-pick ticket. She estimated that she has only played the game two to three times in her life.
“It was just luck that I played it,” she said
The 7-Eleven is also celebrating. For selling the second-tier winning ticket, the store receives a $2,500 Lottery bonus. This is the 10th second-tier Cash4Life prize won in Maryland since 2016, when the Lottery began offering the game to players. Five Maryland players have won the $1,000-a-Day-for-Life top prize during that period.
