“Bear” of Carroll County is the first $2 million top-prize winner in the $30 Cash is King game.
Carroll County resident wakes up to discover big scratch-off win
“Bear” of Westminster is Maryland’s newest multimillionaire, winning $2 million on the $30 Cash is King scratch-off.
The 43-year-old, who says his friends call him “Bear,” bought the scratch-off late on Thanksgiving night at Jiffy Mart in Westminster. The Carroll County man usually scans his instant tickets at Lottery stores but went home that evening without doing so. He was up at 5:30 a.m. the next day, ready to check for a win, and scratched off the instant ticket.
“I won on a $30 ticket before but this time there were a lot more zeros,” said “Bear.” “It was jaw-dropping when I realized how much I won.”
Although it was still early, he woke up his wife to share the excitement of becoming multimillionaires. “She didn’t believe it then and she still doesn’t believe it now,” he said, laughing.
“Bear,” who is a subcontractor for a construction company, said the family is still undecided on how to spend the life-changing money. He and his wife both plan to keep working at their current places of employment. The father of two said he also will put aside some of the money for his young children.
“It is still early on. I am not sure what we are going to do, but we will make smart decisions with the money,” said the anonymous winner.
Jiffy Mart in Westminster is also a winner for selling “Bear” the instant ticket. The Carroll County retailer located at 1 Magna Way will receive a $2,000 bonus from the Lottery for selling a $2 million top-prize winning scratch-off.
“Bear” is the first top-prize winner in the Cash is King game. The instant ticket went on sale Sept. 19 and has four $2 million prizes remaining. Also awaiting discovery are four $50,000 second-tier prizes and seven $10,000 third-tier prizes.
