In a surprising turn of events, a Charles County resident from Waldorf, Maryland, broke the common lottery player’s habit of sticking to familiar numbers and won a substantial $50,000 prize in the Maryland Lottery’s Pick 5 game. The win came from the Jan. 29 midday drawing, where the lucky number 83205 turned her lottery fortune around.
This Southern Maryland manicurist embraces change, unlike many lottery enthusiasts who fear changing their routine numbers might cost them a significant win. “This is the first time I have played this number,” she shared with Lottery officials, underscoring her flexible approach to lottery play. Her strategy is simple yet unconventional: she changes her lottery numbers if they don’t yield a win within three days, a practice that has now proven serendipitous.
The winning digits, 83205, were not her first choice but an adjustment from an initially chosen set of numbers, 73205, that she deemed unlucky. This method of tweaking numbers is not new to her; it is a tactic that has brought her luck in the past, including a notable Pick 4 win in 2020. “Sometimes, I will look at a number like this one and will change the 7 to an 8 to switch it up. I am not hesitant to try something new,” the winner remarked, highlighting her willingness to experiment for potential success.
The victory holds significant personal value as well. The winner, who has a large family with many children and grandchildren, finds inspiration for her lottery numbers in their birthdates. With her latest win, she plans to enrich her family’s lives further and fulfill a dream of traveling to Asia this summer, marking the prize as a financial gain and a gateway to creating lasting memories with her loved ones.
Her good fortune extends to Holiday Liquors in Waldorf, where she purchased the winning ticket. Located at 3385 Leonardtown Road, the retailer is set to receive a $500 bonus from the Lottery for selling the $50,000-winning Pick 5 ticket, celebrating the win that brought the local community joy and excitement.
This story not only highlights a significant win in the world of lottery games but also showcases the power of adaptability and the willingness to embrace change. The Waldorf woman’s approach to lottery playing — shifting numbers and not shying away from modifying her strategy — underscores a dynamic way of engaging with chance, making her win a testament to the potential rewards of flexibility and innovation in the pursuit of luck.