A Southern Maryland resident struck it big in the April 11 Pick 5 drawing, securing a $50,000 prize by using his home address as his lottery numbers. The retired contractor visited the Lottery headquarters on Thursday to claim his prize, marking a significant moment after years of near-misses.
The St. Mary’s County man has long used his address as his lucky combination for Pick 3, Pick 4, and Pick 5 games. “I’ve come close so often that I resigned myself to the fact that I would never get all of the numbers,” he said during his visit to the Lottery office.
On the morning after the draw, he checked the results via the Lottery’s winning numbers phone line. To his surprise, all five of his chosen numbers were announced. Despite his initial disbelief, he double-checked by calling again. Still unsure, he drove to the nearest Lottery store early in the morning. “It was pretty early, so I thought I might be dreaming,” he recounted. The store’s ticket scanner finally confirmed his win, instructing him to proceed to the Lottery headquarters.
The fortunate winner plans to use the winnings to enhance his family’s life. He and his wife intend to take their grandchildren on a memorable trip and share the remainder of the prize with other family members. “We’ve been given such a gift with this win. We’re so happy to be able to make life easier and happier for the people we love,” he expressed.
Additionally, the win also benefits the local community. The Wawa convenience store located at 23141 Three Notch Road in California, Maryland, where the winning ticket was purchased, will receive a $500 bonus from the Lottery for selling the top-prize ticket.
This stroke of luck highlights the unexpected joys and community benefits that can arise from participating in state lotteries, impacting not just the winners but local businesses as well.
