Brandywine, Md. — Udele Burno, a delivery driver and mother of three from Brandywine, claimed a $10,000 prize on November 5 at Maryland Lottery headquarters in Baltimore after winning one of five top awards in the Hall-o-WIN second-chance promotion. The 2025 promotion, tied to the October Halloween season, gave non-winning Pick 3, Pick 4 and Pick 5 players a shot at cash through entries in their My Lottery Rewards accounts.
Burno entered tickets purchased during the entry period, which ran from October 1 through October 30. Each $1 ticket qualified for one entry, building odds for drawings that awarded five $10,000 prizes and five $5,000 prizes. Lottery officials drew winners randomly from the pool, notifying them via email or account alerts. Burno, whose entries stemmed from routine plays at local retailers, described the moment she learned of her win.
“I was so excited. I have never won that much money,” Burno said.
She arrived at headquarters with a broad smile, joining other recent claimants in the daily ritual of prize presentations. Maryland Lottery staff verify claims through ticket scans and identity checks before issuing payments, often within days for prizes under $600,000. Burno received her check on site, tax forms in hand, as the agency withholds 24.75 percent federal tax and 4.75 percent state tax for winnings over $5,000.
Burno plans to channel the funds toward a new vehicle, replacing her current one strained by daily routes through Prince George’s County. Delivery work demands reliable transportation, especially in the county’s growing suburban corridors linking Brandywine to Joint Base Andrews and the Capital Beltway.
The Hall-o-WIN promotion exemplifies Maryland Lottery’s second-chance model, launched in 2010 to boost player retention. Participants scan losing tickets via the free My Lottery Rewards app or website, entering drawings without additional cost. In 2024, similar events distributed over $1.2 million in extra prizes, per agency reports, encouraging repeat play amid draw games’ daily appeal. Pick 3 and Pick 4, with evening and midday draws, generate steady revenue, funding education through the state’s Lottery and Gaming Fund. Last fiscal year, the lottery contributed $1.1 billion to K-12 schools and community colleges, including programs in Prince George’s County like those at Northern High School in Accokeek.
Second-chance entries require a Maryland Lottery account, verified by age 18 or older and state residency. The app tracks points for tiered rewards, from bonus plays to exclusive events. Hall-o-WIN’s 2025 iteration drew over 500,000 entries, officials said, reflecting October’s spike in holiday-themed participation. Winners must claim within 180 days, a rule that prompted Burno’s prompt visit.
As Halloween fades, the Maryland Lottery shifts to ThanksWINNING, active through November 30. Players of any draw game — from Mega Millions to Bonus Match 5 — receive automatic entries for $2 or $5 Instant Win coupons or a free $1 FAST PLAY Reindeer Riches ticket. FAST PLAY, a hybrid of scratch-offs and draws, resolves in minutes at terminals, appealing to quick-play fans. Reindeer Riches, a $1 game with holiday graphics, offers top prizes up to $10,000 and multipliers for festive boosts.
This transition highlights the lottery’s calendar of promotions, each designed to sustain engagement. ThanksWINNING builds on fall momentum, with drawings pulled weekly from qualified plays. Entry is seamless via the app, mirroring Hall-o-WIN’s process. In Prince George’s County, where draw game sales topped $250 million last year, such incentives keep terminals busy at spots like the 7-Eleven in Brandywine Heights.
Burno’s story, one of 15 Hall-o-WIN recipients, joins a roster of everyday triumphs. The lottery reports 80 percent of prizes under $10,000 go to first-time big winners, fostering community narratives of opportunity. As ThanksWINNING unfolds, players in Brandywine and beyond scan tickets, eyeing coupons for holiday shopping or free plays to extend the season’s goodwill.
