AVENUE, MD – A St. Mary’s County resident claimed a $77,777 top prize from a Maryland Lottery scratch-off ticket he received during a White Elephant gift exchange at his home holiday party a few weeks ago.
Joshua Hill hosted the gathering in the Avenue community with his wife when participants played the popular game. White Elephant involves guests bringing wrapped gifts, taking turns to unwrap one or steal an already opened gift from someone else, continuing until every gift has been claimed. Hill’s original gift was stolen, prompting him to select from the remaining options. He chose a bottle of Crown Royal topped with a beanie, contributed by his wife’s uncle. Unbeknownst to him, the winning $10 Lucky 7s Multiplier ticket was concealed under the beanie.
Credit: Maryland Lottery
Not a frequent lottery player, Hill set the gift aside to enjoy the rest of the festivities. About a week and a half later, his wife scratched the ticket at home and scanned it, revealing the $77,777 prize. “My wife was home and decided to scratch the game,” he said. “When she scanned it, it said $77,777. she was shocked!”
She contacted him immediately with the news. “Babe, I think you won $77,777.” Hill returned home to verify the win. “When I saw that $77,777 come across my phone, I had to open that Jack and take a shot,” he said. The couple shared the story with family members, including the uncle who provided the gift. “He was happy for us,” Hill said.
Hill, who works as a facility operations specialist and owns a cabinet shop, acted quickly to secure the prize. He noted past experiences with smaller scratch-off wins where tickets were misplaced until expiration. “I’ve won small amounts on scratch-offs before and I’ll put them up and forget about them until they expire,” he smiled. “I wasn’t about to let that happen with this ticket.”
He claimed the prize December 29 at Maryland Lottery headquarters. Hill described feeling bewildered and stated he had no immediate plans for the money, opting to deposit it in the bank for now.
The winning ticket was purchased at Captain Sam’s Liquors, located at 22664 Colton Point Road in Bushwood. Under Maryland Lottery rules, the retailer receives a bonus equal to 1 percent of the top prize amount, in this case $777.77.
This win represents the 11th $77,777 top prize claimed in the Lucky 7s Multiplier game. The $10 scratch-off, which debuted in May 2025 as part of a series of Lucky 7-themed instant tickets, offers 28 chances to win on each play area. Players reveal symbols including black “7” for the prize shown, red “7” to double the prize, and “3X” to triple it. Six top prizes of $77,777 remain unclaimed, along with 11 second-tier prizes of $10,000 and numerous smaller awards from $10 to $1,000.
The Lucky 7s Multiplier belongs to a family of games released together, including $1 Lucky 7s, $2 Lucky 7s Doubler, and $5 Lucky 7s Tripler, all designed with multiplier features to enhance potential payouts. The game’s structure appeals to players seeking higher-tier instant wins, with odds and prize details available through the Maryland Lottery.
This holiday surprise highlights how unexpected circumstances can lead to substantial rewards in Southern Maryland, where community traditions continue to create memorable experiences.