Lucky lottery winner stays calm in Maryland store — but goes ‘crazy on the inside’
A loyal lottery player in need of a pick-me-up got more than she bargained for when she became the first top prize winner of a new game in Maryland.
The lucky player knew she would be housebound for the next few weeks while recovering from surgery and was “itching to buy an instant ticket on the drive home,” she told lottery officials in a news release.
The security professional found one of her favorite games at a store on the way back to Montgomery Village, officials said. The town is about a 45-mile drive southwest of Baltimore.
“Bonus Crossword has been a very lucky ticket for me,” she said. “I won $5,000 once with it. And, to be honest, while I keep playing the game because I enjoy it, I never expected to win more than that.”
Her win far exceeded her expectations — she became the first $30,000 top prize winner of the sixth edition of the popular $3 scratch-off game after it debuted last month, officials said.
“My cousin was in the room when I scratched my ticket at home,” she told officials. “I looked at him and said, ‘I think I just won $30,000.’”
They were in total disbelief as they rushed to the nearest lottery retailer to confirm the win, officials said.
“I stayed very calm in the store, but I was going crazy on the inside,” she said.
Many people can gamble or play games of chance without harm. However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.
If you or a loved one shows signs of gambling addiction, you can seek help by calling the national gambling hotline at 1-800-522-4700 or visiting the National Council on Problem Gambling website.
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