Laurel, Maryland – A chef from Laurel experienced an unexpected stroke of luck during the ongoing 50th Anniversary Lottery Week promotion. As part of this special one-week event, the Maryland Lottery randomly awarded free tickets to players, and “Chef G,” as he preferred to be called, was among the fortunate recipients of a $50,000 prize.
The 50th Anniversary Lottery Week promotion, running until Saturday, July 22, aims to express gratitude to the Lottery’s loyal players during this milestone year. The 46-year-old chef, who chose to remain anonymous after claiming his prize, recounted the moment when his fortunes took a surprising turn.
“Chef G” regularly plays the Lottery two or three times a week and was engrossed in selecting his daily numbers when he received a free Pick 5 ticket for the July 16 midday drawing.
On that day, he visited Starting Gate Liquors in Laurel to purchase Lottery tickets while running errands. For “Chef G,” the experience felt out of the ordinary. Normally, he played combinations based on his birthdate for his numbers, but as he entered the store, he felt compelled to play a special license plate number he had encountered throughout the day.
Along with his purchased tickets, he was given the free Pick 5 ticket.
After leaving the store, “Chef G” decided to check his tickets at home using the Lottery app on his phone. To his sheer delight, the app revealed that he had won the top prize of $50,000 with a $1 straight bet on the free ticket.
“I screamed at the top of my lungs!” he exclaimed. “My wife rushes in the room, thinking I was hurt or something was wrong. Once I showed her (the ticket), she started screaming and celebrating with me.”
With his unexpected windfall, the lucky winner has already made plans on how to utilize the $50,000 prize. He intends to invest in a food truck, make some other financial investments, set money aside for his family, as well as for the future of his grandchild, and take his wife on a well-deserved vacation.
Additionally, Starting Gate Liquors, the retailer where “Chef G” purchased his winning ticket, will also receive a $500 bonus from the Maryland Lottery as a reward for their role in the player’s remarkable $50,000 win.
The 50th Anniversary Lottery Week promotion continues until Saturday, giving players the chance to receive a free Lottery game (excluding scratch-offs) when they participate in any draw or FAST PLAY game. Free tickets are awarded based on an nth ticket basis across the state and are printed immediately following the purchase of the ticket.