BOWIE, MD – Jorge Baez Ventura, a retiree from Bowie, came close to throwing away what turned out to be a $30,000 winning FAST PLAY BATTLESHIP ticket. The Prince George’s County man realized his luck just in time, five days after purchasing the ticket at Hampton Mall Exxon in Capitol Heights.
Ventura, a retired contractor, originally won $3 from $20 worth of scratch-offs and decided to reinvest his winnings in the FAST PLAY BATTLESHIP game. This last-minute decision led him to win the first of 10 top prizes offered in the game, which was launched in 2023.
Upon discovering his windfall, Ventura shared his excitement with his daughter, expressing how fortunate he felt for not discarding the winning ticket. He plans to use the $30,000 prize to support his family, including his wife and four children, and to fund a trip to the Dominican Republic.
The Hampton Mall Exxon, located at 8901 Central Avenue, will receive a $300 bonus from the Lottery for selling the top-prize ticket.