SEVERNA PARK, MD — John Ambrose of Severna Park has won $200,000 in the Maryland Lottery’s Pick 5 drawing, a stroke of luck stemming from a store clerk’s error nearly a year ago. Ambrose, 67, initially intended to play the number 77377 but ended up with 77477 due to a mistake at the point of purchase.
This serendipitous error first brought him a $10,000 prize in a drawing on June 19, 2023. Encouraged by this win, Ambrose continued to use the mistaken number 77477 in subsequent games. His persistence paid off massively on May 16, when he won the top prize on four separate $1 tickets, each paying $50,000, totaling $200,000.
Ambrose, who owns a tree service company, plans to invest his winnings back into his business. His lucky number and the story behind it have marked a significant turn in his financial fortune, all thanks to a moment of chance nearly a year ago.