BALTIMORE, Md. — A Baltimore woman who spent over a decade chasing a top Maryland Lottery prize has finally struck gold. The longtime player, who chose to remain anonymous and goes by “Valentina,” claimed a $50,000 prize on the “$” scratch-off ticket, marking what she described as a “full circle moment” in her lottery journey.
Valentina’s passion for lottery tickets began more than ten years ago with a family prank. During a holiday celebration, her father gifted her a fake “winning” ticket and filmed her reaction as she celebrated, only to find out it was a joke. The experience sparked her desire to one day win a real top prize.
On the day of her win, Valentina was drawn to the “$” scratch-off ticket displayed in the window of Tobacco Stop #14 on Chesaco Avenue in Rosedale. The ticket’s design and colors caught her attention, prompting her to buy it along with her usual ticket selection. Later that evening, she scratched off her tickets at home, not expecting much—until she saw that her number “20” matched a winning number, revealing the $50,000 prize.
“I remember running around the house screaming at the top of my lungs!” Valentina said. She quickly scanned the ticket using the Maryland Lottery app, which confirmed her win.
Valentina plans to use her winnings responsibly, setting aside most of the funds for savings and bills while reserving a portion for future lottery play. She intends to keep the win a secret until her family’s next holiday gathering, where she’ll reveal the news to her loved ones.
The retailer where she bought her winning ticket, Tobacco Stop #14, will also benefit from her luck. The store will receive a $500 bonus from the Maryland Lottery for selling the $50,000 winning ticket.