TOWSON, MD — A retired medical worker from Towson turned a fortune cookie into a $50,000 win in the January 8 Powerball drawing, claiming Maryland’s first third-tier prize of the year.
The Baltimore County resident said she frequently dines at a restaurant where fortune cookies accompany meals. After opening one cookie and spotting a set of numbers, she decided to use them for her Powerball ticket. The ticket, purchased at J Convenience in Parkville, matched four of the five white balls plus the Powerball, earning her the prize.
The grandmother, a loyal lottery player, noted her growing success with lottery tickets. She previously won $100 by matching three out of five numbers with the Powerball. With this latest win, she said she plans to continue playing in hopes of hitting the jackpot.
Though she has not finalized plans for her winnings, she anticipates that the prize money will stay in the family, likely benefiting her children and grandchildren. She also plans to use her fortune cookie numbers for future lottery games such as Mega Millions and Multi-Match.