BEL AIR, Md. — A Harford County retiree’s annual tradition of playing Maryland Lottery scratch-off tickets at the end of the year paid off in a big way when he won a $50,000 prize on Dec. 2.
The man, who enjoys the hobby as part of his year-end routine, purchased his winning “20X The Cash” ticket at the Exxon gas station on MacPhail Road. Typically, he buys 10 $5 scratch-off tickets in one round, reinvesting smaller wins into additional purchases. His biggest win prior to this was $800.
“I kept looking at it, and looking at it, looking at it,” the winner said of the $50,000 ticket. Unsure what to do, he asked the store clerk to verify the win. “She said, ‘Put it away!’” he recalled. He then took the ticket home and locked it up, sharing the news only with his adult son.
The retiree plans to put the winnings into his bank account for any unexpected future expenses but has no intention of stopping his lottery tradition. He’s already ready to cash in another set of tickets, albeit for smaller prizes under $100.
The $50,000 prize was the second-to-last top-tier win on the 20X The Cash ticket, with one remaining grand prize still unclaimed.