Husband gets wife surprise lottery ticket — and scratches off ‘more and more zeros’
A surprise lottery ticket for a Maryland man’s wife ended up being an even bigger shock when they found out how much they’d won.
On a shopping trip at Sunrise Market & Deli in Beltsville, Elio Figueroa picked up a few lottery tickets, including a $20 scratch-off ticket as a gift for his wife, according to an Oct. 3 Maryland Lottery news release. The 48-year-old then returned to his Prince George’s County home to his wife, Maria, who was cooking.
Maria took a break to scratch her ticket, lottery officials said, and she started to suspect she may have won a prize. Unsure of if the ticket was a winner, she handed the ticket to her husband, who continued to scratch.
“She definitely matched the winning number,” Elio Figueroa. “But as I scratched the prize underneath, there were more and more zeros.”
At first, Elio thought the ticket was worth $5,000, but upon a closer look, it became clear that the couple had actually won $50,000.
After taking a trip back to the deli to confirm the ticket was a winner, the couple cashed in their ticket in Baltimore. The whole family, including their two daughters, were thrilled with their luck.
“We were all so happy,” Maria said. “I can’t believe he brought home a $50,000 win!”
Now, the pair plans to use their prize money for a down payment on a new family home.
Beltsville is about 15 miles northeast of Washington, D.C.
Many people can gamble or play games of chance without harm. However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.
If you or a loved one shows signs of gambling addiction, you can seek help by calling the national gambling hotline at 1-800-522-4700 or visiting the National Council on Problem Gambling website.
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