Teacher rarely plays lottery but decides to splurge — and wins big. ‘I started shaking’
A teacher said she doesn’t play the lottery often, but she decided to splurge on a $50 ticket, Maryland officials said.
It was worth it.
The woman was at a gas station when she saw the 50 Years! anniversary scratch-off game commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Maryland Lottery, officials said in a Nov. 6 news release.
“I’m not one to spend that kind of money on a lottery ticket, but I decided to, just this once,” she told lottery officials.
The Olney resident bought the ticket and scratched it off in her car, according to the release.
She was excited when she thought she won $2,000.
“I couldn’t believe it,” she told lottery officials.
She took the ticket inside to scan it — and she learned she had made an error.
“I went back in the store to confirm the amount and saw a lot of zeros when I scanned it,” she said.
She had actually won $100,000.
“I started shaking,” she told officials. “My mind just went blank.”
The 30-year-old went back to her car to call her mom, who also had a hard time processing the win.
“As close as we are, she just refused to believe me,” the winner said. “The whole experience was unimaginable.”
She said she plans to use the money to take her whole family on a trip.
Two top prizes of $5 million remain in the 50 Years! game, which debuted in February, according to the Maryland Lottery. Three second-tier prizes of $100,000 remain as well.
Olney is about 20 miles north 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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