Dad thought he’d break even with Maryland lottery ticket — but prize was much bigger

A retired U.S. Army veteran “just about fell out” of his chair after discovering he had won with a Maryland lottery scratch-off ticket, lottery officials said.

The Prince George County father of four thought his winning streak had come to an end before scratching his last Six Figures instant ticket and realizing he had won $100,000, according to a news release by the Maryland Lottery.

The frequent scratch-off player “usually sticks with one or two games” and told officials he had “won quite a bit” before his last few tickets were duds, according to the release.

“(The game) Six Figures had treated me pretty well,” he told lotto officials. “Seemed like at worst I’d win my money back and break even.”

The 70-year-old man was on his back porch when he scratched “what might very well have been his last Six Figures instant ticket” that he purchased in Clinton, lotto officials said. He had no idea he’d soon get the “the shock of his life.”

“I walked around my yard shouting, ‘Will you look at this’ and ‘Ain’t that something!,’” he told lotto officials.

The winner plans to use the money towards a new family car and home repair projects, according to the release. He also plans to share some of his winnings with his older children.

Clinton is about 15 miles southeast of Washington, D.C.

This story was originally published April 17, 2023 at 5:25 PM with the headline "Dad thought he’d break even with Maryland lottery ticket — but prize was much bigger."