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Player thought ‘machine was broken’ after seeing his big Maryland Lottery prize

A man’s strategy of buying seven scratch-offs to help boost his chances of winning paid off, Maryland Lottery officials said.
A man’s strategy of buying seven scratch-offs to help boost his chances of winning paid off, Maryland Lottery officials said. Getty Images/iStockphoto

An avid lottery player “couldn’t believe what he was seeing” after learning of his big prize, Maryland officials said.

The man bought seven $10 Ultimate Cash scratch-offs in Gaithersburg so he’d have a better chance of winning, according to an Aug. 6 news release by the Maryland Lottery.

His strategy paid off after “one of the games from the middle of the pack” revealed the $100,000 top prize, officials said.

“I thought the machine was broken,” he told lottery officials.

The lucky winner doesn’t have any plans for the money besides “taking his girlfriend to the beach before summer ends,” officials said.

This win means there are three $100,000 top prizes left, the release said.

Gaithersburg is about a 40-mile drive southwest of Baltimore.

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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This story was originally published August 6, 2024 at 5:00 PM with the headline "Player thought ‘machine was broken’ after seeing his big Maryland Lottery prize."

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Paloma Chavez
McClatchy DC
Paloma Chavez is a reporter covering real-time news on the West Coast. She has a degree in journalism from the University of Southern California.
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