Single dad’s ‘special numbers’ lead to big Maryland lottery win. ‘Didn’t believe it’
For years, a single father of three daughters has played the same set of “special numbers” on his Maryland lottery tickets.
The Anne Arundel County man used his “personal” numbers to buy a Bonus Match 5 ticket at a Glen Burnie liquor store on June 11, Maryland Lottery officials said in a June 18 news release.
But then, the ticket slipped his mind — until he returned to the store the next day.
The owner asked him if he played Bonus Match 5, the man told lottery officials.
“I said, ‘Why, did someone win?’” the man said, per the release. “The owner said ‘Yes’ and handed me the winning numbers.”
The man rushed home to check his tickets.
“He was shocked to see his numbers matched,” lottery officials said.
He won the game’s top prize of $50,000 according to officials.
“I had to wake up my cousin to show him because I didn’t believe it,” the man told lottery officials.
His cousin told lottery officials he was “stoked.”
“I’m really happy for him,” the cousin said.
The father, who said he hasn’t shared the news with his children, plans to save his winnings.
Glen Burnie is about a 10-mile drive south from Baltimore.
This story was originally published June 18, 2024 at 4:08 PM with the headline "Single dad’s ‘special numbers’ lead to big Maryland lottery win. ‘Didn’t believe it’."