BALTIMORE – A Prince George’s County man who kept noticing the same numbers on license plates turned that observation into a $100,000 Lottery prize, thanks to tickets he purchased just days before Christmas.
The Fort Washington resident, who was doing a little holiday shopping, bought two $1 Pick 5 tickets with the combination 25121 and ended up with two $50,000 top prizes for a total win of $100,000.
“If you see a number three or four times, play it,” he said. “You just might get it.”
The winner purchased his tickets on Dec. 20 at Royal Food Mart at 12500 Livingston Road in Fort Washington. The security guard regularly plays draw games such as Pick 4 and Bonus Match 5.
He stopped at the store to buy holiday scratch-offs as gifts for family and friends. While there, he decided to play Pick 5 as well, using those license plate numbers that were dancing in his head like visions of sugar plums in the classic Christmastime song.
He didn’t check the ticket until early January, but quickly realized he had matched all five numbers.
“I know how much that is,” the winner recalled thinking.
An injury delayed his visit to Maryland Lottery headquarters until March 6.
Although $100,000 is his largest win to date, the private winner said he has shared the news with only one person.
“I keep it to myself,” he said.
He plans to use the winnings to pay medical bills and buy a used car.
Royal Food Mart receives a $1,000 bonus from the Maryland Lottery for selling the two top-prize-winning tickets.
The algorithm, my tag never came out straight. Congratulations, would love to gain $100,000k from someone gifting me a ticket.