Army vet tries keeping his cool after big lottery win in Maryland — but not for long
A U.S. Army veteran tried to stay calm about his six-figure lottery prize — but not for long.
“I didn’t celebrate when I found out,” the winner told the Maryland Lottery. “I pretended that nothing was going on.”
The day after the man discovered his ticket was worth $101,523, he still kept his cool. So, lottery officials asked when he would finally break into celebration.
“In the car when I leave here, and then, an even louder one when we get home,” the winner said in a Nov. 9 news release.
The man, a retired postal worker who wasn’t identified in the release, hit the jackpot after trying his luck on the Racetrax game. He’s a fan of horse racing and said the race-themed game was the right fit.
But after some of his bets didn’t turn out as he hoped, he decided “to switch things up.” One time, he chose the quick pick option, meaning the horses in the game were selected for him, officials said.
“It didn’t win for me, but I stuck with the horse number combination on it, and here I am,” said the winner, who bought his lucky ticket at a Sheetz convenience store in Hagerstown, roughly 75 miles northwest of Baltimore.
Officials in their news release didn’t say how much the man spent on his lucky ticket or his total winnings after taxes. He had won smaller amounts in the past and plans to save his prize money this time around.
It’s not the first time a lottery winner acted as if he hadn’t scored a life-changing prize. In October, officials said another Maryland player won big and “went to work like nothing happened,” McClatchy News reported.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREWhen gambling is more than a game
Gambling is designed to be a source of entertainment.
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.
This story was originally published November 9, 2023 at 12:07 PM with the headline "Army vet tries keeping his cool after big lottery win in Maryland — but not for long."
