News writer
What started as a family celebration eight years ago turned into a life-changing lottery win for four Maryland siblings.
The group hit the Multi-Match jackpot on June 30, claiming their share of $1.8 million. But they weren't the only winners. A second jackpot ticket sold in Silver Spring split the prize, leaving each winning group with $490,000 lump sum.
A family tradition born from joy
The siblings' lottery journey began with a new arrival. Eight years ago, they decided to celebrate the birth of a child in their family by playing Multi-Match together. One sibling suggested forming a lottery pool. The idea stuck, and they've been playing Multi-Match ever since.
The strategy paid off when they matched all six numbers in the June 30 drawing. The sister responsible for buying tickets was vacationing in Ocean City at the time. She purchased their winning ticket at the Food Lion on Stephen Decatur Highway.
The moment everything changed
After the drawing, she scanned the ticket at the store. The machine displayed "Go to Lottery." She checked the lottery app and discovered they had a perfect match.
The excitement built as she called each sibling with the news. "Let's rock and roll," one sibling responded to the winning phone call.
The winners are retired nurses and government workers who chose the cash option over the annuity. Their plans include buying a new car, traveling to Europe, and investing their prize money.
How Multi-Match works
Multi-Match offers players value and multiple chances to win. For $2, you get 18 numbers across three lines with four different ways to win.
Players select six numbers on the first line or choose Quick Pick. The system automatically generates two additional lines of six randomly selected numbers. This gives you three separate chances to win, plus a fourth opportunity by combining matches across all three lines.
The Maryland lottery draws six numbers from 1 to 43 every Monday and Thursday night. Match three to five numbers on any line and win up to $1,000. Match five to 18 numbers total across all three lines and win up to $2,000 more. Match all six numbers on any line and claim the jackpot.
The jackpot starts at $500,000 and grows each time no one wins the top prize.
Two tickets, one drawing
The Ocean City Food Lion will receive a $900 bonus for selling the winning ticket. The other jackpot winner purchased their ticket at Giant on Connecticut Avenue in Silver Spring. That ticket remains unclaimed.
Why do some winners wait to claim their prizes? The reasons vary. Some need time to process their win. Others consult financial advisors or attorneys first. Maryland Lottery winners have 182 days from the drawing date to claim their prizes.
The siblings' eight-year commitment to playing together shows how persistence can pay off. Their celebration tradition became a winning formula that changed their lives forever.
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