News writer, Interviewer
A Prince George's County resident is celebrating a win after a daring lottery strategy paid off big time.
The retiree, a long-time Bonus Match 5 player, purchased the same number combination a staggering 25 times for the July 21 drawing. A gamble that could have easily backfired turned into a $576,900 payday.
Typically, Bonus Match 5 offers a top prize of $50,000. However, there's a twist: the game caps the total prize pool at $600,000. If more than 12 winning tickets are sold, the prize is divided equally among all winners. In this case, another lucky player also matched all five numbers, creating a 26-way split of the jackpot.
Despite not winning the full $600,000, the Prince George's County winner remains ecstatic.
She said:
I'll be happy just to have my house paid off.
The retiree, a 30-year federal government veteran, has been playing Bonus Match 5 for years. Initially buying a single ticket per drawing, she was inspired to increase her chances by purchasing multiple tickets with the same numbers.
She explained it this way.
One day, when she was buying her ticket, someone suggested she play the same combination multiple times. It sounded like a good idea to her.
While the strategy proved successful this time, she admitted to being upset about the prize pool limit. She said:
That was a big disappointment, but that's on me. I'm very happy.
Over the years, the player has won smaller prizes by matching some of the numbers. Her ticket-buying routine varies, but she often plays the same combination 24 times. For the lucky July 21 drawing, she decided to up the ante to 25 tickets.
She said her faith helped her stay calm after discovering her massive win. She prayed for the strength to remain calm if she ever won.
Typically, she checks her tickets the morning after the drawing, but on this night, she couldn't wait. Checking her numbers before bed, she quickly realized she'd won and immediately called her son.
Beyond paying off her mortgage, the winner plans to secure her finances and assist her sister. A celebratory vacation may also be in the works.
The 7-Eleven, where the winning ticket was purchased, also benefits from the player's luck. The store at 8200 Martin Luther King Jr. Highway in Glenarden receives a $5,769 bonus, equal to 1% of the winnings for each of the 25 tickets sold.
As for the winning numbers, the player believes they hold personal significance but declined to reveal them to protect her anonymity. Despite the unexpected prize pool split, she plans to continue playing Bonus Match 5, but with a modified strategy.
How Bonus Match 5 works
Bonus Match 5 is a daily Maryland Lottery game where players select five numbers from 1 to 39. Additional prizes can be won by matching the bonus ball number along with some of the main numbers.
While purchasing multiple tickets with the same numbers can increase your chances of winning smaller prizes, it's important to remember that lottery games are games of chance. Players should always set a budget and play responsibly.
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