Retired Police Officer Buys $50,000 Winner at Bowie Store

»News Alerts: Subscribe to a free email newsletter: BOWIE

BOWIE, MD — A spur-of-the-moment decision to buy a $5 scratch-off ticket delivered a $50,000 prize for a Prince George’s County resident.

The 59-year-old Glenn Dale man was playing Keno at High Bridge Market Place in Bowie Feb. 10 when he decided to try his luck with a scratch-off. The retired police officer randomly selected a $50,000 Gold Rush ticket. He then scratched the ticket at the store while watching his Keno game on the screen.

“I looked at the ticket and saw that it was a $50,000 winner,” he said. “I took a double take and quickly left the store.”

The avid Lottery player, who declined to be identified, immediately took his ticket home and kept it in a cabinet all night, until he was able to bring it to Lottery headquarters in Baltimore and claim his prize the next morning.

“I couldn’t sleep,” the winner said. “I watched television until 2 a.m., when I finally fell asleep.”

With his prize, he plans on paying bills and will make some plans for fun this summer.

For selling the $50,000 top-prize ticket, the Bowie store will receive a $500 bonus from the Maryland Lottery.