Man says his lottery strategy paid off big in Maryland. ‘Always do my research first’

One man is crediting his large lottery prize in Maryland to his winning strategy.

A Prince George’s County resident discovered he won thousands of dollars from a scratch-off ticket he bought at a gas station in Kensington, according to a Nov. 1 Maryland Lottery news release.

But the man isn’t just attributing his win to luck — his research abilities are to thank as well, he told lottery officials.

“Whenever I’m in the mood to play, I always do my research first,” the man said in the release.

Before buying lottery tickets, the 47-year-old said he checks the Maryland Lottery website to see what top prizes remain for various games. It makes him feel like he has “a better shot at finding a big one,” he said.

In his latest venture on the lottery website, a $10 Money Bag Multiplier scratch-off ticket caught his eye, lottery officials said. The game, which debuted in April, still had a $100,000 prize somewhere in the state, in addition to a few $50,000 winning tickets.

“My homework led me to a few different games, but Money Bag Multiplier was my primary target,” the man said in the release.

It all came together when he stopped for gas at a Sunoco, lottery officials said. What drew the man in was multiple posters plastered on the gas station showing recent lottery prizes the business had sold.

“I hadn’t planned on getting my tickets there, but it suddenly seemed like the right place,” he said.

To his surprise, the Money Bag Multiplier scratch-off ticket he purchased showed he had won $1,000. He was overjoyed, thinking it was “a great way to start a night out,” he told lottery officials.

But then, he kept scratching.

A “50x” symbol appeared next on his ticket, indicating his $1,000 prize was multiplied by 50 — bringing his winnings to a grand total of $50,000.

“That’s when I discovered what shock really felt like,” he told lottery officials.

Prince George’s County borders eastern Washington, D.C., while Kensington is located in Montgomery County, which borders the northern part of the capital.

Many people can gamble or play games of chance without harm. However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.

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.

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