Baltimore Bartender Wins $30K Prize On Bingo-Themed Scratch-Off Ticket: MD Lottery

BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD — While he didn't yet know he was about to be $30,000 richer, a Baltimore bartender told Lottery officials he felt good and not just because Monday was his day off.

“I’m generally a happy guy, but I was especially happy when I woke up. Couldn’t figure it out,” he told Maryland Lottery officials, a news release said.

The winner visited a Quick Mart convenience store in Windsor Mill as he began his day. “I buy a few tickets just about every day, so I stopped there as I was running an errand.” For some reason, his eyes were drawn to the fourth edition of the $3 Diamond Bingo scratch-off game.

Opting instead to buy a different scratch-off, one that had proven lucky for him in recent days, he found that his winning streak on that game had ended. “That’s when I bought Diamond Bingo.”

He scratched the instant ticket, saw what appeared to be a $30,000 top-prize win, and immediately doubted himself.

“I ran it through the scanner once, twice, maybe five times, and it kept reading a $30,000 win,” the lottery news release said. Refusing to believe it was possible, the player handed his instant ticket to the cashier, asking, “Is this what I think it is?”

He received a confirmation that he was a big winner.

The happy bartender started celebrating immediately. “I’d planned to meet a friend for a quick bite. Instead, we went to a nice restaurant for a serious meal.”

His $30,000 top prize will go toward erasing debt, making investments and boosting his savings.

“I’ll set aside a few bucks for tickets, though. I love playing, and the Lottery has been pretty good to me,” he told the Lottery.

The Quick Mart location that sold the $30,000 scratch-off, located at 7410 Windsor Mill Road, will receive a $300 bonus from the Lottery for its sale.