Fresh off an overtime shift and just easing back into work life, a Baltimore street sweeper who goes by the initials “A.R.” swung by a Wawa for a sandwich, grabbed a few scratch-off tickets, and ended up with a life-changing surprise. By Friday, he was at Maryland Lottery headquarters claiming a $100,000 top prize, a six-figure turnaround after a rough year.
Overtime Wawa Stop Turns Into a Windfall
A.R. picked up a $10 50X The Cash scratch-off at the Wawa on Pulaski Highway in Rosedale after finishing extra hours on the job as a street sweeper. Back at home, he scratched the final row and uncovered a 10X symbol sitting over a $10,000 prize, a combo that delivered the game’s $100,000 top award, according to Maryland Lottery. The 50X The Cash ticket is part of the Lottery’s X the Cash family, which debuted in January at the $10 price point.
The win caps what A.R. described as a tough stretch that included unemployment and losing his car, on top of supporting two teenage daughters, as reported by Dundalk Eagle. He said that when he first saw the result, he actually cursed the Lottery, then quickly shifted gears and shouted, “Ain’t no way!” after realizing the multiplier had turned a $10,000 hit into a six-figure payout.
How Big Prizes Get Cashed In
For prizes larger than $25,000, winners have to go through the Maryland Lottery Customer Resource Center in Baltimore. The agency asks winners to make an appointment and sign the back of their ticket to lock in ownership, according to Maryland Lottery. The Customer Resource Center operates out of Montgomery Park Business Center, 1800 Washington Boulevard, Suite 330, and winners are advised to keep their tickets in a safe place until the claim is processed.
Wawa Snags Bonus In Hot Week For Winners
The Wawa that sold A.R. his lucky ticket is getting a little love, too. The store will receive a $1,000 retailer bonus for selling the top-prize ticket, according to Shore News Network. It is not exactly $100,000, but it is still a nice perk for a routine Sunday sale.
Across Maryland, scratch-off payouts have been humming along, with multiple six-figure wins popping up in recent weeks. Several of those big prizes landed in the Lottery’s latest “week in winners” roundup, per Nottingham MD, making A.R.’s overtime cherry on top part of a broader hot streak.
