A Dundalk couple turned a routine grocery stop into a half-million-dollar windfall when a Maryland Lottery "Gifts of Green" scratch-off revealed a $500,000 top prize. The pair, who both work at a Maryland college, made the trip to Lottery headquarters to claim the money and said the cash will go toward a new vehicle and taking some of the pressure off their retirement plans. The husband had been tracking which instant games still had big prizes in play, and his wife grabbed the ticket while putting away groceries. She scratched it at home, realized they had landed the top prize, and their ordinary day turned into something else entirely.
How the ticket was chosen and claimed
According to Maryland Lottery, the couple came to Lottery headquarters on July 15 to officially claim their winning Gifts of Green ticket. The Lottery reports that the ticket was purchased at the Walmart at 2399 North Point Boulevard in Dundalk. That store will receive a $1,000 bonus from the Lottery for selling the big winner.
Winners' reaction
In an interview with WMAR-2 News, the couple described scratch-offs as a shared pastime rather than a one-off splurge. "We play because we love it," the wife told the station. The husband said he knew something major had happened the moment he heard the tremor in her voice and saw her reaction. They told WMAR their plans are straightforward and practical. First on the list is buying a car, with the rest of the winnings headed toward retirement.
About the Gifts of Green game
Gifts of Green is a $20 instant game that debuted in October 2025, and the Maryland Lottery notes it originally launched with seven $500,000 top prizes available. According to the Lottery's release, two of those top prizes are still unclaimed, along with two $25,000 second-tier prizes. It is a reminder that even months into a game, some of the biggest payouts can still be hiding on store shelves.
Claiming a big prize
Winners of large prizes are urged to follow the Maryland Lottery's claims process carefully. For prizes over $25,000, winners must schedule an appointment, sign the back of the ticket, and keep it in a safe place, Hoodline previously reported when covering similar Maryland wins. Claimants are also reminded to account for federal and state tax withholdings when mapping out how to use a sudden windfall and to contact the Maryland Lottery directly for detailed next steps.
