BALTIMORE, MD—A Harford County woman is keeping a family tradition alive after her late father’s love for the lottery led her to a $500,000 Powerball Double Play win.
The Joppatowne resident, who chose to remain anonymous and go by the nickname “Brown Eyed Girl,” claimed her prize on Wednesday at Maryland Lottery headquarters. She said her father had a passion for playing and winning lottery games, a legacy she continues to carry on.
“My father really enjoyed playing the lottery,” she told officials. “He had so much fun playing that he’d have continued even without the wins.”
The winning ticket was purchased for an additional $1, making it eligible for the Powerball Double Play drawing, a separate drawing held after the main game. The lucky ticket was sold at Bernie’s Liquors at 1414 Martin Boulevard in Middle River.
The woman’s ticket matched the five white balls drawn in the Double Play game but missed the red Powerball number, securing the half-million-dollar prize. Tickets that match all six numbers in the Double Play drawing win a top prize of $10 million.
The winner, a retired administrative assistant, said the win still feels unreal. “This is such a blessing, though I still find it difficult to believe it really happened, even now,” she said. “I cried when I realized that I’d won.”
Powerball drawings are held on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. Tickets cost $2, with the Double Play option available for an additional $1.
Photo via the Maryland Lottery
