Six-year tradition among friends pays off when one finally lands big lottery prize

A yearslong tradition among friends in Maryland ended in a big payday.

A Germantown man and his two friends have consistently bought scratch-offs to play while they hang out over the years, according to an Oct. 26 Maryland Lottery news release. The tradition started six years ago, lottery officials said, and it has stuck with the group since.

“We all go to different places and do this for fun. This is a chance to see my friends and play some scratch-offs,” the man said in the release.

Aside from the invaluable bond the friends forged over the years, the tradition became even more worthwhile when the 53-year-old man found out he was a big winner.

As the man scratched off his ticket, he told lottery officials that he knew he won right away. His lucky number — 03 — on the ticket earned him a $50,000 prize. The whole experience of winning was “exciting,” the man said.

“I couldn’t believe it. I then checked it in the store, and it was true,” the man told lottery officials.

His lucky ticket in the $50,000 Cash game came from a BP convenience store in Germantown, lottery officials said.

In the friend group’s long-standing tradition, each person buys their own ticket and whoever wins doesn’t normally split the winnings three ways. But considering the large prize the man is bringing home, he told lottery officials he plans to give his friends a little something.

“When one of us wins a hundred dollars, we usually give the other guys a few bucks,” the man said in the release.

The man, who works in maintenance, also plans to use the money to pay off some of his bills, lottery officials said.

Germantown is about 25 miles northwest of Washington, D.C.

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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