It was just one number that separated a Silver Spring woman from winning the $265 million Powerball jackpot in the Jan. 2 drawing, but she did win $50,004, according to the Maryland Lottery.
As the 58-year-old shopped at Giant on Arlington Rd. in Bethesda, she remembered to play her numbers. The woman has played the same set of numbers for years and made sure to obtain a ticket for the Jan. 2 drawing, according to a press release.
For $8, the big winner played four lines of numbers.
Using the Maryland Lottery’s mobile app, her husband checked her ticket the next day and revealed that she had won. She matched four white balls and the red Powerball to win $50,000. Additionally, she matched the red Powerball on another line, bringing her total to $50,004.
“When my husband called to tell me, I just couldn’t believe it,” she said. “I usually only win small amounts.”
They claimed the prize at Maryland Lottery headquarters in Baltimore on Jan. 20. According to Lottery officials, the parents of two children plan to use the winnings to pay bills and pay for college tuition for their children.
To redeem winning tickets greater than $25,000, players must mail them or visit the Maryland Lottery headquarters at 1800 Washington Blvd., Suite 330 in Baltimore. Appointments must be scheduled in advance; walk-ins are not permitted.
Maryland Lottery encourages players to check their tickets by scanning them at any Lottery retailer or by using the Lottery’s mobile app. Winners of draw games and scratch-off games have 182 days from the date of the drawing to claim their prizes.
The Powerball jackpot continues to climb. There is a chance for players to win an estimated jackpot annuity of $526 million or the estimated cash value of $284 million in the drawing scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 25.
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