Upper Marlboro mother, son win $50K lottery prize after first $30 scratch-off purchase

UPPER MARLBORO, Md. — A mother and her adult son claimed a $50,000 Maryland Lottery prize Wednesday after a first-time $30 scratch-off purchase turned into an unexpected windfall in Prince George’s County.

The pair bought the winning “Ace of Spades” ticket at a Wawa on South East Crain Highway, where the son said he felt drawn to the lottery kiosk before the win, according to the Maryland Lottery.

First-time purchase delivers unexpected payout

The mother, who typically sticks to $10 tickets or less, said this marked her first time buying a $30 scratch-off. The decision came while the two were together at the convenience store, with the son encouraging the purchase.

“The machine was calling my name,” the son said after the pair claimed the prize April 22 at Maryland Lottery headquarters in Baltimore.

As they scratched the ticket, smaller wins—$30, $40, and $50—began to add up. The son initially calculated a $5...