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An Allegany County man says he is still in disbelief after becoming the state's newest millionaire while claiming a $1 million prize after hitting the jackpot playing a "FAST PLAY MONOPOLY Properties" ticket that was purchased on Sunday during a run to get gas.
The Cumberland man, who is a regular Lottery player, said that the seven-figure prize "is beyond our wildest dreams," after a low tank of gas fatefully led him to the golden ticket.
According to the big winner, he was taking his wife to work on March 10 when he noticed that their tank was nearly empty, leading him to stop at Circle K on East Old Town Road in Cumberland.
“I filled up and went inside to get a coffee,” he said. “I had $5 in my pocket so I bought a FAST PLAY game. That won me $25, so I looked for one more to play.”
His eyes turned to the $20 Monopoly game, which was first released in January.
“I had never played it before so I gave it a shot," he mused, though he wasn't initially convinced that he had just won a million dollars.
“It was very early. I figured the machine might still be firing up,” he continued before running the ticket through the store's ticket checker, at which point he let out a loud shout and exclaimed "all those zeroes!"
The cashier checked on his well-being, and the man gave him a thumps up and rushed home.
At Lottery Headquarters in Baltimore, the newly-minted millionaire called the unexpected win "both exciting and nerve-wracking," saying that he was anxious to turn in the ticket. Now he can take a deep breath.
"Now that I'm here and all the paperwork is done, I still can't believe it."
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