
Winner chose to remain anonymous
Lucky retailer earned $100,000 bonus
The second-largest Mega Millions jackpot prize in Maryland history was quietly claimed late last week.
The lucky Marylander bought one of the two winning tickets in the March 18 drawing for the $414 million Mega Millions jackpot. A Florida couple last week claimed the second ticket, which was sold in their state. (See Florida couple, nearly penniless, claim half of $414M lottery jackpot, Lottery Post, May 1, 2014.)
The jackpot gave the Maryland and Florida ticket holders, before taxes, $115.5 million each through the cash option selected by the winners. After taxes, the Maryland winner receives $76.4 million.
The winner chose to remain anonymous, which is an option for jackpot winners in the state of Maryland.
"You have to play to win," the mystery winner told Maryland Lottery officials, borrowing the slogan used by the Lottery several years ago. "You have to play your lucky numbers."
"We are pleased that Maryland, once again, was home to a Mega Millions jackpot winner," said Stephen Martino, director of the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency. "Everyone benefits when a winning jackpot ticket is sold in Maryland. This jackpot win gave the state of Maryland some welcome and unanticipated tax revenue."
That "unanticipated tax revenue" amounts to more than $10.1 million, thanks to the cash option.
The Maryland winner's lucky ticket came from Lady's Liquors located at 6474 Crain Highway in La Plata. For selling the winning ticket, the retailer receives a $100,000 agent bonus.
This marks the first Mega Millions jackpot win in Maryland this year, following two jackpot wins in 2013 when an Anne Arundel County man claimed the $189 million prize in October and a Mt. Airy couple won $26 million in February. Maryland saw its largest jackpot win in history in March 2012 when three winners claimed a $218.6 million prize.
Nationwide, the largest Mega Millions jackpot to date was $656 million won on March 30, 2012, by winners in Illinois, Kansas and Maryland. The multi-state game is played in 45 states and jurisdictions.
Congrats anonymous winner!!
That's the way it should be... compare and contrast the two vastly different stories for this $414 million jackpot.
to the mystery winner/s
Hopefully the winner has a competent accountant who has advised them to put away $17 million for the additional Federal taxes that will be due in 2015. I hope they have a decent plan to enjoy their fortune and not squander the majority away. First thing they need to do is get out of Maryland and find a tax friendly state. I know that's what I would do if I were them.
Not only was the winner fortunate to win a major jackpot but to do so in a state that offers anonymity is a major bonus! Congratulations to lucky winner!
Congratulations to the winner. May you enjoy your new found riches!!
On contrary...that's what we call game of luck instead of game of chance. That's what makes people believe in the lottery.
Congrats to the lucky winner! Anonymous to boot!
I understand the arguments for public disclosure; if the information is made public, then there's no doubt that the prize WAS awarded. I do think they should give the prize winner a decent grace period before announcing, something like 30-90 days AFTER claiming the prize, give them a chance to take precautions. I think many people might not be able to afford to change phone numbers or pick up and move away for a while...at least not before cashing the check.
Congratulations to the winners.

Live long & enjoy your new found wealth.
Congratulations to the winner
wtg ...enjoy yourself !!!
Congrats to the anonymous winner.
To mikeintexas:
I understand the arguments for public disclosure; if the information is made public, then there's no doubt that the prize WAS awarded.
The states that allow winners to remain anonymous don't seem to be having any problems with doubt that the prize was awarded.
Yeah, but there are some in here that are more..."conspiracy-minded". I personally don't have a problem with it. I believe there's only six states that allow for anonymous claiming, so maybe it's the states that DON'T allow anonymous claiming that have a problem with it.
Should lottery winners remain anonymous?
"Lotteries object, arguing that publicizing the winners' names drives sales and that having their names released ensures that people know there isn't something fishy afoot, like a game rigged so a lottery insider wins. When players see that an actual person won, "it has a much greater impact than when they might read that the lottery paid a big prize to an anonymous player," said Andi Brancato, director of public relations for the Michigan state lottery."
Congrats to the lucky winner. Enjoy.