Delaware man "Spare Change" wins $1 million in Maryland Lottery

Feb 5, 2021, 1:38 pm (26 comments)

Maryland Lottery

Vending machine attendant gets more than a little spare change

By Kate Northrop

OCEAN CITY, Md. — A vending machine attendant who goes by the name "Spare Change" has just won $1 million from a scratch-off in the Maryland Lottery.

The 36-year-old man, who hails from Millsboro, Delaware, picked up his fortune in the midst of his daily routine when he purchased a scratch-off ticket from the Lottery's "100X The Cash" game for $20.

"Spare Change" stopped at the 7-Eleven convenience store on Coastal Highway in Ocean City to buy his usual rounds of tickets on his way to work, where he ensures that the amusement machines are up and running for visitors to enjoy.

"Almost every hotel has a game room, and there's bars, restaurants and boardwalk too," he explained in a news release. "If there's a crane machine, Golden Tee machine, a foosball table, air hockey or pool table, it's my job to visit them regularly, picking up the coins and restocking the machines."

His routine involves purchasing some Pick 3 and Pick 4 tickets, along with an instant game. While scratching off his ticket, he saw another customer accidentally leave money in the Lottery machine.

"Spare Change" scooped up the money with the intent of returning it to the customer who left it there. He quickly decided to buy another scratch-off ticket and caught the other player before she left the store to return her money.

He took the "100X The Cash" ticket he bought in his last-minute decision and scanned it at the prize check area of the store but was confused to see a message telling him to take the ticket to the Maryland Lottery, according to a press release.

Needing to investigate further, he took his ticket out to the car and got to scratching. What he revealed gave him the shock of a lifetime.

"I started shaking," he recalled. "My nerves were rattled, and I had trouble thinking straight for the rest of the work day."

"Spare Change" had just discovered that he won a top prize worth $1 million. Now it became clear as to why the ticket scanner told him to visit the Lottery.

When he did go to claim his prize, he collected the $1 million as an annuity, the uncommon claims option but one that would help him sensibly manage his newfound winnings.

"This will keep me from spending it all quickly, and it's like having an extra income," he remarked.

The 7-Eleven retailer earned a $1,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket.

The lucky winner was the very first player to take home one of the six top prizes in the game, which was released in November. Currently, there are seven of eight second prizes of $50,000 and eight of twelve third prizes of $10,000 left to claim.

Lottery Post Staff

Comments

s5thomps's avatars5thomps

Good for him! A steady income for he next 20 years!

Chelle$

Congrats

Bleudog101

So 'Spare Change' lives in anonymous state and after good Karma with returning money in the lotto machine left my another customer.   Then buys a winning ticket in another anonymous state!   Good things happen to good people.

andl's avatarandl

Funny, I've been to that 7-Eleven a few times when vacationing in Ocean City. Great win!

noise-gate

Wouldn't it be something if" Spare Change " is a homeless person, a panhandler who constantly asks " got any spare change?  Finally SC can quit asking altogether. Approve His ship finally came in.
Celebrate..

Party

TheMeatman2005's avatarTheMeatman2005

Quote: Originally posted by noise-gate on Feb 5, 2021

Wouldn't it be something if" Spare Change " is a homeless person, a panhandler who constantly asks " got any spare change?  Finally SC can quit asking altogether. Approve His ship finally came in.
Celebrate..

Party

People who asked for "spare change" now come up to you and ask "can you spare a dollar?"

Most of them used to use the "spare change" to buy food, but now I have noticed some use it to buy scratch off tickets.

One woman that hangs outside the store I buy my lottery tickets at won $2,700 on a scratcher. I don't know what she did with the money, but she's out there all the time with her hand out asking everyone for money.

Bleudog101

Quote: Originally posted by TheMeatman2005 on Feb 6, 2021

People who asked for "spare change" now come up to you and ask "can you spare a dollar?"

Most of them used to use the "spare change" to buy food, but now I have noticed some use it to buy scratch off tickets.

One woman that hangs outside the store I buy my lottery tickets at won $2,700 on a scratcher. I don't know what she did with the money, but she's out there all the time with her hand out asking everyone for money.

In the late 80's some of them would ask for folding money!

American Indian's avatarAmerican Indian

He has a Job, he was Not out asking for Money. 

He was at work or on his way when he Bought the winning ticket before returning the Money to the Woman who had left money in the machine before him Then he returned her Money to Her!!! 

They call him Spare Change because of his JOB...

noise-gate

Quote: Originally posted by American Indian on Feb 6, 2021

He has a Job, he was Not out asking for Money. 

He was at work or on his way when he Bought the winning ticket before returning the Money to the Woman who had left money in the machine before him Then he returned her Money to Her!!! 

They call him Spare Change because of his JOB...

Point taken. I should have used the would " was" instead of "is, but l digress. Now if only l could find a way to stop trollers constantly following my every post & criticizing it, life would be so much easier. Purge me from your brain, it's easy- just look the other way, because walking  around with a constant hard** for me is non productive. Cool

sully16's avatarsully16

Quote: Originally posted by noise-gate on Feb 6, 2021

Point taken. I should have used the would " was" instead of "is, but l digress. Now if only l could find a way to stop trollers constantly following my every post & criticizing it, life would be so much easier. Purge me from your brain, it's easy- just look the other way, because walking  around with a constant hard** for me is non productive. Cool

Wow, look in the mirror buddy ole pal...you need to digress some more. Chair

 

Congrats to the lucky and honest guy.

noise-gate

That's what I am talking about. As Bane in " The Dark knight Rises" said - : Speak of the Devil, and she will appear!"

I love you too Sully.

db101's avatardb101

congrats to spare change!

Todd's avatarTodd

Quote: Originally posted by noise-gate on Feb 6, 2021

That's what I am talking about. As Bane in " The Dark knight Rises" said - : Speak of the Devil, and she will appear!"

I love you too Sully.

The correct line of dialog from Bane is, "Speak of the devil, and he shall appear."

sully16's avatarsully16

Quote: Originally posted by Todd on Feb 7, 2021

The correct line of dialog from Bane is, "Speak of the devil, and he shall appear."

Green laugh

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