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The Southern Maryland Chronicle
When News Matters, It Matters Where You Get Your News.
Charlotte Hall, Md. — A woman in her 60s from St. Mary’s County collected a $50,000 prize from the Maryland Lottery on Nov. 10, 2025, after her husband uncovered the winning $5 Break the Bank scratch-off ticket at their home. The longtime player, who has bought lottery tickets for more than 25 years, visited Lottery headquarters in Baltimore that Monday to sign for the payout and recount the moment for staff.
The couple, weekend regulars at the game, had purchased the ticket days earlier at Weis Market on Three Notch Road in Charlotte Hall. Her husband scratched it first and passed it to her when the numbers seemed too good to believe. She scanned the ticket using the Maryland Lottery mobile app, which displayed “See Retailer” — a signal for prizes exceeding $600. “When I realized the amount, I almost broke down in tears,” she said. “I’ve played for years, and it’s truly a dream come true to finally win something like this.” Her largest previous payout stood at $1,000, but the habit persisted as simple entertainment. “At my age, you find fun where you can,” she added with a laugh. “That’s our fun on the weekends.”
With the windfall, the winner plans to trade in her vehicle of more than 15 years for a new one, easing daily drives along the county’s rural stretches like Three Notch Road, a key artery linking Charlotte Hall to Leonardtown and beyond. She and her husband intend to keep up their lottery routine, undeterred by the score.
The Break the Bank game, launched Aug. 20, 2025, offers players 15 chances to match symbols and break open virtual safes for cash prizes on each $5 ticket. The top award of $50,000 appears three times across the print run, with overall odds of winning any prize at 1 in 3.77. Lower tiers range from $5 free plays to $1,000, with four top prizes remaining as of early November before this claim reduced the count. Players scratch designated areas to reveal prizes, and non-winning tickets qualify for second-chance drawings worth up to $25,000 through the Unlock the Cash promotion. The game’s instant-reveal format appeals to quick-play enthusiasts, contributing to Maryland’s $2.8 billion in scratch-off sales for fiscal year 2025.
Claiming prizes above $600 requires a visit to Lottery headquarters or a district office, or mailing the ticket with a completed form. Winners must provide a Social Security number or federal tax ID and a government-issued photo ID for verification and tax withholding — 24 percent federal on amounts over $5,000, plus 8.95 percent state. The process ensures secure payouts, processed within days at the Baltimore claims center off Patapsco Avenue. For this winner, the in-person option allowed her to share her story directly, a common step for mid-five-figure awards that often draw media notes from the agency.
Weis Market at 30015 Three Notch Road earned a $500 bonus for selling the winning ticket, part of Maryland’s retailer incentive program that awards 1 percent of prizes over $600 to stores. The 60,000-square-foot grocery, which opened in 2021 as the chain’s 51st Maryland location, stocks Lottery terminals alongside fresh produce and pharmacy services in the heart of Charlotte Hall’s commercial strip. Such bonuses support over 4,500 authorized retailers statewide, many in rural Southern Maryland spots where convenience drives foot traffic.
Show your love for Southern Maryland by powering authoritative, in-depth reporting about your community, and keeping access free for neighbors who need it.
Your contribution is appreciated.
David M. Higgins II is an award-winning journalist passionate about uncovering the truth and telling compelling stories. Born in Baltimore and raised in Southern Maryland, he has lived in several East… More by David M. Higgins II, Publisher/Editor
The Southern Maryland Chronicle(SoMDC) is an all-digital news source for SoMD. We cover all of Charles, Calvert, and St. Mary’s Counties; along with the Southern portions of Anne Arundel and Prince George’s County. SoMDC covers every aspect of the SoMD Region and will continue to grow with the community. SoMDC appreciates all feedback from the community, along with tips, pictures, articles contributed, and support.
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