A Laurel, Maryland woman is $2 million richer after claiming the first top prize in the Maryland Lottery’s Diamonds & Gold scratch-off game. The winner, who chose to remain anonymous under the alias “Book Worm,” purchased the winning ticket at the 7-Eleven located at 14001 Baltimore Avenue in Laurel.
According to MD Lottery, the Washington, D.C., native who has lived in Laurel for the past five years, the winner regularly plays scratch-offs along with Pick 3 and Pick 4 games. After several non-winning tickets during a June 30 visit, she scanned her Diamonds & Gold ticket and learned it was a winner. A store clerk later confirmed the prize was worth $2 million. After nearly a month of keeping the ticket safe, she claimed the prize on July 20 and said she plans to pay off bills, retire after years working at a local grocery store, and finally take a dream trip to Paris. The 7-Eleven will receive a $2,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket. One $2 million top prize and three $50,000 second-tier prizes remain in the Diamonds & Gold game.
