Ernest Elliott Jr. of Waldorf changed his “regular” numbers, which he had used for years no matter which Lottery game he was playing, seems to have made all the difference and lead to his $50k Pick 5 win.
“I told the guy behind the counter what I wanted to play, and he got it all backward somehow,” Ernest told Lottery officials.
“I don’t think even one of my numbers was on the ticket.”
“I don’t know exactly why, but I bought that ticket and began using those numbers every time I played," said the winner.
The winner was about to drive home when he checked the evening drawing results for Sunday, Sept. 18.
“I couldn’t believe what I saw. I must have checked the ticket five times.”
As for Ernest and his wife, they will use their new fortune to pay off a recently purchased vehicle.
