A Baltimore County resident won a $540,000 Multi-Match jackpot after purchasing a quick-pick ticket during an unplanned stop at a Shell gas station in Towson, Maryland. The anonymous winner, a data analyst with more than 20 years of experience, claimed her jackpot prize under the alias “Euphoria” at the Maryland Lottery headquarters in Baltimore on October 2, 2026.
The winning ticket was purchased for the September 17, 2026, drawing at the Shell gas station located at 9100 York Road. The winner, who rarely visits the Towson area, made a spontaneous stop to use the store’s lottery vending machine. Using $6 she had in her pocket, she browsed through several Quick Pick combinations on the screen before selecting the set of numbers that ultimately matched the drawn results: 17, 18, 19, 29, 40, and 42.
How a ticket check led to a surprise payout
When checking the winning numbers the day after the drawing, the player initially miscalculated her prize. She believed she had won a lower-tier prize of $100,000. Satisfied with this result, she shared the news of the $100,000 win with her husband and three daughters. It was only after seeing a subsequent news report about the jackpot-winning ticket being sold at the exact Towson Shell station that she realized she had won the full $540,000 jackpot.
Even as she traveled to Baltimore to claim her check, her family remained under the impression that the prize was $100,000. The winner plans to allocate the jackpot money to cover college tuition for her three children, purchase a reliable car for her daughters, and fund several pending home renovation projects. In her spare time, she intends to continue her regular routine of hiking and spending time outdoors with her family.
For selling the jackpot-winning ticket, the Shell gas station on York Road will receive a $1,000 bonus commission from the Maryland Lottery.
How Multi-Match works: Rules and prize options
Multi-Match is a draw game played exclusively in Maryland. Drawings take place twice a week on Monday and Thursday nights. Each play costs $2 and provides three separate lines of six numbers from a pool of 1 to 43. The player selects six numbers for the first line, or chooses a Quick Pick option, while the system automatically generates the second and third lines of numbers.
Players can win prizes in two distinct ways on a single ticket: by matching numbers on individual lines, or by combining the total number of matched numbers across all three lines. While the jackpot is secured by matching all six numbers on a single line, other prize tiers offer fixed cash returns.
The table below outlines the prize structure and approximate odds for individual line matches in the Multi-Match game:
| Match Tier (Single Line) | Prize Amount | Estimated Odds of Winning |
|---|---|---|
| 6 of 6 Numbers | Jackpot (Starts at $500,000) | 1 in 2,013,024 |
| 5 of 6 Numbers | $1,000 | 1 in 9,077 |
| 4 of 6 Numbers | $20 | 1 in 233 |
| 3 of 6 Numbers | $2 | 1 in 16.2 |
Multi-Match offers a unique feature where players can win a secondary set of prizes by tallying the total number of matches across all three lines on their ticket. This means even if a player does not match enough numbers on any single line to win a prize, they can still secure a payout if the aggregate matches across all 18 numbers on the ticket equal five or more. For example, if a player matches two numbers on Line 1, two numbers on Line 2, and two numbers on Line 3, they have matched a total of six numbers across the ticket, qualifying them for a cash prize.
The table below outlines the prize structure and approximate odds for combined matches across all three lines on a single ticket:
| Combined Matches (Across All Lines) | Prize Amount | Estimated Odds of Winning |
|---|---|---|
| 10 or more matches | $2,000 | 1 in 70,590 |
| 9 matches | $15 | 1 in 1,223 |
| 8 matches | $10 | 1 in 143 |
| 7 matches | $5 | 1 in 29.8 |
| 6 matches | $2 | 1 in 9.9 |
| 5 matches | Free Play Ticket | 1 in 4.9 |
The overall odds of winning any prize on a $2 Multi-Match ticket are 1 in 8.5.
Tax regulations and claiming rules for Maryland winners
Maryland Lottery winners have a 182-day window from the drawing date to claim prizes. For prizes exceeding $25,000, winners must claim their earnings in person at the Maryland Lottery Customer Service Center located in Baltimore, or via registered mail. Additionally, Maryland imposes a state withholding tax on lottery prizes over $5,000 for residents, alongside federal tax withholdings. The lottery administration automatically deducts these taxes before distributing the final prize payout to the claimant.
Where to purchase tickets and follow results
Maryland Lottery tickets, including Multi-Match, are sold at authorized physical retailers throughout the state, such as gas stations, convenience stores, and grocery stores. Players can verify their tickets using self-service ticket checkers inside retail locations or via the official Maryland Lottery mobile application.
While “Euphoria” won her jackpot in Maryland, players across the country have also secured notable lottery prizes recently. For example, a Michigan woman wins $500,000 top prize on gifted Detroit Tigers scratch-off ticket after receiving it as a present. For those interested in multi-state options with rolling jackpots, a Lotto America ticket sold in Iowa wins 6.14 million dollar jackpot, demonstrating the reach of draw-style games beyond state borders.
For residents looking to participate in lottery draws across different states, several online platforms facilitate ticket purchases securely. You can explore options to order lottery tickets online through authorized couriers, which offer access to major drawings from the comfort of home.
Frequently asked questions
- How do you win the Maryland Multi-Match jackpot?
To win the jackpot, a player must match all six winning numbers drawn from a pool of 1 to 43 on a single line of their ticket. - When are Maryland Multi-Match drawings held?
Multi-Match drawings take place every Monday and Thursday evening at approximately 11:22 PM Eastern Time. - Can Maryland lottery winners remain anonymous?
Yes, the Maryland Lottery allows winners to remain entirely anonymous when claiming prizes, which is why the $540,000 jackpot winner claimed her prize using the alias “Euphoria.”
Play responsibly. Lotteries are designed as a form of entertainment and should not be viewed as a financial investment or a reliable way to make money.
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