Woman strikes out at casino, wins lottery on her way home

Oct. 4 (UPI) -- A Virginia woman who called her family to tell them she struck out at the casino had to call back to report winning a $50,000 prize from the Maryland Lottery .

The Alexandria woman told Maryland Lottery officials she visited a casino where she failed to win any money besides a small amount from a Maryland Lottery scratch-off ticket. She called her family to report her lack of luck before leaving the casino.

The woman said she stopped at the Arundel Mills Exxon station in Hanover after leaving and decided to use her lottery winnings to buy another ticket.

The ticket, a $500,000 Crossword game, ended up being a $50,000 winner.

The woman said she had to call her family a second time to report her luck had turned around.

The winner said her prize money will go toward paying bills, donating to charity and saving for the future.