Monster jackpots are bewitching Maryland players this Halloween weekend

Mega Millions at $140 million; Powerball at $78 million; and Multi-Match at $2.6 million

Maryland Lottery jackpot games are brewing excitement throughout the state this weekend.  Tonight’s Mega Millions jackpot is $140 million, tomorrow’s Powerball jackpot is $87 million and Monday’s Multi-Match jackpot has reached $2.6 million.

“Three big jackpots in four days create a certain buzz in the air for lottery players,” explained Lottery Communications Director Carole Everett.  We see that excitement in a very tangible way; our agents report a significant increase in sales.”

While the odds are long for winning the top prize on multi-state jackpot games, many players regularly win second and third-tier prizes.  This year, for example, twenty one Marylanders won Mega Millions’ $250,000 second-tier prize and seven have won Powerball’s $200,000 second-tier prize.  Players can now maximize payouts on non-jackpot winnings by utilizing Powerball’s PowerPlay and the new Megaplier option on Mega Millions.

The Mega Millions drawing can be seen tonight on WBAL-TV, Channel 11.  Also on Channel 11 is tomorrow’s Powerball drawing and Monday’s Multi-Match drawing.  All drawings take place at 11:22 pm.

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$183 Million Jackpot Winner Returns to Lottery Headquarters

Lottery Legend Bernadette Gietka Accompanies Mom to Claim Prize

Bernadette Gietka, the Maryland Lottery’s largest winner to date, received a celebrity’s welcome today at Lottery Headquarters. Bernadette, and siblings Jerry and Lynda, brought their mother, Catherine, to 1800 Washington Blvd. to claim her $1,000 Multi-Match prize. Greeted by Lottery Director Stephen Martino and applauded by Lottery staff, the humble multi-millionaire described her life post win.

“I contribute to a lot of charities,” said Bernadette, who also cares for her 82-year-old mom. The philanthropic winner counts the Jerry Lewis Telethon among her causes and has met Jerry himself.  Taking a brief stroll down Memory Lane, Bernadette also recounted her appearance on Jay Leno and her marriage proposal from Colin Farrell. “Her father was watching and he didn’t like it when he took her hand,” said Bernadette’s mom.

Bernadette is in complete control of all her business decisions and has made managing her $183 million windfall a full-time job. She also finds time to enjoy her new-found wealth, traveling with her family and purchasing properties. “I love meeting so many different people,” said Bernadette. “They are so sincere. So happy to meet you.”  Before striking it rich, Berndatte worked five jobs to keep her head above water and says that her win still boggles her mind.

Catherine, the newest winner in the Geitka family, has written a book entitled “Mother of $183 Million Winner,” which is on display at the Maryland Women’s Heritage Center.  Chatting amiably and exchanging embraces with Lottery staff as she was about to depart Bernadette said, “I feel like I’m home.”

$700,000 Multi-Match Winner Claims Prize

Game’s Fifth Jackpot Win This Year

A Frederick woman has claimed last night’s $700,000 Multi-Match jackpot.  The lucky winner checked her ticket this morning by calling the Lottery’s winning numbers line.  After realizing she was the big winner, she immediately called her children.  The 68-year-old and her son came to Lottery Headquarters this morning.

The winner chose the $450,000 cash option, taking home close to $300,000 after taxes.  At this time, she’s unsure of what she’s going to do with her new windfall.  The winning ticket was purchased at Weis Market, located at 6093 Spring Ridge Pkwy. in Frederick. The Lottery retailer will receive $1,000 just for selling the winning ticket.

This is the fifth time this year that a Multi-Match jackpot has been hit. The first Multi-Match win of the year came in March when John Obradovic from Severna Park won $4.45.  That win was the second-largest in Multi-Match history. Back in September 2009, two co-workers claimed a $4.8 million Multi-Match jackpot, the largest since the game’s inception.

There are multiple ways to win with Multi-Match. Players may win by matching 3, 4 or 5 numbers on any one line, or by matching 5 to 18 numbers on all three lines combined. To win the jackpot, players must match all six numbers on one line.  The Multi-Match jackpot starts at $500,000 and rises every time the large prize isn’t won. Multi-Match drawings can be seen on WBAL-TV Channel 11 on Mondays and Thursdays at 11:22 pm.

$700,000 Multi-Match Winning Ticket Sold in Frederick

Game’s Fifth Jackpot Win This Year

For the fifth time this year, the Maryland Lottery’s Multi-Match game has produced a jackpot winner.  Last night’s drawing was worth $700,000, with a cash option of $450,000.  The winning ticket was purchased at Weis Market, located at 6093 Spring Ridge Pkwy. in Frederick. The Lottery urges the lucky winner to sign the back of their ticket.  The prize must be claimed within 182 days.

The first Multi-Match win of the year came in March when John Obradovic from Severna Park won $4.45.  That win was the second-largest in Multi-Match history. Back in September 2009, two co-workers claimed a $4.8 million Multi-Match jackpot, the largest since the game’s inception.

There are multiple ways to win with Multi-Match. Players may win by matching 3, 4 or 5 numbers on any one line, or by matching 5 to 18 numbers on all three lines combined. To win the jackpot, players must match all six numbers on one line.  The Multi-Match jackpot starts at $500,000 and rises every time the large prize isn’t won. Multi-Match drawings can be seen on WBAL-TV Channel 11 on Mondays and Thursdays at 11:22 pm.

Loyalty Pays Off for LaPlata Man

Wins $625,000 Playing Multi-Match

He had to wait a quarter of a century for it, but a decision to play a Maryland Lottery game and the selection of a random series of numbers 25 years ago paid-off big this week for Robert Martin of LaPlata.  The Verizon employee visited Lottery Headquarters today with a Multi-Match ticket worth $625,000.

Robert told Lottery officials that he’s been playing those same numbers just about every week since.  “I picked them way back then and they’ve stuck in my mind,” he explained.  “It doesn’t matter what I’m playing: Multi-Match, Powerball or Mega Millions. I always use the same numbers.”  While those numbers have brought him some luck over the years, it certainly doesn’t seem enough to garner the kind of loyalty Robert has shown.  But, then Monday’s Multi-Match drawing happened.

“We didn’t watch the drawing, but when I went to get my ticket for Thursday’s drawing I saw that the store had sold a big winner.”  He ran his ticket through the scanner and saw that it could only be paid at Lottery HQ.  “I was thinking: maybe….”  Robert called his wife who advised him to go home to check the winning numbers online.  He did, and called her back with the good news.

The couple has not yet emerged from the shock of the win, but it is slowly sinking in. They’ve discussing paying-off bills and getting a new car (also a cruise, if their daughter gets her way).  The ticket that ended Robert’s long wait for Lottery luck was purchased from Absher Liquors at 6605 Crain Highway in LaPlata.

$625,000 Multi-Match Win in LaPlata

Game’s Fourth Jackpot Win This Year

For the third time in almost as many weeks the Maryland Lottery’s Multi-Match game has produced a jackpot winner.  Last night’s $625,000 win pushes LaPlata into the Lottery’s spotlight where it joins Rockville and Dundalk as home to recent jackpot wins.  With this, the fourth jackpot win this year, Multi-Match has been monopolizing Lottery news in Maryland despite the presence of “big brother” mega jackpot games Mega Millions and Powerball.

“Multi-Match does tend to get overshadowed by the huge jackpots our other million dollar games offer,” said Lottery Communications Director Carole Everett, “but, the game continues to prove that it has a lot to offer our players.”  The odds of winning the Mega Millions top prize are about 175 million to one and Powerball about 195 million to one.  In comparison, Multi-Match’s jackpot odds are six million to one.

According to Everett, that significant difference in jackpot odds is obvious when one looks at the big-money prizes the Lottery has paid out in 2010.  “While we’ve had many second and third-tier winners with Mega Millions and Powerball so far this year, the biggest jackpot wins in Maryland have been produced by Multi-Match.”

Multi-Match drawings can be seen on WBAL-TV Channel 11 on Mondays and Thursdays at 11:22 pm.

Magic Kingdom Before Multi-Match Magic Moment

Baltimore Woman Claims $700,000 Prize

A nervous Maryland woman, accompanied by her dad, came to Lottery Headquarters this afternoon to claim her $700,000 Multi-Match jackpot prize.  While the winning numbers were drawn on April 19^th, a pre-planned trip to Disney World kept the woman from arriving sooner.

“I had already planned the trip, so I just had to wait,” said the grinning winner. The lucky lady gave the ticket to her father to keep in a safe while she was away. “I wasn’t scared about leaving the ticket because I knew it was in good hands.”

The 40-year-old Baltimore woman bought the ticket, as she usually does, after work on the day of the drawing. She realized she had won a few days later after casually scanning the ticket at a local Lottery retailer. Outside of sharing her excitement with her immediate family, the winner has kept her good fortune a secret.

The construction company employee said she is going to invest her winnings and purchase a new car. She also plans to help her family.

The winning ticket was purchased at Sterling Liquors located at 196 German Hill Rd. in Baltimore.