Lottery player’s dream that he won comes true years later. ‘Better late than never’
Years ago, a Delaware man dreamed he’d win the lottery. Then, it came true.
Michael Pendexter scratched off a $10 instant ticket and found he had won a $100,000 top-prize, Maryland lottery officials said.
“My hands were shaking and my heart was racing,” Pendexter said.
The lucky winner told lottery officials he was on a work break when he decided to stop in a Country Farm store in Salisbury, about a 30-mile drive west from Ocean City, and purchase two scratch offs.
Pendexter said he lost track of how many words he had on his second ticket, and when he looked back, he had 10 words. According to lottery officials, 10 words in the Crossword game equals a win of $100,000.
Then, he texted his wife, Carrie, eight meaningful words, lottery officials said.
“I won the biggest amount of my life.”
When Pendexter and his wife went in to claim his prize, he told officials about a winning dream he had years ago.
“Better late than never,” Pendexter said.
The lucky player said he plans to use winnings to purchase a new family home and a new car for his wife.
But Pendexter isn’t the only winner this round. According to lottery officials, the retailer that sold the ticket got a $1,000 lottery bonus for selling the winning scratch-off.
Lottery officials reported nine unclaimed $100,000 top prize tickets, 11 unclaimed $10,000 prizes and many others ranging from $10 to $1,000.
This story was originally published September 12, 2024 at 6:30 PM with the headline "Lottery player’s dream that he won comes true years later. ‘Better late than never’."
