Lotto Couple’s Romantic Break 60 Years After They Wed

A couple who never had a honeymoon when they wed nearly 60 years ago are set for the trip of a lifetime after scooping a USD 50,000 lotto win.

Marion East, aged 79, from the city of Crisfield, Somerset County, Maryland State, USA, poses in undated photo. He won USD 50,000 (GBP 40,850) on the lottery in March 2023. (Maryland Lottery/Newsflash)

Retired US army veteran Marion East, 79, and his wife – from the city of Crisfield, Somerset County, Maryland State, USA – told lotto officials they’ll finally take that romantic trip.

Marion -who got the win on a scratchcard he bought from Crisfield Oceanic gas station located at 55 Richardson Avenue- said in a statement obtained by Newsflash: “I bought a few tickets that day and went home to play them.”

But he was left in shock when while waiting for his dinner at home, he uncovered a stunning USD 50,000 (GBP 40,850) prize on a USD 5 (GBP 4.08) Fat Wallet game ticket.

He said: “The very last number I scratched was a matching number. When I scratched the prize, I thought it was only for USD 50 [GBP 40.8].”

He went on: “I hollered and my son came running.

“He looked at the ticket and said, ‘Yeah dad, it’s a winner.'”

Marion and his wife married nearly 58 years ago but never found the time to get away on a honeymoon.

Image shows the Crisfield Oceanic gas station located at 55 Richardson Avenue in the city of Crisfield, Somerset County, Maryland State, USA, undated photo. Marion East, aged 79, won USD 50,000 (GBP 40,850) on the lottery in March 2023. (Google Maps/Newsflash)

The couple went to Maryland Lottery headquarters in Baltimore last week to claim their prize.

The wife – who was not named- said: “He came over to me and showed me the ticket. I was so happy for him.”

After their honeymoon, the couple plan to use the rest of the cash to pay off bills and make some investments.

Lottery officials revealed that the gas station will also receive a USD 500 (GBP 407) bonus for selling a top-prize winning scratch off.

The Maryland Lottery said: “The Fat Wallet scratch-off that went on sale in March 2022 still has big prizes available.

” Players can seek one unclaimed USD 50,000 top prize [GBP 40,850], four USD 5,000 [GBP 4,078] prizes and four USD 1,000 [GBP 815] prizes along with more than 205,000 prizes ranging from USD 5 [GBP 4.08] to USD 500 [GBP 407].”