EDGEWOOD, MD—Every morning, Edgewood retiree “Jim Smith” starts his day by playing Maryland Lottery games with friends at different local retailers. As a player for more than 20 years, he isn’t choosy about which game he selects.

“I play all of the games but I only play them when I’m feeling lucky,” said “Jim,” while smiling about his $100,000 top-prize win on a third edition $100,000 Crossword scratch-off. “I think about which game will bring me luck for the day and I buy a bunch of tickets and scratch them in the store with my friends. We have a great time scratching and telling jokes to start the day.”

“Jim,” a retired businessman and U.S. Army veteran, scratched the boxes on the $10 $100,000 Crossword game and was sure he won something. When he tried to check the instant ticket with his smartphone’s Maryland Lottery app, however, his smartphone needed to update its system. The 72-year-old waited until later in the day to scan the scratch-off. Once his app opened on his updated phone, he saw that he was a big winner.

“I couldn’t believe my eyes! I saw $100,000 on my phone and immediately folded the ticket up and put it in my pocket,” said “Jim.” “Then, I drove to another Lottery retailer and checked it on their scanner. I even asked the store clerk to check it on her machine because I wanted to make sure I was a winner. As it turned out, I am!” “Jim” said, laughing.

The Harford County resident plans to use some of his winnings to travel to Texas to visit his nieces and nephews and will put the rest of his prize into his savings account for a rainy day.

The 7-Eleven located at 504 Edgewood Road in Edgewood has reason to celebrate, too. The lucky Harford County retailer will receive a $1,000 bonus from the Maryland Lottery for selling a top-prize winning scratch-off worth $100,000.