PARKVILLE, MD—He plays lottery games frequently, a Baltimore man told Maryland Lottery officials – and while he plays an assortment of games, he always includes a Powerball ticket in his purchase. That loyalty paid off big last month when he bought a $20 ticket in Parkville that delivered a $100,000 prize.

“I’m friendly with several of the owners of the places where I buy tickets,” the retired computer specialist said. “When I stopped by the Tobacco Outlet, I joined my friend as he celebrated having sold a big Powerball winner in his store. He was very excited.” Only 15 minutes later, the celebration became much more significant to the 72-year-old Powerball player.

“When I finally got around to asking the clerk to check my tickets, the look on his face told me something big was coming.” It turns out that he had the winning ticket in his pocket the whole time. “We were all stunned. Between me and the owner, it got pretty loud in there, but that was nothing compared to when I got home and told my wife.”

They have been discussing a move to a retirement community for a few months. Thanks to their luck in the April 29 Powerball drawing, their timetable is getting a redo.

“My wife keeps saying, ‘I’ve never soon so many zeros!’”

The winner’s lucky Powerball retailer is Discount Tobacco Outlet at 2537 Putty Hill Avenue in Parkville.

No one has hit the jackpot since April. The estimated annuity for the jackpot is $146 million with an estimated cash option of $78.2 million.